MLS Newsletter Articles
Updated:5/8/08
« Have You Swapped Out Your Keyboxes Yet? - updated 5/8/08
« New Keycards - updated 5/8/08
« New Keybox Tip - updated 5/8/08
« Updates to Paragon History Program & Report - updated 5/8/08
« What is Off Market Date? - updated 5/8/08
« New Lockboxes - updated 4/9/08
« Adding Virtual Tours - updated 4/9/08
« Customizing the Paragon Spreadsheet - Add Number of Acres - updated 4/9/08
« Paragon Profile Sheet Changes - March 18 - updated 3/11/08
« Moving from One Company to Another - updated 11/15/07
« March 2008 MLS Stats by Price Range(PDF Format) - updated 5/1/08
« March 2008 and YTD MLS Stats(PDF Format) - updated 5/1/08
« Have You Swapped Out Your Keyboxes Yet?
If your office has not picked up their new iBoxes from the MLS, please do so asap. It is essential that all old grey AEII lockboxes are replaced with new blue iBoxes before new keycards are distributed the week of June 9, as the new keycards cannot open the old lockboxes. To keep the cost of this new system down, we negotiated a significant credit against the cost of the new iBoxes for each old AEII lockbox turned in by May 15. Offices will be assessed a fee of $35 for each old lockbox still outstanding after May 15.
« New Keycards
Starting the week of June 9th, Association and MLS members in our area, who use the Supra lockbox keys, will trade in their old key for a new one. Each Keyholder will receive a mailing detailing the exchange event. With the new infrared iBoxes, you will have additional key choices:
ActiveKEY - the basic key for opening infrared boxes with point-and-beam technology. The ActiveKEY is the new wireless keypad that keeps itself updated 24/7. No cradle, no PC, nothing to remember! You can even keep the ActiveKEY plugged into your car, using the optional car charger. The ActiveKEY can also send a real-time alert to the listing agent whenever an iBox is opened.
eKEY - You can choose from a wide selection of Supra-certified smartphones or PDAs, the same devices that many of your already carry! Just add Supra software and your device becomes your lockbox key. There will be 2 levels of eKEY service that can be added to your smartphone or PDA.
-eKEY Basic lets you open iBoxes to retrieve listing keys & gives you the ability to program your own iBoxes.
-eKEY Professional includes updated MLS information, a complete roster of agents, maps, and showing details right on your device.
All keyholders will be billed $150 annually, which will be billed to offices in June. If you choose to add one of the eKEY services at the time of the exchange, you will also pay an additional monthly fee. Details on the eKEY options are available here.
« New keybox Tip
We have had a few instances where the chain inside the key compartment of the new iBox has jammed the box causing it not to open. If you do not use the chain to secure the key inside the box, please remove the chain.
« Updates to Paragon History Program & Report
The history program and report received a few upgrades/bug fixes last week. For a long time now we have been struggling with history entries that appear out of date order. This problem has been fixed. Another issue we have struggled with is not being able to run a history on a specific unit within a condo project. This functionality has been added. In addition, the map on the history report was upgraded to a Virtual Earth Map which allows you to right click to zoom in and out and switch to an aerial view, and the photo box was upgraded to include a slide show. Simply click the photo to open a slide show box.
« What is Off Market Date?
The primary search screen in Paragon includes a field called Off Market Date. The Off Market Date is not the same thing as the Closing Date. The Off Market Date is the accepted offer date for sold and pending properties, the expiration date for expired properties, and the withdrawn date for withdrawn properties. It is the date the listing left the status of Active and was thus "Off Market". If you are searching Sold listings in order to calculate statistics, you should use the Closing Date which is located on the secondary search screen. The Off Market Date is helpful when searching for a combination of statuses, such as sold and expired in the same search.
« Lockboxes
New infrared lockboxes will begin showing up on listings over the next few weeks. Click here for a picture of the new box. To open this new box, press the same buttons on your DisplayKey, but instead of placing the key in the box, point the infrared panel at the top of your DisplayKey towards the infrared panel on the lockbox. The new boxes do not automatically drop the key compartment like the old boxes. Your DisplayKey will tell you to "press the key container", at which point you should push up on the bottom center of the box to release the key container.
