New MFRMLS Website
Thursday 24 January 2008
Redesigned to be easier to use
We are near the end of a comprehensive redesign of the MFRMLS website. Due for release in the next few weeks, the updated website puts more of the information you need at your fingertips. Besides getting a fresh new look, the new mfrmls.com will also feature the following upgrades:
Interactive Training Schedule
You'll be able to view all the training classes available to you as part of your subscription. It will be easier than ever to find when and where the class you need is available, and you'll be able to sign up online.
Helpful Resources
A searchable index of Web pages and important documents will help you navigate the website and find what you need with ease.
News Archives
You'll be able to view the latest MFRMLS news headlines from the home page, and our redesigned News Archive features a more comprehensive search, allowing you better access to past articles.
Help Desk
The new Help Desk home page gives you five easy ways to contact a Help Desk professional and get the support you need to stay productive.
New Photo Policy
Thursday 24 January 2008
Making Sure All Listings Have Photos
Missing photos consistently rank as one of the top-five listing violations each month. Our subscribers often tell us that, of all common listing errors, a missing photo is the most detrimental when it comes to presenting a property to a client.
To eliminate fines for missing photos, and to ensure all listings on MLXchange have a photograph, the Board of Directors voted to institute a new photo policy as of February 20, 2008. Under the new policy, no listing can be activated without a photo. Listings submitted without a photo will be placed in a temporary holding area, giving the listing agent time to secure a photo and upload it to MLXchange.
This policy represents a significant change in two ways:
The previous policy allowed up to 7 business days for a listing agent to upload a photo; the new policy requires a photo before the listing can be made active.
The previous policy also afforded an Association Loaded option, whereby a photographer hired by MFRMLS would provide a photo within 7 business days. Because the new policy requires a frontal exterior photo immediately, the Association Loaded option is no longer practical, and it will not be available as of March 1, 2008.
Savvy Realtors® already know that a good photograph can make a big difference when trying to market a home, and the best photos are often the photos you take yourself. Here are a couple of points to remember when uploading your photos:
- All properties require a photo except vacant land.
- The first photo must be a frontal exterior of the property.
- Photos cannot contain names, phone numbers, or logos.
Compliance Corner
Thursday 24 January 2008
Warning Letters Significantly Reduce Fines
Last month, MFRMLS implemented a new policy regarding listing violations: Warning Letters. Since December 1, 2007, we have issued electronic Warning Letters to subscribers who have listing violations on MLXchange. The letter allows for 24 hours to correct the data error before a fine is imposed.
The results have been spectacular. In December, we issued a total of 787 warning letters, and nearly 9 of 10 who received a letter corrected the violation within 24 hours. As a result fines for December are at an all time low, without a decline in the accuracy of the data in your MLS.
What Operating System Do You Use?
Thursday 24 January 2008
Beware of obsolete operating systems
MLXchange is a highly sophisticated online software application. Just like programs that run directly on your computer, MLXchange has system requirements. For MLXchange to function properly, you must use the Internet Explorer 7.0 browser on a computer running Windows XP Service Pack II or Vista.
Sometimes our Help Desk takes calls from subscribers working with Windows 98 or Windows ME, but unfortunately these outdated operating systems cannot run all the features of MLXchange. If you are running one of these old operating systems, our Help Desk Professionals will be unable to help you troubleshoot technical issues.
In July of 2006, Microsoft released the last security patch and software update for Windows 98 and Windows ME, and they ceased supporting those operating systems. If you still run an old operating system, not only will you have problems working with MLXchange, but you will certainly have trouble with other current applications, and because there hasn't been a security update in over 18 months, you leave your system vulnerable to viruses and attacks.
Search Foreclosures on IMAPP
Wednesday 09 January 2008
Feature upgrade adds to the power of IMAPP
IMAPP is an industry leader in providing tax roll data, parcel maps, and integrated MLS information. The IMAPP system is available to you as part of your MFRMLS subscription. Recently a new search tab joined Tax Search and MLS Search on IMAPP: Foreclosure Search.
