RMLS Rules Roundup for September 2021

Gavel

The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy whether those are submitted via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or by phone. When there are increases in specific violation types, we often place notifications on RMLSweb in order to alert subscribers so that they can avoid violations.

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Every month we send more courtesy notices than we do violation notices by a fairly wide margin. The top two most sent notices every month are reminders to let our subscribers know that their listing is going to expire soon and that their listing is still in pending (PEN) status.

We understand that life can be hectic, and we want to make sure that you are aware of what is happening with your listings. Year-to-date we have sent 10,054 notices, split nearly evenly between the two categories. In contrast, the top two violation notices, Missing Tax ID, and Incorrect or Missing Information, have combined for 5,045 total year-to-date.

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee reviewed 2 cases in September 2021.

The committee reviewed one case in June 2021 that resulted in fines totaling $2,700.00.

  • 5.1.l – Unauthorized use of lockbox system: A Buyer’s Agent gave keys to a listing to the buyer prior to closing and then left them there.
  • 5.1.q – Availability for Showing: A Seller’s Agent did not make a listing available for showing.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS & COURTESY NOTICES

In September 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 28,796 listings in addition to the 449 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,220 violation notices and 1,577 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition, our team handled 416 phone calls.

Category September
Missing Tax ID 370
Incorrect or Missing Information 141
Missing School 132
Personal Promotion 131
Missing Owner Name 61
Incorrect Status 56
No Showings 55
Duplicate Listing 55
Is Property a Condo 43
Property Condition 35
Incorrect First Photo 32
Incorrect Property Type 31
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 21
Inaccurate Lot Size 17
Missing Condo Unit Number 16
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 12
Conditions to Compensation 9
HUD 1
City Unknown 1
Missing SQFT by Level 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in September 2021:

Category September
Listing is Set to Expire 649
Listing Still Pending 451
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 290
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 104
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 51
Listing Still in OMS, Public Records Indicate SLD 32

Questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the accuracy of specific listings can be directed to the RMLS Data Accuracy department at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or 503.395.1916.




RMLS Rules Roundup for August 2021

Gavel

The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy whether those are submitted via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or by phone. When there are increases in specific violation types, we often place notifications on RMLSweb in order to alert subscribers so that they can avoid violations.

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS

When entering a residential listing, it is important to make sure that the correct property type is listed. There can be some confusion about what the property type should be for a listing. Fortunately, we have a handy document that defines property types that you can bookmark in case you need it.

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in August 2021.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS & COURTESY NOTICES

In August 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 31,260 listings in addition to the 490 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,275 violation notices and 2,018 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition, our team handled 416 phone calls.

Category August
Missing Tax ID 434
Personal Promotion 148
Missing School 124
Incorrect or Missing Information 122
No Showings 65
Missing Owner Name 58
Duplicate Listing 56
Incorrect Status 43
Property Condition 37
Incorrect First Photo 32
Incorrect Property Type 30
Conditions to Compensation 29
Is Property a Condo 27
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 17
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 14
Missing Condo Unit Number 10
HUD 9
Inaccurate Lot Size 8
Address Issues 8
City Unknown 3
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in August 2021:

Category August
Listing Still Pending 631
Listing is Set to Expire 548
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 360
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 320
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 90
Listing Still in OMS, Public Records Indicate SLD 69

Questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the accuracy of specific listings can be directed to the RMLS Data Accuracy department at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or 503.395.1916.




RMLS Rules Roundup for July 2021

Gavel

The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy whether those are submitted via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or by phone. When there are increases in specific violation types, we often place notifications on RMLSweb in order to alert subscribers so that they can avoid violations.

JULY HIGHLIGHTS

When a listing is input into RMLS it is important to remember that personal promotion is not allowed in the public remarks, on the photos, or in the virtual/video tours. Rule 3.25 of the RMLS Rules and Regulations states:

Listings submitted to RMLS may be used to provide information pertinent to the listed property only and may not be used to provide broker, seller or lessor contact information, or to advertise a Subscriber’s services to the public by way of direct or indirect advertising or “branding” of the listing data (through linking or otherwise.)

This rule is why we don’t allow links in the public remarks as well as why video tours must not lead to a site that contains contact information. We do review video tours to ensure that they are unbranded. In addition, we review the site where the video is hosted to make sure that it is also free from personal promotion.

