RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

RMLS™ staff is constantly working on ways to improve RMLSweb, either by improving existing features or adding new ones. In July, subscribers will see the following improvements to our system…

Bing Maps Coming to CMAs

As of this evening, the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) tool on RMLSweb will allow setting the map point for the subject property using Bing Maps! This is one of the final pieces in our conversion to Bing, meaning a CMA subject property map will now sport the enhanced map performance and graphic look found elsewhere on RMLSweb.

RMLSwebCMABingMap

Office Email Designation

Principal brokers will now have the ability to set an officewide email address to appear on all listings that originate from their brokerage.

RMLSwebOfficeEmail

In order to set up your office’s email address, navigate to Toolkit in the RMLSweb navigation bar and click on “User Preferences.” Select the “Company Email/Logo” tab, and fill in the email field at the top. (Don’t forget to save!)

Office email information will appear in both the office roster and in the Agent Full and Data Only reports on RMLSweb.

Coming Soon: New Map Search and More!
We’ll be rolling out a new map search interface on RMLSweb. Watch the RMLScentral blog for more information in the coming weeks!

And don’t forget, as the year continues we’ll be working on our biggest project of the year, full browser and tablet compatibility!

Subscribers seeking assistance with these changes or any other RMLSweb features may contact the RMLS™ Help Desk for assistance by calling (503) 872-8002, emailing helpdesk@rmls.com, or by clicking the chat button on the right sidebar of RMLSweb.

All of us at RMLS™ hope subscribers will appreciate these improvements to RMLSweb!

 

RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

Report Issue Button a Boost for Data Accuracy

ReportIssueButton

RMLS™ subscribers got an easier way to communicate with us about data inaccuracies when the Report Issue button (above) was added to the bottom of all Agent Full reports during our RMLSweb system improvements in January.

RulesButtonReportSince it was released on January 30th, more than 2,000 issues have been reported (averaging about 400 per month)!

If you haven’t yet explored this feature, when the Report Issue button is clicked a form pops up with the listing number and other identifying information already filled in (right). There is a menu of 12 options that can be selected.

Look below to see how the options ranked in the number of reports we have received.

RulesReportsJuly2013

Other is partly a catch-all of general inquiries, but one category that comes up frequently is corrections to the Comparable Information section for sold listings. We have even received compliments for the listing agent in this category. We were thrilled to read this issue report:

Please let the listing agent know what a great job she did on this listing. All the information is there that I need to help my client.

Vallerie Bush and Wanda Kennedy make up the RMLS™ team that ensures all reported data inaccuracies get resolved, and they are enthusiastic about this boost for RMLS™ data accuracy. (In addition to responding to issues reported through the Report Issue button, they field many phone calls and emails.) Wanda says:

I have only heard good things regarding the rules button. The subscribers say it saves them so much time. When they see something wrong with a listing they can send it in right then and there. I think it was a great idea!

Vallerie adds,

It is faster and more convenient to send a rules violation to RMLS™. I like it because it usually has most of the information needed when processing.

Keep the reports coming! Accurate data helps all of our subscribers and the buyers and sellers they serve.

RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

Annual Forms Change: The Details

FormsChangeSummaryAs noted in last week’s preview of the forms changes coming this year to RMLSweb, the RMLS™ Forms Committee meets each year to review subscriber suggestions and recommend changes to RMLSweb listing input forms. After changes are approved by the RMLS™ Board of Directors, our staff works diligently to execute the changes as soon as possible.

We’re just about ready to unveil the results of this annual project! Here are a few of the biggest differences you’ll notice after the changes go live:

  • Public Remarks Increased: the Public Remarks field will increase in size from 380 to 440 characters.
  • Farm Y/N?: a new Farm Y/N field will be available for residential listings. Removing FARM from the property type field will allow the Property Type of Detached or Residential-Manufactured to be selected. Choosing Y will provide the Farms Supplement form, which can be used by the listing agent to fully describe the property.
  • Offer/Negotiation: the Offer/Negotiation field will now be required. This field indicates instructions for presenting offers and negotiations, such as Call Listing Agent, Listing Agent Only, Seller Directly, or See Documents.
  • Map Coordinates: the Map Page, Map Column, and Map Row fields (which make up Map Coordinates) will remain required for listings in the following counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Curry, Lane, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill. In all other areas, it will be optional.
  • Export Reports: Export Reports will have additional fields added to the end of reports.