« Adding Virtual Tours
Included in one of the recent Paragon upgrades was the ability for agents to add virtual tours to their listings. Although most agents do not have the security level needed to add and maintain listings, they do have the ability to add photos, associated documents, and virtual tours to their listings, as well as change the map location for their listings. These functions are located under Listings and Maintain from the Paragon Main Menu.
Now that agents have the ability to add their own tours, the MLS will no longer be accepting tours directly from providers on behalf of agents. Please direct your tour provider to send your virtual tour to you for inclusion on the MLS instead of directly to the MLS. As virtual tours are becoming more popular, we are finding that without hiring additional MLS staff, we no longer have the time needed on a daily basis to load tours for agents. This does not mean we are not available to help you load your tours if you need help. We are always happy to help you with Paragon.
Please keep in mind that the MLS does not allow tours that are branded with the agent name or agent/company information. The name of the company is allowed. Often times tour providers send both branded and unbranded tours. Please make sure the unbranded tour is the one that is added to listings on MLS.
« Customizing the Paragon Spreadsheet - Adding Number of Acres
The spreadsheet that displays after doing a search in Paragon is customizable for each agent. This comes in very handy if you are looking for a specific piece of information that you cannot specifically search for, such as Lot Size/Acres.
To add a field such as Lot Size/Acres to your spreadsheet, click on Customize on the tool bar directly above the spreadsheet. A box will pop up showing two lists of fields. The list on the right contains fields already on your spreadsheet, and the list on the left contains fields that can be added. Please note that the list on the left is alphabetical. Find the field you want to add, click on it, and then click the Add button between the two boxes. The new field will be added to the bottom of the list on the right. You may need to scroll down to see it. You can also remove fields by moving them from the right box to the left box. There are also move up and move down buttons in between the two boxes that will allow you to set the order of display. Click the Save & Close button at the bottom when you are done. This new format will be your default. If you want to switch back or if you make a mistake, there is a Revert to Default button next to the Save & Close.
« Statistical Reports
The MLS produces several pre-defined statistical reports on a monthly, year-to-date, and annual basis. These reports can be found by clicking on the Statistics button located on the menu bar to your left.
« Repeating Searches in Paragon
Paragon always remembers the last search you did. During your current Paragon session, the last search criteria automatically appears. If you logout and log back in, the search criteria does not automatically appear, but you can reload it by selecting Load Search and then Load Last Search from the buttons directly above the search prompts.
« Labeling Bathrooms Correctly
Please use the following guidelines when identifying bathrooms in the MLS:
-A Quarter Bath includes a stool.
-A Half Bath includes a stool and a sink.
-A Three-Quarter Bath includes a stool, a sink, and a shower stall.
-A Full Bath includes a stool, a sink, and a bathtub (a shower may also be included)
.
If you don’t have a stool, you don’t have a bathroom
« Moving from One Company to Another
When an agent transfers from one company to another, or to a different branch within the same company, please make sure the MLS has been notified of phone number and email address changes. In addition, please note the following that will need to be adjusted in Paragon:
- In the case of a branch-to-branch transfer, be sure to update the company name to reflect the correct branch on each active listing.
- Email notifications for prospects must be turned back on.
The reason auto-notifications are turned off is because often times the email address of an agent changes when they change offices. Email sent from an inactive email address can cause all Paragon emails to be blacklisted. - Under Preferences, update your E-Card if you have it turned on.
- Under Preferences, update the information in your email Standard Message Body if you use this feature.
- If you use the E-Card and/or the Standard Message Body for auto-emails, you must update the notification information on each prospect individually.
- If you blind carbon copy yourself on auto-emails, you must update this on each prospect individually.
- Update company info in saved CMA presentations.
- Update your company logo if used on your reports.
« Virtual Tour Restrictions
Just a reminder that MLS rules prohibit the display of virtual tours that include agent information and/or office contact information. Office name is allowed.
The reason for this restriction is that links to virtual tours on MLS listings in Paragon are included as part of the Customer Full Report. By design, the listing company is given credit on this report, but there is no agent information or office contact information. The Customer Full Report is the email default from Paragon to clients/customers. Before this restriction was in place, some of the tour links on listings emailed from Paragon took the client/customer to a web page containing agent and office information along with a tour of the property. On some of these web pages the focus was on the agent/office, and not the property.
