Do You Use Action Plans?
Thursday 25 October 2007
Action plans help you manage your clients
When you apply an Action Plan to a client, you have automatically scheduled a list of date driven tasks for that client to your Appointment Schedule. The scheduled tasks in an Action Plan are designed to help keep you on target with a specific goal: following up with new clients, staying in touch with past clients, or getting a property through closing. The tasks in your Action Plan will appear in your "To-Do" list, one of the options under the "Today's Summary" box on your MLXchange home page. You'll also be able to view your scheduled tasks from your schedule. It's a great tool to help stay on top of all the things you need to do to keep your clients happy.
Here's how to make an Action Plan work for you:
- To set up an Action Plan, hover over the "Schedule" option in the menu bar and choose "Plans Manager" from the drop down menu.
- We have several preset system Action Plans, including Seller Prospecting Plan, Buyer Action Plan, Listing Plan Check List and more. The preset system Action Plans are "Read Only." To customize your plan, select the default plan you want and click "Copy" in the bottom right hand corner.
- Rename the plan and click "OK." Your plan will be placed in the Plans Manager.
- To use an Action Plan, you must assign it to a client. Select the "Client" tab in the navigation menu, select a client, and click the "Details" button. Next, select the "Apply Plan" button and add your chosen Action plan to the "Applied Plans" list.
- Select a date to start your action plan.
MLXchange 4.0 Features
Thursday 25 October 2007
Upgrade promises improved Map Search
By the end of the year, we plan to upgrade to MLXchange to version 4.0. The upgrade will build on the improvements made for 3.0 and it will dramatically improve the functionality and usability of the Map Search.
Didn't We Just Upgrade?
We upgraded to version 3.0 in June 2007, 5 months ago. While version 3.0 introduced many noticeable improvements—such as spell check, identity sharing, and action plans—the biggest changes were behind the scenes: in the software architecture itself. These behind the scenes changes made possible the exciting improvements you'll find in MLXchange 4.0.
MFRMLS Beta Test
Recently, we had the opportunity to form a beta version test group to evaluate MLXchange 4.0. Comprised of board members, brokers, and agents, the test group received a comprehensive, hands-on overview of MLXchange's new features. While the beta group members were impressed with many of the new features, the improvements to the map search proved so exciting, they overshadowed everything else.
Improved Map Search
The new map search harnesses the power of Microsoft® Virtual Earth. It features an improved aspect ratio, making it easier to view what you need without scrolling. You can grab and drop to navigate the map, double click to zoom, and easily switch between a road map and aerial photo. The Draw Polygon tool is easy to use, too, and once it is set, you can still navigate around the map.
Results/Map Screen Split View
View your search results as a list and a map on the same screen. Roll over a listing on the map to reveal a window containing information about the property. Get an aerial view with the click of the mouse. You can select properties from either the Results List or the Results Map.
Other Great New Features
My Sidebar
This collapsible sidebar contains quick links to important utilities, allowing you to access other applications in a new window, without leaving the screen you are viewing.
Results Screen Enhancements
Properties with recent price changes appear in a different color with an up or down arrow. You can drag and drop entire columns so you can quickly see the data in the order you want, and you can summon the Map Screen Split View with the click of the mouse. New icons make navigating the results screen easier than ever.
Driving Directions
Now you'll be able to use MLXchange to e-mail comprehensive driving directions based upon any of the advanced routing features currently available.
Too Many to Mention
A Search Map Locator, Enhanced Email Editor, Email Confirmations, updated Agent Web Pages: the list goes on. Keep reading your e-zine for more information about the upgrade to MLXchange 4.0.
MFRMLS Welcomes 5 Southwest Florida Associations
Thursday 25 October 2007
Growth will allow MFRMLS to increase subscriber services
The Mid-Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service (MFRMLS) welcomes members of five additional Associations of Realtors® to its ranks. Over 8,000 Realtors® from Southwest Florida are joining more than 32,000 real estate professionals from the eight current Central Florida member associations to make MFRMLS one of the largest and strongest multiple listing services in the country.
