The RMLS™ server room ca. 1996.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of RMLS™. Throughout the year, RMLS™ Executive Assistant Angel Johnstone will be writing about people who have been vital to the 25 year history of RMLS™. This month, she explores technology with Greg Moore, RMLS™ Vice President of Technical Systems.

As the 25th anniversary of RMLS™ slides through the home stretch, let’s have a look at 25 years of technological development of RMLS™.

In the early days at RMLS™, all listings were published in large books like the ones shown above. These books were published bimonthly and mailed out to subscriber brokerages.

When the internet was considered “the wave of the future,” RMLS™ evolved in step, at first offering digitized data through a network of terminals called Stellar. These terminals were installed in offices and maintained by RMLS™ staff. RMLSweb was launched in 2001, and the company soon purchased code from a company called HomeSeekers in 2002. Since that time, all RMLSweb development has been executed in-house, with subscribers interacting with this system every day when they log in to RMLSweb.

Greg Moore, RMLS™ Vice President of Technical Systems, has been the lead for coding development at RMLS™ since the original HomeSeekers code was purchased. He originally connected with RMLS™ as a vendor selling MLS software and was later offered a contract position to develop software in-house.

In chatting with Greg, I asked how his team stays ahead of the curve to keep RMLS™ relevant in the swiftly changing tech world. He replied, “I’m like a geek at heart—I read a lot of technology publications but I also have a wonderful set of peers in the industry across the country doing very similar work. About 20-30 of us meet regularly and I have an excellent team of developers at RMLS™ who help us stay current as well.”

Greg noted some of the highlights his team has incorporated over the years, such as the function of drawing on a screen, integrating an overall rich body of information, producing mashups, and creating link sharing. He explained, “it’s important that we evolve with technology and we hope to do so gracefully. We are primarily focused on supporting the brokers and understanding our role in that function.”

Just like transitioning listing books to the internet, lockbox products have had to evolve with the latest technology to stay relevant. This evolution started from a simple lockbox with a key and/or combination to lockboxes that function with Palm Pilots (remember those?) and today’s lockboxes with app connectivity. We’ll even see Bluetooth operated lockboxes in the near future! Throughout these changes RMLS™ has endeavored to keep its subscribership at the forefront of lockbox technology.

Change has the ability to ruffle feathers, as most changes offer challenges, but under the direction of the RMLS™ Board of Directors, RMLS™ strives to offer its subscribers exceptional service with efficient, savvy tools. As Greg put it, “we need to be nimble and unafraid of change.”

RMLS™ has evolved endlessly over the last 25 years—from Dave Koch helping establish the organization to expanding across Oregon and Southwest Washington; from listing books to a comprehensive listing website; from simple to intricate lockboxes. RMLS™ has not only grown in size, but in measure and quality of service it offers subscribers. We’ve learned a lot over the last quarter century and look forward to the next, equally enthusiastic about what lies ahead as we are about our accomplishments and the lessons we’ve encountered along the way.

Thank you for your subscribership—you are, after all, the reason RMLS™ exists!

The FBI operates a website dedicated specifically to internet crime. Image: FBI.gov

September is REALTOR® Safety Month! This is the second of two articles covering safety issues of particular interest to RMLS™ subscribers.

Remember the days when frauds and scams were easier to recognize and seemed like the type of things “other people” had to worry about? Technological advances have brought plenty of new tools, devices, and apps to improve organization and efficiency. Unfortunately the sophistication and prevalence of frauds and scams has advanced just as quickly.

AWARENESS

At any time, there are a number of common frauds and scams circulating both locally and globally. It used to be simpler to detect email scams, whether by blatantly odd email addresses or oddly conjugated messages—but former red flags are getting more difficult to detect, as scammers’ methods are continuously gaining sophistication. Here are a few red flags to look for.

Emails regarding wire transfers or containing wire transfer information: RED FLAG

Double and triple check your contact’s email address. Hackers will often observe email correspondence discussing wire transfers, then intercept the communication, posing as your contact. They imitate the language used in previous correspondence and include wire transfer information funneling into a fraudulent account. Often, the account is emptied and closed as soon as the wire transfer has occurred.