Some personal promotion examples to avoid are using your name, your firm’s name, or having an email or phone number on the host site. One example of a hosting site would be YouTube. If the hosting site requires a name to be displayed our recommendation would be to use the property address, a generic phrase like “property for sale,” or a description from the public remarks.

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not meet in July as there were no cases to review.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS & COURTESY NOTICES

In July 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 32,693 listings in addition to the 435 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,284 violation notices and 1,994 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition, our team handled 322 phone calls.

Category July
Missing Tax ID 418
Personal Promotion 184
Missing School 153
Incorrect or Missing Information 109
No Showings 62
Property Condition 56
Missing Owner Name 42
Duplicate Listing 39
Incorrect Status 39
Is Property a Condo 38
Incorrect First Photo 32
Incorrect Property Type 26
Conditions to Compensation 20
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 18
Inaccurate Lot Size 11
Missing Condo Unit Number 10
City Unknown 9
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 7
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 5
HUD 2
Address Issues 2
Missing SQFT by Level 2

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in July 2021:

Category July
Listing Still Pending 618
Listing is Set to Expire 515
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 397
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 289
Listing Still in OMS, Public Records Indicate SLD 89
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 86

Questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the accuracy of specific listings can be directed to the RMLS Data Accuracy department at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or 503.395.1916.




RMLS Rules Roundup for June 2021

Gavel

The Rules Roundup provides a monthly accounting of RMLS rules violations and courtesy notifications. Our Data Accuracy team manages all reports of property listing errors, tracking 34 specific issues outlined in the RMLS Rules and Regulations, and is responsible for addressing subscriber questions and concerns regarding listing accuracy whether those are submitted via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or by phone. When there are increases in specific violation types, we often place notifications on RMLSweb in order to alert subscribers so that they can avoid violations.

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

We are seeing a greater number of listings that are being entered and not able to be shown right away. As a reminder, if a listing has been entered into RMLS it must be available for showing unless it meets criteria laid out in rule 3.27 of the RMLS Rules and Regulations:

Availability for Showing. With the exception of Commercial Lease, Auction, and Coming Soon-No Showing listings, all active listings shall be available for showing immediately upon entry into the RMLS system, excluding listings which require all offers to be made contingent on interior inspection. Listings cannot restrict showing until a future date.

Though there may be valid reasons for your client to restrict showings, such as a renter occupying the property or the property being unsafe, but in cases like this agents should add a statement to the listing remarks that explains that all offers are contingent upon an interior inspection. It may be helpful to provide a brief explanation as to why showings are unavailable. If a home is simply not ready to be shown but you want to let people know it will available soon then publishing as Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN) would be appropriate. This allows other RMLS subscribers the chance to know about your listing so that they can share it with their clients while still affording your client up to 21 days to finish getting their home ready for showings.

It is also important to follow the showing instructions. As listing volume increases with the sunny weather, it can be easy to get excited and not double check the instructions before taking a client into a listing.

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee reviewed one case in June 2021 that resulted in a fine of $250.00.

  • 5.1.l – Unauthorized use of lockbox system: A Buyer’s Agent did not follow showing instructions.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS & COURTESY NOTICES

In June 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 35,446 listings in addition to the 505 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,380 violation notices and 2,065 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition, our team handled 515 phone calls.

Category June
Missing Tax ID 350
Personal Promotion 183
Missing School 182
Incorrect or Missing Information 143
No Showings 133
Duplicate Listing 69
Missing Owner Name 48
Incorrect Status 41
Incorrect First Photo 40
Property Condition 39
Incorrect Property Type 38
Is Property a Condo 36
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 18
Inaccurate Lot Size 14
Conditions to Compensation 13
Address Issues 9
Missing Condo Unit Number 7
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 7
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 6
City Unknown 2
HUD 2

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in June 2021:

Category June
Listing Still Pending 661
Listing is Set to Expire 558
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 354
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 331
Listing Still in OMS, Public Records Indicate SLD 90
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 71

Questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the accuracy of specific listings can be directed to the RMLS Data Accuracy department at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or 503.395.1916.




RMLS Rules Roundup for March 2021

Gavel

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or directly by phone.

