This is a blog post by RMLS™ Data Accuracy Liaison Vallerie Bush (at left). Vallerie is a 15-year veteran of RMLS™, including over a decade working with RMLS™ Rules and Data Accuracy.

Do you know the difference between ER and EA?

There are a number of terms used in RMLSweb listings that are rather technical and may seem confusing. The following is a list of some commonly used terminology and their meanings which will help you when entering or viewing a listing:

Exclusive Right to Sell (ER):  This is one of the options in the “List Type” field. The seller gives the Listing Broker the exclusive right to sell their property for a specified period of time and authorizes the Listing Broker to cooperate with and compensate other RMLS™ brokers, with no exceptions.

Exclusive Agency (EA):  The exclusive agency listing also authorizes the Listing Broker, as exclusive agent, to offer cooperation and compensation on blanket unilateral bases to other RMLS™ brokers, but the seller reserves the right to sell the property without paying a commission, if the buyer is not obtained by the listing agent or their advertising and marketing efforts. You must select EA in the “List Type” field if an Exclusive Agency agreement exists.

Dual or Variable Rate Commission Agreement:  This is an  arrangement in which the total commission paid by the seller is variable and dependent on who brings in the buyer.  For example, the commission offered by the seller may be different should the property be sold by the listing broker, than if the listing is sold by a cooperating broker.  You must enter a YES in the “Total Comm. Differs” field of your listing if an agreement exists.

Owner:  The term “Owner” can represent: 1. the person or persons who have legal ownership of the property; 2. their authorized agent; or 3. someone with the legal right to sell the property. However, the RMLS™ definition of the term owner does not include a person or persons who merely has the right to purchase the property, but does not yet own it. The owner’s name is required to be entered in the listing under “Owner” field unless an Owner Name Omission Form or similar document is submitted to RMLS™.

If you have any questions, contact us at rules@rmls.com or at (503) 236-7657.

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The RMLS™ Inventory Today chart on the desktop of RMLSweb showed that total sales volume for a twelve month period topped $12 billion on July 16^th this year. The last time the sales volume was at that level was almost five years ago on September 8, 2008, with volume still on its way down to its low point reached in 2011.

While prices are currently increasing rapidly, they still have a way to go to reach their previous levels. The $12 billion volume in 2008 required only 39,456 sales at an average price of $304,443. The number of sales represented by the $12 billion this year was 46,901 with an average price of $255,942.

The housing market recovery has encompassed all of the RMLS™ market areas in Oregon and southern Washington to varying degrees, which the monthly Market Action reports demonstrate. Momentum is accelerating!

Ever wanted to search for listings in multiple locations at the same time? Starting August 1st, users will be able to do that and more when RMLS™ rolls out an improved map search on RMLSweb!

New features of map search will invite users to create multiple shapes on a map, find a location by ZIP or address, view listing locations easily on a map, and more. This new map search tool will also utilize Bing Maps, completing our transition to Bing.

Here is a rundown of the changes:

Basic Map Search

When using map search on RMLSweb, users will now be able to draw multiple shapes on the same search map (at right). Each shape can be adjusted and deleted independently. Searches using two or more shapes will find listings in all of the map shapes. (Search results will still be limited to a maximum of 500 results.)

To adjust the side(s) of a shape, click and drag the edge. To delete a shape, click the X icon on the shape itself, or click the X button at the top of the map search to clear all shapes. A small box in the map search screen will help remind you how many shapes appear on your map.

Clicking “Count” at the top of the page will not only return the number of listings that meet the outlined criteria, but those listings will now be visible on the map in the form of location dots. Blue dots represent listings with the selected criteria that fall inside the selected map range(s), and gray dots represent listings with the selected criteria outside those range(s).

Clicking “Count” at the top of the page will now also save your search criteria.

Furthermore, the text box at the top of the map search screen can now be used to center a map on either a ZIP or full address! Street numbers entered alone will be treated as a ZIP code, so don’t forget to include city and state information. And don’t forget to add a comma before the city name (for example: 8338 NE Alderwood Rd, Portland OR 97220)

In addition to a standalone Map Search, this tool will also be embedded in Hotsheet, Open House, Broker Tour, and Actual Expireds. Advanced MLS will have a few additional features…

Advanced and Prospect Searches

Advanced Search and Prospecting searches will feature a new page layout due to the new map search. Area/Map Range will be moved further right on the interface, presenting the map when “Map Range” is selected.

Clicking on other criteria in these searches (price, year built, etc.) will present a pop-up box over the map (at right). Select criteria or click “Cancel” to access the main screen again.

If you’ve clicked “Count” and an error occurs (“ERR“), the space below the box further explain the error. A polygon that intersects itself may create search errors, for example.

Prospect searches already saved in RMLSweb should work as is with no adjustment needed for this updated search screen.

As always, users experiencing difficulty with the new map search or who have questions should contact the RMLS™ Help Desk at (503) 872-8002 or helpdesk@rmls.com.

RMLS™ is excited about the capabilities of this improved map search feature, and know our subscribers will benefit from these improvements!

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.

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.

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!

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.

Since 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.

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.

RatePlug is now available to all RMLS™ subscribers!

