End of Year Reminders
Friday 29 December 2006
View your invoice and pay your fees ONLINE
Although your subscription fees are due in June, agents can accumulate other charges throughout the year that should be paid within 30 days.
Brokers hold ultimate responsibility for all their agents' subscription fees, fines, and other expenses. These could include LoginKeys™, replacement keys, and no-show fees for classes. If you're a broker, check your account at our online payment center to determine if anyone in your office is past due.
If an agent is no longer with your office, please fax or mail a FREC 2050 form to your local association for processing.
Avoid surprise service interruptions
We all know to check our MLS accounts in June when annual subscription fees are due, but most of us don't check our accounts on a regular basis. Besides your subscription fee, throughout the year there are a hand full of charges that could show up on your account: fines, additional LoginKeys™, and more. MLS policies dictate that if an account is 90 days past due, the entire office's service is to be suspended until payment is received.
Don't let this happen to you! Make checking your account online part of your monthly routine.
Become a Listing Maintenance Expert
Friday 29 December 2006
Make Fines a Thing of the Past
In January of 2007, we will begin offering a new Listing Maintenance Class. The class will cover all the most common listing violations, and we’ll give you some tips about how to avoid making these mistakes yourself. Everyone who uses Listing Maintenance should take this free class; it could prevent you from receiving future fines.
If you should happen to receive a fine in the future, attending the Listing Maintenance Class will qualify you for a $50 credit to be applied to your fine. Just like traffic school, attending this class will lessen the penalty. More importantly, it will help other subscribers understand errors committed, and improve the overall accuracy of the MLS.
While the Listing Maintenance class is optional for veteran subscribers, starting in 2007, all new subscribers must attend the class before being given access to the Listing Maintenance feature of MLXchange. Because so many listing violations are committed by new subscribers, this required class should greatly reduce the number of first-time offenders.
How do I sign up for the Listing Maintenance class?
Contact your local association to register for a class. (Remember: classes are free, but there is a $15.00 no-show fee should you miss the class without canceling.) You can view our current class schedule on the Events Calendar at www.mfrmls.com .
When and Where are Classes Available?
Date: 2 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ EPCAR
Date: 3 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ OSCAR
Date: 11 January 2007 From: 11:00am To: 12:00pm @ GTAR
Date: 16 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ LAR
Date: 17 January 2007 From: 11:00am To: 12:00pm @ GTAR
Date: 17 January 2007 From: 1:30pm To: 2:30pm @ GTAR
Date: 18 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ WVAR
Date: 22 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ GLCAR
Date: 22 January 2007 From: 1:30pm To: 2:30pm @ GTAR
Date: 29 January 2007 From: 1:00pm To: 2:00pm @ ORRA
Date: 31 January 2007 From: 1:30pm To: 2:30pm @ GTAR
Coming Soon—MFRMLS Education E-zine
Thursday 14 December 2006
Look for our new e-zine with an education focus in mid-December. Learn about free classes available on the following topics:
- Basic MLXchange (Required)
- Listing Maintenance (Required)
- MLXchange Professional
- Designer Tool
- IMapp
- CMA
Participate in your own success. Take a class!
New Listing Maintenance Class begins in January
Thursday 14 December 2006
MFRMLS is pleased to offer a new Listing Maintenance Class starting in January, 2007. While this class is mandatory for all new subscribers, anyone who submits new listings can benefit from the information presented. It could save you time, and keep you from making a listing error that could result in a fine.
Why the new class?
We're in the business of providing reliable, accurate listing data. Although issuing penalty fines is an important means to this end, we feel education is the key to improving the quality of the information you rely on. This new class will help keep subscribers from making common listing mistakes.
Why is the class mandatory?
A significant number of listing violations are made by new subscribers who simply don't understand all the rules. This new class will ensure that any new member with access to listing maintenance will know all about how to avoid the most common listing violations. New subscribers will not have access to listing maintenance until they have completed this class.
How will it work?