We track 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

As the weather warms up and more houses begin to be put on the market it is important to keep in mind the rules regarding lockbox access and showings. Violating the lockbox and showing rules can have serious consequences which may include fines or even suspension from RMLS.

Rule 7.1 reads as follows:

The appointment for showing of listed property shall be arranged as indicated in the RMLS Listing Data Input Form.

a. A Cooperating Broker or Appraiser may use the lockbox access device to enter a listing whose status is Active, Bumpable or Short Sale Pending, only in accordance with the instructions on the RMLS Listing Data Input Form or in accordance with the express instructions of the Listing Broker or Owner.
b. A Cooperating Broker or Appraiser may use the lockbox access device to enter a listing whose status is other than Active, Bumpable or Short Sale Pending, only with the express permission of the Listing Broker or Owner.
c. A Listing Broker, Cooperating Broker or Appraiser may not use the lockbox access device to enter a listing whose status is Coming Soon-No Showing.
d. A property in Coming Soon-No Showing status cannot be shown.
e. If the Listing Broker’s representative is to accompany a Cooperating Broker on the showing of a listing, that requirement must be included in the RMLS Listing Data Input Form and the Listing Broker must have a representative available to accompany the showing at the convenience of the Owner and customer.
f. No Participant or Subscriber may require from a Cooperating Broker a prospective Purchaser’s address or telephone number.

Some tips to keep in mind:

  • Always follow the showing instructions and check the status of a listing prior to opening the lockbox, even if you checked before you left the office. It is better to take the extra step than to accidentally enter a pending listing.
  • Do not let your buyer have access to the listing before the agreed upon transfer of possession date. The seller is still the owner of the property until that time – your buyer may be excited to see the property, but until the transfer you should make an appointment with the Seller’ Agent to view the property. Utilizing the tools available and keeping the rule in mind will help to keep all parties safe and happy.
  • Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double-check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent.

Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in March 2021.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In March 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 31,851 listings in addition to the 574 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,235 violation notices and 1,354 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 343 phone calls.

Category March
Missing Tax ID 424
Incorrect or Missing Information 150
Personal Promotion 119
Missing School 100
No Showings 89
Missing Owner Name 51
Incorrect Status 45
Incorrect First Photo 42
Property Condition 41
Incorrect Property Type 32
Is Property a Condo 25
Duplicate Listing 21
Address Issues 16
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 14
Inaccurate Lot Size 12
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 10
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 10
Conditions to Compensation 8
Missing Condo Unit Number 7
HUD 4
City Unknown 2

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in March 2021:

Category March
Listing is Set to Expire 563
Listing Still Pending 489
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 217
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 72
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 13

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.




RMLS Rules Roundup for February 2021

Gavel

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or directly by phone.

We track 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

Spring time offers the chance to take great photos of your listings. As the season approaches, it’s important to remember that photographs aren’t just a terrific option to market homes – they’re required! Per RMLS Rules and Regulations section 3.8:

At the time of publication, listings submitted to RMLS are required to have one (1) photograph of the exterior building view, except for bare land, which must have a photograph of the land. If the seller does not wish to have a photograph published, a Photograph Omission Form or equivalent
document signed by the seller is required and must be submitted to RMLS within 24 hours of listing publication.

Another item that Buyer’s Agents should keep in mind is that you can request confirmation that your offer was presented. RMLS Rules and Regulations section 8.3 says:

Where the Cooperating Broker is not present during the presentation of the offer, the Cooperating Broker can request in writing, and the Listing Broker must provide, as soon as practical, written affirmation stating that the offer has been submitted to the seller, or written notification that the seller has waived the obligation to have the offer presented.

TIP: Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double-check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent. Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in February 2021.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In February 2021, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 23,447 listings in addition to the 444 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,161 violation notices and 1,243 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 303 phone calls.

Category February
Missing Tax ID 447
Incorrect or Missing Information 140
Personal Promotion 115
Missing School 78
No Showings 68
Missing Owner Name 40
Incorrect Status 38
Incorrect Property Type 38
Property Condition 37
Conditions to Compensation 31
Duplicate Listing 22
Incorrect First Photo 17
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 15
Address Issues 13
Inaccurate Lot Size 10
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 5
HUD 5
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 2
City Unknown 1
Missing Condo Unit Number 1
Not a Short Sale 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in February 2021:

Category February
Listing is Set to Expire 539
Listing Still Pending 405
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 212
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 72
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 12

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.




