Ever get a notification for a watch list item, and forget why you were watching it? As of today, watch lists on RMLSweb now have a field for personal notes!

Users may either write notes when adding a listing to their watch list, or access their watch list via the RMLSweb Prospecting menu and use the button to add/edit notes to each listing. Note text may be formatted, and links added. Each note has a maximum of 500 characters, and notes are included when watch list notifications are sent to users via email or text message.

Since the watch list was introduced on RMLSweb in 2016, we’ve had several requests for a notes field. We’re happy to offer this improvement to subscribers, which is sure to help you in your business.

Beth Raimer hosts Real Talk with RMLS™, a podcast designed for REALTOR® subscribers to get the scoop about all things RMLS™.

Beth Raimer talks to Jennifer Bergh this week about tools on RMLSweb that can help a buyer’s agent manage their workload, including prospecting profiles, watch list, and the hotsheet.

Listeners may now subscribe to Real Talk with RMLS™ on iTunes and Google Play!

Music: “The Major Trend” by AG Music (via MelodyLoops.com)

Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.

Dear TT,

I am SOOOOOO frustrated! I was watching a property using the new Watch List feature on RMLSweb. I have a client that was interested in purchasing it if it ever hit the market again. Well I found out today that not only did it come on the market but it’s already pending! What gives? Why was I not notified? I have a very upset buyer!

Watching for Nothing

Dear WfN:

You did not mention how you were watching the property—MLS number or Tax ID—but based on what happened, I suspect that you were watching the MLS number for an off-market record of the property.

The way Watch List works, it’s looking for activity on either the MLS number or Tax ID. Since the MLS number you were watching was off-market it would never have any additional activity to trigger a Watch List notification. You should always watch the Tax ID number if the property is in some off-market status. That way if the property is relisted, you will be notified immediately.

Sorry to hear about your lost sale, WfN! Now that you know the crucial difference between watching a MLS number and a Tax ID, I’ll bet you’ll never have this issue again.

Technical Terry

Hello Technical Terry-

The other day I got my very first Watch List notification—a property on the Oregon Coast that had just gone on the market. The only trouble is, I don’t know why I was watching it! Was I just testing the system? Was it for a past client who was looking for a vacation home? Was it for a prospective client? I just don’t remember! Can RMLS™ help?

Laurie in LO

“L-O,” Laurie! (See what I did there?)—

One enhancement request we’ve heard from more than a few RMLS™ subscribers is to add a notes field for each Watch List item. Any notes the user enters could help jog his or her memory about why the property is on the list. If the Tax ID number you’re watching comes back on the market in two years (or more!), will you remember why you were interested in it? Other RMLS™ subscribers have expressed their desire for some kind of reference point.

Our development team has been super busy lately with the RMLSweb forms change project and the new mapping module but once they get some breathing room I suspect you’ll see this feature added to Watch List.

Terry on the WWW

Greetings, Technical Terry:

I’m new to RMLS™—I just moved to the Portland area from Arizona. Can you tell me about how the rules are different at RMLS™ compared to the market where I spent the last ten years? One of my coworkers told me that branded tour videos aren’t allowed on RMLSweb which is much different than what I’m used to. Where do I start to learn how things work in my new market?

Eager Beaver

Greetings, Eager Beaver:

Welcome to the Pacific northwest! And what a refreshing, proactive approach to learning about your new market. It’s true, Section 3.24 of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations prohibits personal advertising and branding in listing information, which includes video and virtual tours—so your education is already underway.

If you’re specifically looking for a rundown on RMLS™ rules, I’d recommend attending the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations class offered at RMLS™ offices. If one of the scheduled classes is inconvenient for you, RMLS™ trainers can also come to an office meeting to present a class! Just email training@rmls.com or call (503) 236-7657 to set up an appointment.

Even after you take the class the RMLS™ Data Accuracy team is here to help you navigate the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. They field questions from RMLS™ subscribers every day about the rules and the listing data on RMLSweb. They can be reached via email at dataaccuracy@rmls.com or call (503) 236-7657.

That should be enough to get you started, Eager Beaver, but I would be remiss if I didn’t gently suggest having a thorough read of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations yourself to see what you find. A direct link to the document can be found on the RMLSweb desktop page under the Links menu in the left sidebar. You’ll be an expert on your new market in no time!