When a broker hires an agent who joins MFRMLS, the broker will give the agent a signed authorization requesting access to the listing maintenance feature of MLXchange. The agent must then sign up for the listing maintenance class. Once they complete the class and submit the authorization, they will be granted access to listing maintenance within 1-2 business days.
What if my broker doesn't give me an authorization?
Brokers have the final decision about who gets listing maintenance access, so they may issue authorizations at their own discretion. Conversely, many brokers may decide to send their unlicensed assistants to the class, since they are the ones who input listings for the office. Any MFRMLS subscriber can take the class, but a broker authorization is requred for access to listing maintenance..
How much does the class cost?
The class is free with your paid subscription. It lasts about one hour, and covers how to get a listing number, how to upload photos, and how to avoid common mistakes, as well as many other topics.
Is this change retroactive?
No, existing subscribers are not required to attend the class to keep their access to listing maintenance, but you are encouraged to attend. After all, it's free. And if you ever do incur a fine, your attendance will earn you a $50 credit to be applied toward the fine.
See Article 14 of the MFRMLS Rules & Regulations
Thursday 14 December 2006
In real estate, like any other business, disputes arise. Article 14 of your MFRMLS Rules and Regulations describes the Arbitration requirements.
What happens if I have a dispute with another MFRMLS subscriber?
Should you have a dispute with another subscriber, you've agreed to arbitrate in lieu of suing. MFRMLS subscribers agree to arbitrate disputes with other MLS subscribers in different firms instead of filing a lawsuit. If all the disputants are members of the same Association/Board of REALTORS®, they arbitrate pursuant to that organization's procedures. If the disputants are members of different Associations/Boards of REALTORS®, they are obligated to arbitrate in accordance with the procedures of the National Association of REALTORS®.
MLX Wireless
Thursday 14 December 2006
Preliminary Marketing and Support Kit - Coming Soon!
MLX Wireless is another value-added service provided by MFRMLS at no additional cost. It is coming soon, and will make your job easier by allowing you to search the entire MLS from your compatible wireless hand-held device. You'll be able to search and retrieve MLS data through instant hotsheet searches, property searches, and agent and office roster searches. Email listing reports with a full-color property photo on the spot!
We'll make the following support materials available for subscribers who want to take advantage of MLX Wireless:
The Wireless 101 White Paper provides a brief introduction to wireless technology, including benefits and functionality.
The MLS Wireless Tutorial is a user guide with screen shots showing the features of MLX Wireless, which shows how to do a listing search.
The MLX Wireless Support FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) is a handy support guide with plenty of answers.
These materials will become available in the coming weeks, during the roll-out of MLX Wireless. Stay tuned!
Tips on Water-front, Water-view, and Pools
Thursday 14 December 2006
Have you ever shown a client a property that the listing agent claimed had a pool, only to discover they meant a community pool? Have you ever seen a house next to a retention pond described as "water-front?"
When describing a listing as "water-front property," remember that this term also does not include parcels that are blocks away from the body of water. Likewise, "water view" does not apply if you have to stand on the roof to see it.
Community and condominium pools should only be included in the "Community Features" list as the "Pool Y/N (Home)" refers only to pools belonging to the listing itself.
Give Credit Where Credit is Due
Thursday 14 December 2006
Be sure to give credit to the buyer's agents on all your sold listings, and make sure you change the status to closed. Although it's always important to take this step on your sold listings, it's especially important at the end of the year when many agents and brokers use the data on MLXchange to measure their success over the prior year.
Remember: Once you close a property listing, you can no longer edit it, so it's important that you check your listing one final time to ensure its accuracy, especially in regards to the sales price, the closing date, and the selling agent's ID#. The status change needs to be made within two business days of closing, according to the Rules and Regulations.
Omitting the selling agent's ID# is the most common error made when changing a listing from "pending" to "sold." If left unchecked, the buyer's agent will not receive credit for his or her cooperation in the sale. Since most sales involve cooperation between agents, make sure you enter this vital piece of information. If you don't, and this buyer's agent reports the violation, it could result in a fine.
For reminders on how to properly note the selling agent's id #, go to Ezine Issue # 37