By welcoming the new associations, MFRMLS essentially expands the Central Florida real estate market, which will stretch from Punta Gorda to Tampa and along the I-4 corridor to Volusia County.
Our new partners will begin participating in MFRMLS in 2008. We've carefully planned for a phased introduction of each association so we can address the unique requirements of each in turn-without diverting resources from our current support efforts.
Removing the Invisible Barrier Between Overlapping Markets
In a similar expansion in 2004, MFRMLS added the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors® (GTAR) to its ranks, and by doing so, removed an invisible information barrier between Central Florida and Tampa. Lakeland and Bartow are home to commuters from both the Orlando and Tampa areas, and until GTAR joined MFRMLS, providing quality service to Tampa clients proved difficult.
By including GTAR, MFRMLS solved a problem of what current MFRMLS President Jack Vahey calls "overlapping markets." Vahey says, "These five Southwest Florida associations are right next to Tampa. Including them in MFRMLS eliminates the need for Realtors® there to belong to two multiple listing services."
The merger also unifies the Southwest Florida real estate market as well. Alan Mitchell, President of the Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of Realtors® said, "We had worked for years to create a Data Sharing Alliance between the associations in Southwest Florida, but we knew it was just a first step. We were impressed with the professionalism and outlook of MFRMLS, and sharing a common MLS with our neighboring associations to the north will be a tremendous benefit for our members."
Vahey said, "We appreciate the trust and confidence the Presidents of the new Associations have placed in MFRMLS, and we are looking forward to our new partnership."
MFRMLS is Ready to Grow
MFRMLS Vice President Joel Cohen has led the MLS through significant growth in the past several years. "We are ready to grow again," Cohen says. "We have assembled an extraordinary team of management, administrative, and support staff that are prepared to pave the way for a smooth transition, and we look forward to providing a service that exceeds the expectations of our new member associations."
Is Bigger Better?
Jack Vahey says, "Every time we get bigger, the cost per member is decreased." With more members in the ranks, MFRMLS leaders are able to use the economy of scale to negotiate better prices for subscriber services. MFRMLS President-elect Marty Hunt is excited that the growth "will allow MFRMLS to provide enhanced services to assist subscribers in serving clients and customers."
Forward-thinking Realtor® associations nationwide are looking at consolidation of MLS systems," said Joe Hembree, 2007 President of the Sarasota Association of Realtors®. "We've listened to our members, and I think we've made the right decision regarding the future of our MLS system. The consolidation effort strengthens our technology platform, improves our data exchange, and makes life much easier for our members."
May Aston, President of the Manatee Association of Realtors®, is excited about joining MFRMLS. "It is something that our members have wanted for many years," she says, "and it will provide us with many services that would be difficult or expensive to obtain on our own."
Louise Bacher, President of the Englewood Area Board of Realtors® says, “As the smallest association of the group, we could not offer our members all the software benefits that Mid-Florida will.” Louise also notes that joining MFRMLS will give our sellers more exposure and introduce Englewood to larger markets.
Laura Kopple, President of the Venice Area Board of Realtors® says that becoming a part of MFRMLS eliminates the need for Venice area Realtors® to be members of more than one MLS. "It will unify the local market and provide greater exposure for listings in Venice," Laura said.
Currently, the MFRMLS member associations include the Bartow Board of Realtors®, East Polk County Association of Realtors®, Greater Lake County Association of Realtors®, Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®, Lakeland Association of Realtors®, Orlando Regional Realtor® Association, Osceola County Association of Realtors®, and West Volusia Association of Realtors®. The new member associations will include Englewood Area Board of Realtors®, Manatee Association of Realtors®, Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of Realtors®, Sarasota Association of Realtors®, and Venice Area Board of Realtors®.
ShowingTime Update
Thursday 25 October 2007
Feature becomes standard November 28, 2007
On November 28, 2007, ShowingTime (now an optional enhancement available with your MLS subscription) will be come the standard way to provide showing instructions for your listings in MLXchange.