RatePlug is a free service that allows homebuyers to view real-time mortgage products, payments, and other mortgage details specific to each property they view on RMLSweb. Read about RatePlug’s benefits.

When you sign up for RatePlug, what changes will you see on RMLSweb?

• A new “Client Full — RatePlug” option is now available in the drop-down list of available reports on each listing.

• Nearly every listing will show mortgage information to clients, based on the listing’s information.

• Subscribers who sign up for RatePlug can update their auto-email prospect profiles to utilize the new “Client Full — RatePlug” report.

To do so, go to “Prospecting” in the RMLSweb navigation bar and click on “Prospect Profiles.” Click on the name of a client to receive the RatePlug report. Click on the down arrow to the “Report:” field in the “Auto Email Information” section and select “Client Full — RatePlug” report. Then click “Save” at the top of the page.

Remember—RMLS™ subscribers pay no fee for this service, and you may work with lenders you’ve already established relationships with. Enroll for RatePlug on RMLS™ today!

RMLS™ subscribers will have free access to RatePlug starting in mid-June!

RatePlug is a service that allows homebuyers to view real-time mortgage products, payments, and other mortgage details specific to each property they view on RMLSweb. The information is provided by lenders you currently work with and trust. Your customers can interact with the information to zero in on the mortgage program that fits their unique financing needs.

RatePlug also lets your lender prepare detailed, co-branded marketing flyers in seconds that contain property details, property images, your photo, your company logo, as well as mortgage details for your open house events.

The program will be available to RMLS™ subscribers at no additional cost. Lenders are required to pay a license fee to participate.

Features:

• No additional cost for RMLS™ subscribers
• Principal broker or broker selects up to three lenders they want displayed
• Principal brokers can promote in-house lending companies
• Provides customers with valuable mortgage product and payment information while they view each listing (keeping them engaged with your listing rather than searching elsewhere for rates)
• Customers can customize the display to fit their personal financing needs
• Strengthens your referral relationship with your trusted lending partners
• 100% FTC-MAP compliant for recordkeeping and disclosure
• Learning new technology unnecessary—once you enroll, you are done
• Your lender can create detailed, co-branded marketing materials in a matter of seconds

A study of 49,000 purchase transactions in MLS markets across the country showed that properties that featured RatePlug went from listed to contracted 23% faster. Currently, over 50,000 real estate professionals have access to RatePlug, and utilize it on over 500,000 properties per month, seen by 120,000 homebuyers.

Enroll in RatePlug by visiting their website!

As 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.

We’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!

Each year the RMLS™ Forms Committee convenes in order to improve RMLSweb for users. After carefully reviewing suggestions submitted throughout the year by other subscribers, the Forms Committee recommends changes to the listing input forms, which are then reviewed and voted on by the RMLS™ Board of Directors.

After that vote, it’s time for RMLS™ staff to get to work! New code is written and tested behind-the-scenes—and once all the pieces are in place, a 12-hour outage is required to make the improvements for the year.

We anticipate the annual forms change to take place in early June. This will require a 12 hour outage of RMLSweb. We want to make sure subscribers have plenty of notice so they can plan ahead and avoid difficulties when the system is in maintenance mode.

Here are some highlights to expect from the forms change project this year:

• Green Options: we’ve increased the variety and types of green options in RMLSweb. This includes indicating a home’s location near bikeways and multi-use paths, and additional energy efficiency features like photovoltaic panels.
• Public Remarks Increased: the Public Remarks field will increase in size from 380 to 440 characters!
• Schools: an option to select up to two elementary and/or high schools will now be available. In some areas, homes are on a boundary between school districts and may choose where their child attends—REALTORS® will be able to reflect this circumstance in their listings.
• Homeowner Associations (HOA): the HOA field will now be required for all residential and land listings as a yes/no. This is an attempt to alleviate surprises on buyers, who may not find out about HOA fees until after purchasing a property.

We’ll be rolling out more details in the next few weeks as the project nears completion—including the exact date and time of the outage. Check in with the RMLS™ blog regularly for the latest!

RMLSweb Mobile will be getting a little friendlier this week!

On the evening of May 22nd, RMLS™ staff will be enhancing the mobile site—adding the most requested capabilities in Listing Load and introducing interface changes designed to make the site easier for tablet users.

Listing Load will soon be accessible via the main page, and users will be able to make some changes to their listings using the site. Subscribers will be able to change the status of a listing, the price, and expiration date.

Changes to the interface will include enlarging the size of text and on-screen buttons.

Office staff will also be allowed to access the mobile site after this update. To better secure RMLSweb, this will require those staff members (personal assistants, input staff, and office managers) to agree to new Terms of Service when they log in for the first time after the changes are made. (See a redlined version of the new RMLSweb Terms of Service for office staff.)

These improvements to our mobile site also necessitated a small update to the RMLSweb Privacy Policy, which will also take effect after the site is updated. (See a redlined version of the new RMLSweb Privacy Policy.)

RMLS™ knows there many subscribers rely upon their tablets and smartphones for business. We hope these updates will be helpful, as we continue working on our RMLSweb browser and tablet compatibility project this year.