The concept of Front End of Choice is, quite simply, all about choice. RMLS™ built and operated its own front end, RMLSweb, for the last 20 years. This allows us to shape our own destiny and keep a tight hold on the reins, keeping costs low while also allowing us to respond to subscriber needs in a timely, effective manner.
However, this does not always guarantee that RMLSweb is the perfect answer for each subscriber. Front End of Choice allows a greater amount of flexibility by providing several different ways of interacting with the RMLS™ database.
Front End of Choice is just what it sounds like — we want to offer subscribers more than one way to access listing tools and features. Brokers purchase tools to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. Front End of Choice allows more variety, more opportunity to stand out and showcase their services to clients.
We are very excited to offer Paragon MLS as our first Front End of Choice option, so here is a look at what it can do for you.
Background info on Paragon
Paragon is a multiple listing service system designed by Black Knight, a software provider for real estate and other industries. More than 200 listing and affiliate services utilize Paragon nationwide, and both Black Knight and RMLS™ are excited to collaborate on this offering for our subscribers.
Pricing and timing for Paragon at RMLS™
We want to be completely clear: RMLSweb is not going away. Subscribers are not required to use Paragon. RMLSweb is included in the baseline RMLS™ quarterly dues by default. Paragon is an elective option as part of Front End of Choice, not a mandatory change. Subscribers must inform RMLS™ if they want to use Paragon. To opt in, contact the Front Desk and let them know are interested in using Paragon once it is ready.
Black Knight is offering a free three-month trial period of use, beginning the first week of July. Then, beginning in Q4 2020 (October through December), Black Knight will offer Paragon at a discounted rate of $45/quarter. Starting in 2021, Paragon will cost $60 per quarter. Since Paragon is an elective option, this cost is on top of regular RMLS™ service fees.
Making use of Paragon at RMLS™
Beginning the week of July 6, RMLS™ and Black Knight will host hour-long webinars to introduce subscribers to the Paragon front end, to the Paragon Collaboration Center, to Paragon Connect, and to CRS Data’s MLS Tax Suite. These sessions will provide an overview of capabilities and features they provide. In addition, we will release videos, podcasts and other materials to explain Paragon’s many features.
The responsive design is a key factor, one of the main reasons RMLS™ is excited to roll out Paragon for our subscribers. Some online portals work well on a computer but are less reliable on a mobile device. Paragon is equally effective on a desktop, phone or tablet.
Here is a sneak peek at what you will see if you choose to use Paragon:
When you first log into Paragon, you will see a setup wizard to help you get started.The Collab Center to the right of your Paragon dashboard makes it easy to stay on top of communication with your buyers and sellers.Paragon Connect is a helpful website with many resources, including Paragon Academy.CRS Data's useful MLS Tax Suite is integrated with Paragon for easy tax record searching.
Please note that each Paragon portal is unique to the MLS that it serves. While other multiple listing services — such as the Willamette Valley MLS — use Paragon, no data sharing takes place between two Paragon systems.
Continue to use RMLSweb Listing Load to Maintain Listings and Photos
Click the button in this menu to access RMLSweb while in Paragon
While Paragon will appeal to mobile device users — and will seamlessly integrate the Collab Center, CRS Data’s MLS Tax Suite and other features — RMLSweb will continue to be the cornerstone of your listing management.
Listing Load will continue be used by subscribers, whether they opt into Paragon or not. Inside Paragon a button located in the dashboard will take you directly to RMLSweb to manage your listings, including such actions such as:
Creating a listing
Adding or editing photos
Adding open house and broker tour info
Changing a listing price
Updating the listing status (active, pending, sold, etc.)
Preparing for Paragon at RMLS™
As we get closer to July, more information will be shared via our weekly newsletter, on RMLSweb Desktop News and elsewhere. Please contact the Help Desk with any questions.
RMLS™ is preparing to release a new look for agent reports on Tuesday, June 16.
Among the most notable changes are information regarding price, beds/baths and total square footage will be at the top of the report, and that showing instructions will be in a text box in the upper-right area of the report.
Thank you for all the feedback about agent reports, and please let us know if there are any other changes you would like to see.
I have heard rumors about a new MLS system option coming online for RMLS™ subscribers very soon. While I would be the first to admit that RMLSweb frustrates me at times, I never anticipated access to a different sort of MLS dashboard.
I can imagine the concept requires a lot of work to deploy – help me understand why RMLS™ would be doing such a thing and why now?
Interested in Irrigon
Dear II,
Thank you for your question about the Paragon system, which we will release soon (July is when we plan to roll it out). You are correct that this new system requires some heavy lifting, though we believe it is well worth the effort for our subscribers.