What to look for
Check the email address and carefully confirm its validity. For example, if you are expecting an email from angel.rmls@123.com, notice possible imposter email addresses:
ange1.rmls@123.com
angel.rm1s@123.com
angel.rmls@l23.com
angel.rmls.@123.com

Each of the above addresses vary from the first with a single, minor change. The replacement may replace the letter “L” with the number 1 or add an inconspicuous dot—but at first glance they all look very similar to the original address.

Emails requesting last-minute changes to wire transfers or monetary exchanges: RED FLAG

What to do
Check and double check your contact’s email address. Call your contact on the phone to confirm that details and changes are legitimate. Be alert and trust your instincts if something feels off.

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has a great article addressing sophisticated email scams and damage control.

Attachments or suspicious links: RED FLAG

There are a significant measure of viruses spread via email attachments and links. When opened, the virus wreaks havoc on devices and confidential information. In some cases, the attachments can be sent from a familiar email address that has been hacked.

What to do
Stay alert and look out for oddities. Were you expecting the attachment or link? Confirm with your contact that they sent an attachment or link intentionally—sometimes this is how people discover they’ve been hacked in the first place.

DocuSign recently experienced fraudulent activity which the Oregon Association of REALTORS® addresses here.

Another challenge to the local market is the Craigslist scam where photos of listed homes on the market are scraped and posted on Craigslist as being up for rent. Craigslist has quite a bit of information detailing what to do in these situations.

PREPAREDNESS

Your electronic safety can be greatly enhanced by an established data security plan, including best electronic practices, damage control, and reporting tools. Below are a few best practices for cyber safety:

• If sending an email with monetary transaction information, utilize encryption services whenever possible.
• Be wary of messages from unverified accounts and avoid including sensitive information to these accounts.
• Do not reply to suspicious accounts and never open attachments or links from suspicious accounts.
• Utilize strong passwords and change them regularly.
• Utilize secure networks when conducting business online.
• Stay up-to-date on software, anti-virus, and browsers.
• Think defensively at all times and be alert to cyber threats.

NAR offers a useful article discussing best practices and policies for cyber safety. Does your office have an established data security plan or document retention plan?

DAMAGE CONTROL

If you have a data breach, there are a number of actions that may help with damage control:

• When wiring money transfers, confirm receipt immediately.
• If you’ve been hacked or click on a link that locks your screen, shut your machine down immediately.
• Inform colleagues if they may have been exposed as a result of a data breach. Provide as many details as you can, and inform your IT department or manager.
• Change all of your passwords to ensure they are strong.
• Report the breach to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Report the breach to your local REALTOR® association.
• Report the breach to RMLS™ by contacting Michelle Gray at (503) 872-8059.

Cyber safety is incredibly important for everyone. RMLS™ urges REALTORS® to stay informed and be alert to remain safe!

There is no doubt that the work day of a REALTOR® is not an average day at the office. You’ve got to manage so many moving parts within your day: juggling clients and paperwork; darting from one location to the next; and staying informed and current with market trends. Above all, you need to stay safe.

While there are infinite scenarios that could go wrong in any line of work, REALTORS® can be especially vulnerable. September is REALTOR® Safety Month and in honor of that, I’ll be discussing REALTOR® safety in two blog posts this month. Today, I’ll discuss personal safety.

There are a variety of tools and practical ways to enhance the personal safety and awareness of REALTORS®. A good start to being mindful of safety is to be alert and aware.

AWARENESS
When dealing with strangers, there is no guarantee that potential clients are who they say they are, and there is no guarantee that they will be harmless. To be clear, this is in no way meant to advocate a fearful mindset—rather the opposite. Awareness that elements of the unknown always exist is a good motivator to stay alert and be prepared.