When the update is complete, the dropdown options for "Showing Instructions" currently seen in Listing Maintenance will be enhanced with an additional text input field called "ShowingTime Secure Remarks."
Obsolete Reports Are Marked for Deletion
Thursday 25 October 2007
Reports will be removed from MLXchange on December 3, 2007
In February 2007, based upon recommendations from our Reports Review Task Force, we added several new Reports to MLXchange. Reports, like the "Res Broker Synopsis" or "Res Broker Gallery" are templates designed to show specific MLS data for exclusive audiences.
Our Reports Review Task Force also identified a number of Reports that were obsolete or seldom used by subscribers. To make using Reports easier, on December 3, 2007 we will be eliminating these unwanted reports. View a list of the reports market for deletion.
If you find a report on our list that you want to continue using, you can use Designer Tool to download the report and save it as a custom report. Custom reports will not be affected by the deletions in December.
How to Download Designer Tool
- From the navigation bar in MLXchange, select "Tools."
- From the "Tools" menu select "Report Tools" and then select "Install Designer Tool" from the dropdown.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to initiate the download.
- After you follow the download instructions, you'll need to restart your computer before you can start using Designer Tool.
- Once you've restarted, you should find a Designer Tool icon on your desktop.
- Double-click the icon and type in your Login and Password. NOTE: Designer Tool is not LoginKey™ compatible, so type just your Login and Password.
How to Save a Report in Designer Tool
- After logging into Designer Tool, open the report you wish to keep.
- At the top, click "FILE" then "SAVE AS" and give the report a new name. We recommend placing “MY” in front of the report name. For example: MY 10 Photo View.
- After saving the report and giving it a new name in Designer Tool, sign into MLXchange and replace the report in any automatic notifications if necessary. The newly named report will also show up in the pick list of available reports.
Report Data Error Icon
Thursday 25 October 2007
Help us keep your MLS accurate
MFRMLS devotes significant resources to ensuring the accuracy of the data in your MLS. In our continuing effort to improve accuracy, we've introduced a new, easy way for you to report listings that present incomplete or inaccurate information.
In the left sidebar of the listing report view of any listing, you'll see a new icon in the tool bar entitled "Report Data Error." Clicking on the icon will take you to a customized "Report A Violation" page, preloaded with the MLS Number and the address. Specify the nature of the violation in the required "Listing Error" field and suggest a correction in the optional "Suggested Error Correction" field.
As soon as you hit submit, the violation report will be sent to the MFRMLS Department for review. If the issue is deemed to be an actual violation, appropriate measures will be taken to correct/address the issue. It can take up to 7-10 business days to see the corrections.
Prior to reporting a potential violation, we encourage you to notify the listing agent of the error and ask for his or her cooperation in getting the problem corrected. In many cases, an error is simply an unintentional typo, which the listing agent is happy to fix when he or she is notified.
Upgrade promises improved Map Search
Monday 15 October 2007
By the end of the year, we plan to upgrade to MLXchange to version 4.0. The upgrade will build on the improvements made for 3.0 and it will dramatically improve the functionality and usability of the Map Search.
Didn't We Just Upgrade?
We upgraded to version 3.0 in June 2007, 5 months ago. While version 3.0 introduced many noticeable improvements—such as spell check, identity sharing, and action plans—the biggest changes were behind the scenes: in the software architecture itself. These behind the scenes changes made possible the exciting improvements you'll find in MLXchange 4.0.
MFRMLS Beta Test
Recently, we had the opportunity to form a beta version test group to evaluate MLXchange 4.0. Comprised of board members, brokers, and agents, the test group received a comprehensive, hands-on overview of MLXchange's new features. While the beta group members were impressed with many of the new features, the improvements to the map search proved so exciting, they overshadowed everything else.
Improved Map Search
The new map search harnesses the power of Microsoft® Virtual Earth. It features an improved aspect ratio, making it easier to view what you need without scrolling. You can grab and drop to navigate the map, double click to zoom, and easily switch between a road map and aerial photo. The Draw Polygon tool is easy to use, too, and once it is set, you can still navigate around the map.