Here are some of the reasons:
Subscriber choice – RMLS™ and its Board of Directors have always focused on providing our subscribers the best tools, and the best ways to work with their listing data. As we know, many subscribers come to RMLS™ from other areas where they had a different MLS system, and are frequently telling us “so and so does this aspect better, you should switch to them”. This model of true front end of choice allows us to put that choice in subscribers’ hands and choose how THEY want to work with the listing data. Paragon will be tied to the same database that RMLSweb uses but will be a completely unique user interface containing some features that we think will be very well received.
The forward thinking of the Black Knight team; not all MLS system vendors are willing to offer a front end of choice. They want the MLS to switch entirely to their platform before they will work with them, due to their perceived lack of ROI for all the development hours they feel it would take to make this concept work. Black Knight has worked with RMLS™ for years. We’ve shared code with them in the past with our mapping module. They were willing to give it a shot and dedicate hours of their development team to put the Paragon system in place for us and see how this experiment goes.
Now, we have talked about front end of choice for many years in the real estate/listing service industry. In fact, I can remember all the way back in the early 2000s this concept being discussed at national MLS conferences.
So why has it taken so long to achieve this concept? Here are some details explaining why:
Standardized MLS data via RESO – Prior to the evolution of RESO (Real Estate Standards Organization) data standards, taking on a new front-end system for an MLS would be a monumental task, as all the data fields would have to be duplicated and reprogrammed and configured to work with a new MLS system and database. With the evolution of RESO, and the industry acceptance of said standards, we can now push out our data in the RESO format that other system providers can somewhat quickly and easily work with and make these new options available.
As I briefly mentioned above, front end of choice has been a long discussed but never implemented industry idea. RMLS™ and Black Knight are the first MLS / MLS System Vendor team to join up to provide this concept to our subscribers.
To clarify for those who may think RMLSweb is going away and will be replaced by Paragon – that is not the case at all, in fact RMLSweb will continue to be available going forward. You will still use RMLSweb to add and modify listings even if you’ve decided Paragon is your preferred system.
Thanks, Interested in Irrigon, for the great question. Keep an eye on RMLSweb desktop news for more info as we get closer to releasing Paragon.
I saw the recent release of the INRIX Drive Time mapping tool in RMLSweb. I have to admit that while I had heard of INRIX before, and understand a bit about the technology, I was not sure I’d ever have use for it in RMLSweb.
Boy was I ever wrong! A day after you folks announced its availability, I got a new client lead that is a doctor moving to Portland, and he said he must live within 20 minutes of his work location and also, ideally, within 20 minutes of the daycare where he wished to enroll his son.
I explained that I have access to a really cutting-edge tool called INRIX Drive Time, and he was quite impressed! I created a search using both addresses and the 20-minute time frames, which helped narrow the number of listings down to homes that would keep him close to work and his child’s daycare.
Really cool! Thank you for adding this feature!
—Thrilled in Tigard
Hi TT (oh, I see what you did there!),
I’m so happy to hear of your success in using the new mapping tool! It really is designed to facilitate the very sort of search you just described. It sounds like you had no problem figuring out how the “Union” and “Intersection” controls work with the Drive Time tools.
For those who may not feel as confident in using the new INRIX Drive Time map functionality, the RMLS™ Training Team has created both a PDF overview and a video overview to walk you through the process.
You also mentioned being familiar with INRIX technology. I find their stuff fascinating, so I poked around on their website and found a great Trip Analyticsresource page that is worth reading if you want to really dive into what INRIX can do.
The INRIX Drive Time feature will be ready for you to use in RMLSweb the afternoon of Tuesday, March 26. This new mapping feature allows you to highlight an area — based on specified addresses and available traffic data — of the map, and see listings that meet your clients’ needs for a reasonable drive from home to work, school, a hospital, a grocery store, etc.
Drive Time is based on typical traffic conditions, rather than actual traffic, which includes nonrecurring activity, such as an accident or construction. With Drive Time, you can analyze the extent of a drive by day of week, time of day and length of journey.
Log into RMLSweb, then follow these steps to create a map that shows listings within your desired drive time between locations:
Navigate to “Map Search”
Click the “Locate” field and enter your destination address
Click “Go” to zoom the map in around a pin at the address
Click “Draw” and select the “Drive Time” icon
Enter your desired Drive Time Duration
Choose either “Arrival Time” or “Departure Time”
Click the “Calculate” button
Click “Count” to see listings in the selected drive time area
To learn more about INRIX Drive Time and other map search capabilities, contact an RMLS™ Trainer at training@rmls.com to schedule your own personal one-on-one training session. Please let us know if you have any questions!