In practice, this means:
• Meet strangers at an office or public space—never alone at the property.
• Take your own car.
• Bring someone you know or work with when possible.
• Never walk with your back to the client.
• Be aware of exits at all times.
• Try to show during daylight hours when possible.
• Cut a showing short if the client exhibits suspicious or red flag behaviors.
• Require visitors to provide a photo ID and use a sign-in sheet at open houses.

RMLS™ offers Document #1071, Ten Commandments of Agent Safety, which offers a number of smart practices and suggestions to enhance your safety and awareness.

PREVENTION/PREPAREDNESS
Prevention is greatly aided by preparedness. Does your office have an established safety policy?

In practice, this means:
• Set a showing itinerary and share with your office and a family or friend.
• Use a prospect ID form and share with your office.
• Maintain a current agent ID form within your office.
• Dress for safety: comfortable shoes, avoid wearing expensive accessories, etc.
• Establish coded distress signal for the office ahead of time.
• Establish a reporting protocol.

REGIONAL ISSUES
There are safety issues that ebb and flow across the country and like all other places, the northwest has our own set of recurring safety concerns. The following are a few scenarios that have been reported to RMLS™ over the past year:

A man who calls female REALTORS® and claims he drugged their water bottle during an open house and assaulted the agent shortly thereafter. He insists they would have no knowledge of it and that he is only now calling to “relieve [his] conscience.”
What to do: Hang up. Do not engage in dialogue with this man, and write down his number if it isn’t blocked. Report the incident to the brokerage manager, the local authorities via their non-emergency number, and to RMLS™.

Male “prospective client” calling brokerage offices insisting to work exclusively with female REALTORS®.
What to do: Get his contact information if possible. Report the incident to the brokerage manager, the local authorities via their non-emergency number, and to RMLS™.

Persons showing up to open houses, acting suspicious, trying to get out of the agent’s line of sight and going through cabinets and drawers.
What to do: Call 9-1-1, report the incident to the brokerage manager, and to RMLS™.

SAFETY RESOURCES
Report REALTOR® safety issues to RMLS™. We look for trends and sometimes issue specific alerts on the RMLSweb desktop. To report an incident or safety concern to RMLS™, contact Michelle Gray at (503) 872-8059.

If you’re interested in learning some self defense, the Portland-area chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® is hosting a self-defense class in Lake Oswego on Wednesday, September 14th.

The following are links to articles, videos, and apps from the National Association of REALTORS®:
Field Guide to REALTOR® Safety
REALTOR® Safety Resources
“Safety Policies” article from REALTOR®Mag

Remember, to minimize your vulnerability is to maximize your safety. Part 2 of my safety discussion will highlight electronic safety regarding fraud, scams, email hacking, reporting, and best practices for electronic safety. Look for it later this month!

This year marks the 25th anniversary of RMLS™. Throughout the year, RMLS™ Executive Assistant Angel Johnstone will be writing about topics vital to the 25 year history of RMLS™. This month, she explores the RMLS™ expansion into Lane County with Springfield-area REALTOR® Lori Palermo.

Less than a decade after its formation, RMLS™ began expanding. In the interest of exploring the perspective from a local subscriber in the early years of RMLS™ growth and its relevance in the Lane County area, I caught up with Lori Palermo of Palermo Real Estate in Springfield, OR. Lori, who also serves on the RMLS™ Board of Directors, remembers, “I was on the task force formed by the Greater Lane County MLS to investigate a ‘merger.’ I was skeptical at first, but quickly came to realize and still believe that our joining RMLS™ was the best business decision that the leadership in Lane County has ever made.”

RMLS™ was formed in 1990, serving four associations in the Portland metro area—Clackamas County Association of REALTORS®, Multnomah County Association of REALTORS®, Washington County Association of REALTORS®, and East Metro Association of REALTORS®. As RMLS™ quickly gained footing in the northwestern area of Oregon it was apparent that there was opportunity for growth outside the initial areas served.