Results/Map Screen Split View
View your search results as a list and a map on the same screen. Roll over a listing on the map to reveal a window containing information about the property. Get an aerial view with the click of the mouse. You can select properties from either the Results List or the Results Map.
Other Great New Features
My Sidebar
This collapsible sidebar contains quick links to important utilities, allowing you to access other applications in a new window, without leaving the screen you are viewing.
Results Screen Enhancements
Properties with recent price changes appear in a different color with an up or down arrow. You can drag and drop entire columns so you can quickly see the data in the order you want, and you can summon the Map Screen Split View with the click of the mouse. New icons make navigating the results screen easier than ever.
Driving Directions
Now you'll be able to use MLXchange to e-mail comprehensive driving directions based upon any of the advanced routing features currently available.
Too Many to Mention
A Search Map Locator, Enhanced Email Editor, Email Confirmations, updated Agent Web Pages: the list goes on. Keep reading your e-zine for more information about the upgrade to MLXchange 4.0.
Tax ID Errors Continue to Top List
Monday 15 October 2007
Two out of five listing violations in September were for improperly formatted Tax IDs. We're making a big effort to give you the information and the tools you need to avoid fines. Here is what we have done to reduce Tax ID violations.
- When you open Listing Maintenance in MLXchange, immediately after the "Select Property Type" dialog box, you'll encounter the "Tax Autopop" dialog box. Use this feature! By selecting "OK" you'll be able search for the property in the county tax records, select the appropriate property, and MLXchange will correctly input the Tax ID and many other required fields automatically.
- Next to the Tax ID field you'll find the Info Icon. Click the icon and you'll see examples of how to format a Tax ID for every county in the MFRMLS area.
- If you try to type the information in manually, a pop-up reminder appears, reminding you to double check the format, and suggesting that you use the Tax Autopop feature to avoid fines.
ShowingTime to Become Standard
Monday 15 October 2007
Feature will enhance "Showing Instructions" on MLXchange
Many savvy Realtors® have taken advantage of the time-saving benefits of ShowingTime since we introduced the option in July of 2005. Since then, the ShowingTime icon has appeared on more and more listings, but not all. That will change in the coming months when new system upgrades closely integrate ShowingTime with MLXchange making the ShowingTime icon a standard feature on every listing.
When the update is complete, the dropdown options for "Showing Instructions" in Listing Maintenance will be enhanced with an additional text input field, called "ShowingTime Secure Remarks," where you can type complete showing instructions including secure showing information. After you submit the listing, the ShowingTime Secure Remarks you have provided will automatically transfer to ShowingTime; the ShowingTime icon will appear on your listing in MLXchange; and you'll have access to all the benefits ShowingTime provides.
Do You Use Action Plans?
Monday 15 October 2007
Action plans help you manage your clients
When you apply an Action Plan to a client, you have automatically scheduled a list of date driven tasks for that client to your Appointment Schedule. The scheduled tasks in an Action Plan are designed to help keep you on target with a specific goal: following up with new clients, staying in touch with past clients, or getting a property through closing. The tasks in your Action Plan will appear in your "To-Do" list, one of the options under the "Today's Summary" box on your MLXchange home page. You'll also be able to view your scheduled tasks from your schedule. It's a great tool to help stay on top of all the things you need to do to keep your clients happy.
Here's how to make an Action Plan work for you:
- To set up an Action Plan, hover over the "Schedule" option in the menu bar and choose "Plans Manager" from the drop down menu.
- We have several preset system Action Plans, including Seller Prospecting Plan, Buyer Action Plan, Listing Plan Check List and more. The preset system Action Plans are "Read Only." To customize your plan, select the default plan you want and click "Copy" in the bottom right hand corner.
- Rename the plan and click "OK." Your plan will be placed in the Plans Manager.
- To use an Action Plan, you must assign it to a client. Select the "Client" tab in the navigation menu, select a client, and click the "Details" button. Next, select the "Apply Plan" button and add your chosen Action plan to the "Applied Plans" list.
- Select a date to start your action plan.