Once a Lis Pendens has been filed against a property owner and the documents have been recorded at the county courthouse, data is entered and updated in the IMAPP system, tracking the progress of the foreclosure history.
Using the IMAPP system, you can view information such as:
- The scheduled sale date for the foreclosed property
- Sale result
- Plaintiff and defendant names
- The attorney name involved in the proceedings
- The case number and file date
- Judgment amounts
From the parcel map, you can view the location of a property in foreclosure. Any property with foreclosure data will display with a gavel icon on the map view. By interacting with the map, you can view tax records and foreclosure details.
You can also search foreclosure data with the new "Foreclosure Search" Tab. You can search by a scheduled auction date or a file date by property zip code, subdivision, or street address, and you can customize your search by property type or size.
New MFRMLS Management and Training Roles
Wednesday 09 January 2008
Enhancing our focus on Education and Service
As we add ever-more powerful tools to your MFRMLS subscription, and as new members join our ranks, we are making subscriber education and service a top priority. To accomplish these goals, we have created new MLS Management and Training roles.
Carole Burgess became the Director of MLS Administration on January 1, 2008. Carole has been with MFRMLS since its inception and has contributed greatly to making it one of the most successful and largest MLSs in the country. She will be applying her twenty-five plus years of MLS and Association experience to help the MLS Administrative Department achieve world class status and ensure it has the resources to accommodate MFR's future expansion and superior customer service goals.
Also on January 1, 2008 Deanna Harris took on the role of Director of Support and Services. Her rich experience has already transformed our Help Desk in to a state-of-the art subscriber service center, and now we will also call upon her expertise to build our training division into a superlative Training Department.
Joining Deanna in the Training Department are four new trainers who we are pleased to welcome to the MFRMLS Family. Terry Barnett, Ivette Jimenez, Cindy Rayfield, and Jennifer Thompson will be contributing their talents to enriching our education efforts, and we will continue to rely on Shayne Fairley for his leadership and tremendous training skills.
What's New in MLXchange 4.0
Wednesday 09 January 2008
Online Training Opportunities
When we rolled out MLXchange 4.0 last month, we gave subscribers the chance to attend one of four interactive webinars that explained all the new features of the latest version of MLXchange. Did you miss out?
Don't worry, we have archived the webinar on our website. It gives you a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of all of the new features. The full presentation is less than an hour, and you can view it in the comfort of your home or office. If you take the time to watch the webinar, we are sure you'll learn at least one new thing about MLXchange 4.0 that will save you time and make your life easier.
View What's New in MLXchange 4.0 now»"Pool Y/N" and "Pool Description" Fields Now Available for Rental Listings
Wednesday 09 January 2008
Enhancement takes affect Monday, January 7
In the past, listing agents were not able to take advantage of the "Pool Y/N" and "Pool Description Fields" when listing rental properties on MLXchange (the feature has been available for listings for sale). As of Monday, January 7, these two fields have been made available for rental listings. You will find the "Pool Y/N" and "Pool Type Fields" between "Waterfront Name" and "Services Include" fields in Listing Maintenance.
New MongoFax Cover Page
Wednesday 09 January 2008
New cover page incorporates expanded features
MongoFax has upgraded their services for MFRMLS subscribers. The new MongoFax coversheet will make it easier for you to deliver, search and organize your scanned MongoFAXes by subject line. They have added capacity to the Notes Box. You can now perform a Desktop Search for words contained within your scanned MongoFAX PDF's, and for your convenience, a "Clear All" button allows you to clear an entire cover page with one click.
MLXchange Hotfixes
Wednesday 09 January 2008
System Updates Made on January 2
Since the rollout of MLXchange 4.0, MarketLinx, the developer of MLXchange, discovered a hand full of issues that affect the functionality of specific aspects of MLXchange. MarketLinx has prepared a number of Hotfixes that they implemented on January 2, 2008.
Moreover, our Help Desk professionals have been working with subscribers to troubleshoot issues that have arisen regarding how clients view Reports sent to them from the Client Manager. We quickly identified solutions for these issues, and fixes are being implemented now.