RMLS Rules Roundup for December 2020

Gavel

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or directly by phone.

We track 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

A new year has begun and this means new listing numbers and often the ‘refreshing’ of listings in order to get a new listing number. If you represent sellers, please let them know that if they ‘refresh,’ they could receive solicitation phone calls from other REALTORSⓇ aiming to represent their property. Conversely, if you are planning to solicit business from sellers who have had a listing cancel or expire, please double-check that the property has not been relisted before contacting them. Solicitation of a listing that is under contract (i.e., Active (ACT), Bumpable Buyer (BMP), Short Sale Pending (SSP), Pending (PEN), Pending Lease Option (POP), Withdrawn (WTH), or Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN) statuses) can result in a fine of up to $2,500.00.

TIP: Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double-check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent. Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in December 2020.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In December 2020, the RMLS Data Accuracy staff reviewed 20,117 listings in addition to the 415 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 896 violation notices and 2,341 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 282 phone calls.

Category December
Missing Tax ID 295
Personal Promotion 126
Incorrect or Missing Information 99
Property Condition 66
Missing School 57
Incorrect Status 46
No Showings 41
Incorrect First Photo 33
Missing Owner Name 27
Duplicate Listing 16
Incorrect Property Type 15
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 12
Is Property a Condo 11
Conditions to Compensation 8
Missing Condo Unit Number 7
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 6
Inaccurate Lot Size 4
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 4
City Unknown 4
Address Issues 2
HUD 2
No Photograph Omit Form 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS subscribers in December 2020:

Category December
Listing is Set to Expire 1624
Listing Still Pending 561
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 109
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 32
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 11
Listing Status Change > 24 hours 3

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.




RMLS™ Rules Roundup for November 2020

Gavel

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS™ subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, through email, or directly by phone.

We track 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

One of the top three violations that we see consistently is Personal Promotion in the public remarks, photos, or video tours. The first two are easy to spot and easy to fix. Video tours, on the other hand, can be tricky. Whether you are making the video yourself or not, it is important to ensure that the video tour does not contain your branding. An unbranded version of the video is what you are going to want to link to in your RMLS™ listing.

You also need to make sure that the page where the video is hosted does not have any information that could be considered branding, such as your name, your firm’s name or logo or contact information. If you have any questions prior to adding a video tour to your listing, please reach out to the Data Accuracy team and we will be happy to help.

TIP: Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent. Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in November 2020.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In November 2020, the RMLS™ Data Accuracy staff reviewed 22,671 listings in addition to the 332 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 963 violation notices and 1,681 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 384 phone calls.

Category November
Missing Tax ID 274
Personal Promotion 93
Incorrect or Missing Information 90
Property Condition 70
Missing School 59
Incorrect Status 54
Missing Owner Name 44
Duplicate Listing 40
Incorrect First Photo 33
No Showings 31
Incorrect Property Type 26
Is Property a Condo 21
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 13
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 12
Conditions to Compensation 11
Inaccurate Lot Size 11
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 8
City Unknown 5
Address Issues 4
HUD 3
Missing SQFT by Level 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS™ subscribers in November 2020:

Category November
Listing is Set to Expire 828
Listing Still Pending 549
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 186
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 60
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 57
Listing Status Change > 24 hours 1

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS™ Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS™ Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.




RMLS™ Rules Roundup for October 2020

Gavel

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS™ subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, by email, or contacting us directly by phone.

We track 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

The Data Accuracy Department receives many calls every day from our subscribers asking for rules clarifications. This is great — we enjoy hearing from you and answering your questions. Lately we have been hearing that the information is being gathered so that it can be disseminated to other people in their office. This is perfectly fine but, as an alternative, we do offer training that can come to you, virtually. Our training department can arrange for a group training through a virtual class on a topic that your office might need more in depth instruction on, including RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. This approach can help standardize information and solutions across your organization.

TIP: Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent. Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee did not review any cases in October 2020.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In October 2020, the RMLS™ Data Accuracy staff reviewed 30,144 listings in addition to the 446 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,282 violation notices and 2,194 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 493 phone calls.