Technical Terry

Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.

Good Afternoon, Technical Terry!

I don’t check my email often and my RMLSweb Watch List notification emails get buried. Last week I missed a property that went back on the market until it already had another accepted offer! That’s clearly not how you intended the service to work. What would you suggest?

Wheeler Dealer

Good Morning, Wheeler Dealer! What I would suggest is changing your Watch List to send notifications to you by text message.

Next time you’re on RMLSweb, select “Watch List” under the Prospecting menu on the navigation bar. This is your dashboard for Watch List. Under Options, you can select to receive notifications by text or email.

But wait—is that check box for the texting option greyed out? That’s because you need a number to use for texting! Hover over your name in the navigation bar to access User Preferences, then enter a number into the “Text Phone Number” field and save. Once the number has been saved, head back to Watch List and both text and email options should be available.

Remember, the RMLS™ Help Desk has staff that are happy to help if you need a little more assistance.

Dear TT,

I absolutely LOVE the new Watch List feature on RMLSweb! I have a problem though: I got my first text and thought I was being spammed, so I typed STOP to end them. (I’ve used this trick before to end unwanted text messages.) Now I’m afraid I’ve removed my ability to receive text messages about my Watch List items forever. Can you help me?

Textually Challenged

Dear TC,

It heartens me to hear of your interest in the Watch List feature on RMLSweb! It really does a great job of allowing you to passively watch either MLS numbers or Tax ID numbers based on numerous triggers. To date there have been over 14,000 Watch List items saved in RMLSweb by over 2,500 RMLS™ subscribers. In march alone, there were 15,700 Watch List texts sent!

While you are one of the first to report mistakenly opting out of the Watch List texts, I’m sure you won’t be the last. Readers that have either not set up any properties to watch or have not yet seen a text for a watched property, they look like this.

If you reply to the text message with the word STOP, this screen will appear.

Eagle-eyed readers probably notice that one can reinstate your phone number by texting START again.

If you mistakenly type STOP and want to reinstate your phone number to receive texts about your RMLSweb Watch List items, simply type and send the word START and you’ll receive the confirmation below.

Pretty easy, isn’t it? Whether or not you’re textually challenged, it’s a breeze to restore your Watch List text messages! Good luck, TC.

RMLS™ released two projects on RMLSweb earlier this week that have been regularly requested by subscribers in recent years. The new Share button makes sharing a listing to social media a snap, and Watch List offers instant notification when key changes happen to a parcel of land or listing!

SHARE BUTTON

REALTORS® adding a listing on RMLSweb want to be able to market right away and the Share button offers a new, more convenient way to do so.

In Listing Load, switch to the Detail View tab. Clicking the Share button that appears above the report window will open a new browser tab with a mobile-friendly report featuring the first photo from the listing. The top of this report will feature buttons to easily share the listing on Facebook or Twitter.

WATCH LIST

REALTORS® hoping to keep their eye on a particular listing or parcel of land should find the new Watch List on RMLSweb to be a helpful tool for their business.

When viewing any listing on RMLSweb, click the button above the listing that says “Add to Watch List.” Properties already on the user’s watch list will have an orange button that says “Watching.”

Any parcel of land can be added to Watch List—even a property not on the market. Properties may be added to Watch List by using their tax record. REALTORS® approached by clients interested in purchasing a specific property may be notified when that property comes on the market.

Viewing all properties that have been added to Watch List is a snap—just select Watch List under the RMLSweb Prospecting tab. Up to 50 properties may be on a user’s list at any time.

This view of Watch List is also where RMLSweb subscribers may choose how they’re notified about listing status changes and the like. RMLS™ is able to notify agents via email or text message, either 24 hours a day or between the hours of 7am-10pm. Subscribers wishing to receive a text message should navigate to User Preferences and enter a text phone number which will ONLY be used for sending texts involving Watch List, if desired.

RMLS™ is excited about these two additions to RMLSweb, which were the direct result of subscriber requests. RMLS™ subscribers can always contact the RMLS™ Help Desk at (503) 872-8002 or (877) 256-2169 with questions or suggestions for future improvements.