In 1999 RMLS™ experienced its first expansion into Douglas County. Shortly thereafter, RMLS™ reached Coos County, an area that had previously been served by five multiple listing services. In that same year RMLS™ was invited to Lane County to provide a presentation of its service platform, becoming a primary service area by 2001. RMLS™ CEO Kurt von Wasmuth comments, “while RMLS™ had been a sort of ‘city MLS,’ it became obvious that the expansion into Lane County solidified RMLS™ as the future statewide MLS.”

In the photo above, former RMLS™ President Beth Murphy holds up the signed agreement to begin RMLS™ service in Lane County.

A little more from my interview with Lori (edited for clarity and length, with her answers in blue):

When did you become a REALTOR®?
October 1993. I was working as a receptionist at my dad’s real estate company part-time and he offered to pay for my schooling if I would go get my license, so I did! Three days after I received my license in the mail, he took me to a Springfield Board of REALTORS® meeting and volunteered me for a committee! I’ve been volunteering with that board since.

Springfield and Eugene are next door neighbors. From your perspective, how is Springfield different from Eugene?
How long do I have? While both have their strengths and weaknesses, I think what separates the two are their politics. Springfield is more conservative, Eugene more liberal. In Eugene the mayor and city council are paid. In Springfield it is all volunteer. I believe that Springfield is more pro-growth than Eugene. The property taxes are typically lower and the utilities more affordable in Springfield. Eugene is about three times larger than Springfield and is home to a major university. The school district and park district are great in Springfield and the citizens really support their public safety professionals. Eugene has had some challenges in that area. Eugene likes to be seen as progressive and internationally recognized, and Springfield greatly values its hometown feel. Springfield’s motto is, “Proud History. Bright Future.”

In what ways are Springfield and Eugene similar?
Both value outdoor space, recreation, travel, and tourism. Both see the value in attracting new business. Both have wonderful bike paths and easy access to the rivers as well as great park districts. Both have the challenge of growth vs. infrastructure, although they handle those challenges very differently.

Do the differences you perceive between the two towns translate to a customized approach to real estate for each?
In some ways. From a buyer’s standpoint a lot depends on their priorities. Do they want to be near the University of Oregon campus? Are they looking for an international high school? That is more likely found in Eugene. Do they want a small town feel with easy access to city staff and leadership? That’s more likely found in Springfield.

RMLS™ expanded its service area to Lane County in the early 2000s. What impact did the new MLS service have on your business?
It had a huge impact! We were still using “the book” which was hard for many veteran REALTORS® to get rid of. By associating with RMLS™ we were given very valuable tools and new technology that were truly cutting edge for us. That is still true today. [The RMLS™] technology professionals are second to none.

Can you speak to the general status of the area market leading up to RMLS™ expansion into Lane County?
The expansion happened as technology was growing everywhere—across the board. RMLS™ just brought the tools that made it easier to see more listings and made exposure more timely. We weren’t waiting for a week or so for our listings to be accessed.

How has Lane County changed from the commencement of your career to recently?
LOTS of growth in business and industry as well as diversity in demographics. We’ve seen a large increase of people from different places internationally and I have enjoyed seeing how those cultures have been embraced.

You have been a member of the RMLS™ Board of Directors for a number of years now, including service as Board Treasurer and your current Second Vice-Chair position. What inspired your service on the board?
I started volunteering on the Service Advisory Committee in the very beginning of Lane County’s relationship with RMLS™. That committee was formed to give a voice to REALTOR® member boards and associations who are not shareholders. It has been a very rewarding experience to come together with representatives of other boards from over over the region to hear about their local markets, their challenges, and their victories. I believe that the recommendations that have come out of that committee have made RMLS™ more aware of the needs of all marketplaces. I have enjoyed serving on the RMLS™ Board of Directors and being a part of decisions made to better our industry as a whole.

Has participation on the RMLS™ Board of Directors made an impression on your experience as a RMLS™ subscriber?
Yes. It has helped me see that no decision made by the board is ever taken lightly. The steps taken when a decision needs to be made—whether it is a change in lockboxes or an addition to the features on RMLSweb—all ideas and opinions are heard before a decision is made.