Category October
Missing Tax ID 278
Incorrect or Missing Information 129
Personal Promotion 95
Missing School 80
Property Condition 56
Missing Owner Name 47
Incorrect Status 47
No Showings 43
Duplicate Listing 36
Incorrect Property Type 34
Incorrect First Photo 31
Is Property a Condo 29
Conditions to Compensation 15
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 13
Address Issues 11
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 10
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 8
Inaccurate Lot Size 6
HUD 6
City Unknown 4
Missing Condo Unit Number 1
Remarks indicate Short Sale not marked 1

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS™ subscribers in October 2020:

Category September
Listing is Set to Expire 875
Listing Still Pending 652
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 271
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 248
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 117
Listing Still in On Market Status, Public Records Show Sold 31

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS™ Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS™ Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.




RMLS™ Rules Roundup for September 2020

Gavel

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee has requested that periodic reports are given to subscribers about the number and types of formal rules violations, along with information about informal violations and courtesy notifications by type. Read “If an RMLS™ Rule is Broken, What Happens?” for a deeper explanation.

Have you ever spotted something wrong in a property listing on RMLSweb? The Data Accuracy team is responsible for sorting things out whenever an RMLS™ subscriber contacts us — whether that is via the “Report Issue” button on a listing, by email, or contacting us directly by phone.

We tracked 34 specific issues in Listing Data Checker (LDC), the software that helps us spot and correct issues proactively. Eight of these are courtesy notifications, but the other 26 are informal violations of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. In addition to our focus on education, we also process formal violations throughout the year.

HOT TOPICS

It is important to make sure your listing receives timely status change updates. This is vital to providing accurate property content in the MLS for all RMLS™ subscribers. Since July we have seen a rise in the number of listings that remain in Pending (PEN) status for more than 90 days. Between July and August of this year there was nearly a 60% increase in the number of listings remaining in Pending (PEN) status for more than 90 days and between August to September there was an almost 30% increase.

Courtesy email notifications are sent out to Seller’s Agents to remind them to check the status of their listing. If you receive one from us please double check your listing’s status and respond to the email to let us know the correct status so we can update our records.

TIP: Prior to scheduling a showing, it’s important to double check the listing for any special showing accommodation requests or notes from the seller(s) and/or Seller’s Agent. Be safe out there!

FORMAL VIOLATIONS

The RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee reviews all formal complaints which allege a violation of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. The committee has the power to impose sanctions.

The committee reviewed one case in September 2020 that resulted in $1000 in fines.

  • 5.1.l – Unauthorized use of lockbox system: A Buyer’s Agent shared a lockbox code with someone.

INFORMAL VIOLATIONS

In September 2020, the RMLS™ Data Accuracy staff reviewed 30,834 listings in addition to the 461 notices sent through the “Report Issue” button on RMLSweb. Of the items reviewed, 1,160 violation notices and 2,187 courtesy notices were sent out. In addition our team handled 308 phone calls.

Missing Tax ID 267
Personal Promotion 145
Incorrect or Missing Information 142
Property Condition 108
Missing School 95
No Showings 66
Missing Owner Name 59
Incorrect Status 46
Property Condition 66
Duplicate Listing 41
Is Property a Condo 24
Incorrect Property Type 23
Incorrect First Photo 17
Conditions to Compensation 15
Duplicate Listing in Different Categories 15
Listing Input in Incorrect MLS area 8
Inaccurate Lot Size 8
Missing Condo Unit Number 6
Partial Bathrooms 5+ 5
Address Issues 5
City Unknown 5
HUD 5

The following are the courtesy notifications sent to RMLS™ subscribers in September 2020:

Category September
Listing is Set to Expire 984
Listing Still Pending 585
Multiple Owner Names in First Field 432
New Listing Input Over 24 Hours 108
Listing Still in On Market Status, Public Records Show Sold 22
Listing Status Changed from PEN to SLD > 24 hours 11
Listing Status Change over 24 Hours 1

When we notice an uptick in a specific type of violation (perhaps a rule recently changed or market conditions leading to an increase in a certain type of issue), we may also put a notification up on RMLSweb, educating subscribers before one of their listings gets flagged and we need to contact them.

RMLS™ Data Accuracy can be reached via email or by phone at (503) 236-7657 if you have questions about RMLS™ Rules and Regulations or the data accuracy of specific listings, or simply want to chat with us more about the above information.