We’ve prepared more documentation for those who wish to read more detail. View a brief summary document of the annual forms change, and a color-coded PDF showing changes to the Data Input Forms and Listing Contracts.

HotsheetPriceChangeWe’ll be updating two other small projects as well. First, we’ll be tweaking the Hotsheet Search to include an option to search for a specific price change amount. Agents will soon be be able to run a Hotsheet Search (left) to find listings that have increased or decreased in price.

Finally, we’ll also be restoring four hour session times! Our Unauthorized Access project reduced session times in February, meaning accounts were logged out after 90 minutes of inactivity. Subscriber feedback prompted RMLS™ to reconsider, and we’re restoring the previous four hour sessions.

Changing so many pieces of RMLSweb requires a longer outage than our regular monthly maintenance. We expect these changes to require a lengthy outage—possibly as long as 12 hours. As with our regular maintenance outages, a Maintenance Mode version of RMLSweb will be available, available to subscribers only for search purposes.

RMLS™ puts much thought and care into developing the best system for regional REALTORS®. We hope our subscribers appreciate this work and will continue to share comments and questions!

RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

RMLS™ Waiver Changes Begin Monday

CMAThe RMLS™ Board of Directors recently approved a set of changes to the waiver system, recommended by a Waiver Task Force.

What is a Waiver?

When a principal broker joins RMLS™, all office licensees are also expected to become dues-paying subscribers.

A variety of circumstances may necessitate a request to waive these dues. A licensee may act solely as a personal assistant. Other licensees may oversee property management inside a realty office. A broker may fall ill and need to take time off due to their illness, or stop practicing for another reason. These situations are all common waiver requests.

What is Changing?

RMLS™ is required to give written notice to subscribers about rules changes. Beginning Monday, May 13, 2013, the following changes will take place:

  • Individuals on waiver may not have their name or contact information included on any promotional material for any active listing on RMLSweb.
  • The minimum time period for a waiver request will be six months, with the exception of an illness waiver, which will be three months.
  • A $250 fee for violation of the terms and conditions of the waiver will be applied to participants (principal brokers) as well as the licensee on waiver.
  • If a licensed personal assistant is found to be in violation, they will be charged back dues for full access, not to exceed one year.
  • The “other” category will be removed, and a “Property Management” category will take its place.

Need to know more? Read the redlined waiver document. Click the links to apply for an RMLS™ waiver as a new subscriber, or apply for an RMLS™ waiver as an existing subscriber.

RMLSweb Improvements Rolling Out in July 2013

RMLS™ Waiver Changes Begin Monday

CMAThe RMLS™ Board of Directors recently approved a set of changes to the waiver system, recommended by a Waiver Task Force.

What is a Waiver?

When a principal broker joins RMLS™, all office licensees are also expected to become dues-paying subscribers.

A variety of circumstances may necessitate a request to waive these dues. A licensee may act solely as a personal assistant. Other licensees may oversee property management inside a realty office. A broker may fall ill and need to take time off due to their illness, or stop practicing for another reason. These situations are all common waiver requests.

What is Changing?

RMLS™ is required to give written notice to subscribers about rules changes. Beginning Monday, May 13, 2013, the following changes will take place:

  • Individuals on waiver may not have their name or contact information included on any promotional material for any active listing on RMLSweb.
  • The minimum time period for a waiver request will be six months, with the exception of an illness waiver, which will be three months.
  • A $250 fee for violation of the terms and conditions of the waiver will be applied to participants (principal brokers) as well as the licensee on waiver.
  • If a licensed personal assistant is found to be in violation, they will be charged back dues for full access, not to exceed one year.
  • The “other” category will be removed, and a “Property Management” category will take its place.

Need to know more? Read the redlined waiver document. Click the links to apply for an RMLS™ waiver as a new subscriber, or apply for an RMLS™ waiver as an existing subscriber.