What is your favorite feature of RMLSweb?
My favorite feature is the addition of OREF to the full listing. It saves a lot of time when I’m ready to write an offer. I am so proud of all the technology that Greg [Moore] and his team bring to our organization.

If you could give one piece of advice to your industry colleagues, what would that be?
I would give the same advice that my dad, a real estate broker for 40+ years, gave me at the beginning of my career. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Always do the right thing, whether or not you think it will benefit you.” Best advice ever.

I am so proud of my association with RMLS™. The leadership truly has the best interest of each subscriber in mind every single day. Our technology department is constantly looking for new and innovative products and processes to make our jobs easier. The quality of service we receive from the RMLS™ Help Desk is outstanding. When I travel to real estate conferences around the country it is clear that RMLS™ is cutting edge, subscriber driven, and second to none. I have very much enjoyed every moment of my association with RMLS™.

What a great place to leave off, as I will be discussing technology at RMLS™ in my next piece. Thank you, Lori, for allowing me to put you in the spotlight and taking the time to chat with me for this blog series!

This year marks the 25th anniversary of RMLS™. Throughout the year, RMLS™ Executive Assistant Angel Johnstone will be writing about people who have been vital to the 25 year history of RMLS™. This month, she explores the early days with one of the RMLS™ founders, Dave Koch.

After over a year of research, planning and organization, RMLS^™ opened its doors for service May 1, 1991. Seasoned REALTOR® Dave Koch had been managing an office with Coldwell Banker in Oregon City when he took a six month leave of absence to focus specifically on the budding organization. At the request of other local brokers, he became the first board chairman for RMLS^™.

As we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of RMLS^™ service throughout 2016, it is a great time to reflect upon the challenges and success RMLS™ has met over the years. Where better to begin this retrospect than at the beginning?

In 1990, Portland area REALTORS® found space and opportunity in the MLS market to create an MLS fashioned by the REALTOR®, for the REALTOR®. The project to create this new MLS was spearheaded by Dave Koch, who I had the opportunity to sit down and visit recently.

I had some questions about how and why RMLS^™ was formed. Dave told me that “in the early 90s there was a lot of merging of REALTOR® organizations” and that the time was ripe for a new type of MLS in the Portland neighborhood. Dave lead the undertaking of the new MLS assembly with support from the existing four area association boards; James F. Sherry and Associates, Inc., a hired consulting firm; and invaluable legal counsel from Steve Russell. (Fortunately for RMLS™, Steve Russell continues to be our legal counsel to this day.)

The initial objectives of the new system were to 1) make it better, 2) make it more cost effective and 3) make it ours (REALTOR®-owned). Dave explained the vision, saying “we defined the plan, the organization, that it would have a board of directors made up by brokers and sales people, and so the policies directly developed by the organization would be from brokers and salespeople, predominately brokers.” This sentiment is established in the RMLS^™ founding mission which states in part, “this MLS must be sensitive to the needs and desires of the membership and must be made operational with a minimum of disruption of service. The MLS must conduct its business affairs in such a way that the MLS remains a viable contracting entity, capable of effectively representing its membership…”

Dave remembered, “it was very competitive for awhile and basically towns won’t support two multiple listing services so we knew we had to get to the majority or we would fail. So I was out making calls to the different brokers, big brokers and small brokers, and doing presentations around all four of the boards.” He said the new MLS was well received and there was wide support early on reaching about 50% of the subscribership in the first few months. It didn’t take long for RMLS^™ to gain footing in the local market as it was molded and crafted to specifically answer the needs of its subscribers.

Following his year of service as board chairman, Dave has continued subscribership with RMLS^™ to this day. He is currently a Principal Broker out of RE/MAX in Canby, sometimes even greeting clients in the front office, in order to stay involved and in tune with all aspects of the process. He remains quite active within the profession having served the real estate industry since 1976!

Stay tuned as we explore the evolution of RMLS^™over the last 25 years—from books to electronic listings, area expansion and growth—keeping in mind the core mission of functionality and affordability for its valued subscribers.