Newsletter Archive 2010
January
« Major Change in Representation of Bathrooms on MLS
Currently, your MLS represents total bathrooms as a four digit number. For example, if a home is listed as having 2110 baths, it has 2 full baths, 1 three-quarter bath, and one half bath. The first digit is for full baths, the second digit is for three-quarter baths, the third digit is for half baths, and the last digit is for quarter baths. This was set up many years ago to better identify baths that at the time were listed as a summed number (2.5 for instance) which could have represented many different combinations.
Over the last few years, we have found that our way of representing baths is very different than most MLSs. When we send our bathroom data to national websites, our baths often are mishandled with the biggest problem being that three-quarter baths are ignored. Over the last few months, the MLS Committee and the MLS Board of Directors have discussed this issue, and after much debate have decided that a three-quarter bath (no tub, shower only) should be considered a full bath. On Thursday, February 11 we will begin a conversion that will impact every single family, condo, and multi-family listing of every status in our database (almost 330,000 listings). The conversion will do the following:
- - Three-quarter baths will be combined with full baths under each level (upper, main, lower), and as a total. All three-quarter bath fields will be deleted.
- - Under Single Family and Condo, a new feature will be added under Interior Features for "At Least 1 Tub". If a listing has at least one full bath, before the conversion, this feature will be selected.
- - Under Single Family and Condo, the Master Bedroom Bath feature will be modified to include: Full; Half; None; Walk through; Tub/Shower combo; Walk-in Shower; Tub,No Shower. Listings with three-quarter selected under Master Bedroom Bath will be modified to reflect a full bath. Please modify your current listings to indicate the type of tub/shower present in the master bedroom bath.
- - The search screens will be updated to reflect separate search fields for Full Baths and for Half Baths.
- - All standard MLS reports will be modified to remove the three-quarter bath field. If you have created any custom reports within Paragon, you will need to modify them.
Important: All bathroom count representations will be removed from saved searches. If you have a prospect that has specified a certain number of bathrooms, you will need to update the criteria for that prospect. If you do not add a bath limitation to your prospect’s search, they will still get emails, but listings with all bath counts will be included.
If you have a website that breaks out three-quarter baths, you will need to have your webmaster make a change to eliminate three-quarter baths. All IDX vendors will be notified of this change, but we recommend you mention it to them as well.
New MLS Profile Sheets will be available from the Paragon home page beginning February 4.
« Addition of New Mailing City Field
Along with the bathroom conversion on February 11, we will be adding a new required field called Mailing City. This field will be included with listings sent to all website vendors so that the public can more easily find properties that are located in townships outside cities/villages. Currently, if a property is located in a township, it is often very hard to find that listing by address on some national public websites. The public is familiar with mailing city names, but not with township names. Some national websites use the zip code translated to city name, which helps with this problem, but not all do. On February 11, Mailing City will be added to all active, pending and withdrawn listings based on the following:
- - For properties located in a City or a Village, the data in the Municipality field will be copied to the new Mailing City field.
- - For properties located in a Township, the zip code will be translated to its corresponding city/village name and entered into the new Mailing City field.
The new MLS Profile Sheets available February 4 will include the new Mailing City field.
« eKEY Basic Fees Waived
Currently, you have the option of using either an ActiveKEY or an eKey to open keyboxes. Most members currently use the ActiveKEY, which has always been the least expensive option. For those who have a *Smartphone or *PDA, they have the option of using that device as their keycard. This is a great convenience as these agents only have to charge and keep track of one device. In the past, this convenience came with an additional fee. Not any more! As a result of recent contract negations with GE, we are happy to announce that beginning January 4, eKey Basic users will no longer be charged the extra fee of $6.07 (plus tax) per month. The annual fee of $150 paid by all keycard users will still be charged each June.
If you would like to switch from the ActiveKEY to the eKEY, please call the MLS (608-240-2800) or email marian@wisre.com to set up a time to make the switch after the first of the year. The exchange will take about 20 minutes, and can be done in person or via a phone call. If over the phone, you will need to return your ActiveKEY via the mail.
For those currently using the eKEY Basic service, you will no longer be billed each month via credit card starting in January. If you currently subscribe to the eKEY Professional service (MLS listings, mapping, agent rosters) you will continue to be charged $11.17 (plus tax) per month. The waiver is only for the Basic service.
*Not all Smartphones and PDAs can be used as keycards. Blackberry users will need to purchase a FOB (approximately $50) to make their Blackberry infrared compatible. Click here for a list of compatible devices.
« 2010 Budget Includes New IDX/VOW Fee and No Increase in Dues
At their last meeting, the MLS Board of Directors voted to hold MLS dues at $75 per quarter for 2010. They also discussed the increase in staff time being spent to monitor IDX and VOW websites, and voted to assess a $20 per quarter fee for each IDX and VOW website. A new $100 set up fee will also be assessed for new IDX/VOW requests beginning in 2010.
« 2010 Officers Elected
At their October meeting, the SCWMLS Board of Directors elected Paul Brown, First Weber Group, to the office of President; Dick Brockman, Coldwell Banker Success, to the office of Vice President; and David Stark, Stark Company REALTORS was re-elected as Treasurer for 2010. These individuals will be installed into office on January 7 during the RASCW/SCWMLS Installation and Awards Reception at the Nakoma Golf Club.
« December 2009 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« December 2009 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
February
« Link your Listings to your Facebook Page
If you currently have a Facebook page and would like to display your listings from REALTOR.com on your Facebook wall, go to www.seemylistings.com. When selecting your MLS, click on Madison in the drop down.
« Do You WIREX?
There are currently 74,000+ active listings in the WIREX database from 4 separate MLSs. To access these listings ,click on WIREX during the login process or click on the MLS Switcher from the Paragon home page. The current breakdown for active listings in WIREX is as follows:
- Metro Milwaukee MLS: 31,000 active listings
- South Central Wisconsin MLS: 21,500 active listings
- Northeast Wisconsin MLS: 16,600 active listings
- Central Wisconsin MLS: 5,300 active listings
« New Advertising Rule
At their October meeting, the MLS Board of Directors voted to incorporate the rule below, which is an extension of a current rule that prohibits members from making statements on their websites that suggest the public has access to the MLS, or can search and view listings from the MLS. This new rule extends the same prohibition to other forms of advertising. Effective immediately, members can no longer make statements that the public will have access to the MLS, or that they can search or view listings from the MLS, in any form of advertising including print, television and radio.
USE OF THE TERMS MLS AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE: No MLS participant, subscriber, or licensee affiliated with any participant shall, through the name of their firm, their URLs, their e-mail addresses, their website addresses, or in any other way represent, suggest, or imply that the individual or firm is an MLS, or that they operate an MLS. Participants, subscribers and licensees affiliated with participants shall not represent, suggest, or imply that consumers or others have direct access to MLS databases, or that consumers or others are able to search MLS databases available only to participants and subscribers. This does not prohibit participants and subscribers from representing that any information they are authorized under MLS rules to provide to clients or customers is available on their websites or otherwise.
« January 2010 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« January 2010 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
March
« Craig's List Alert
We have again received multiple notices that vacant MLS listed properties have been posted for rent on Craig's List by a bogus parties. If you have a vacant property listed, you may want to check to be sure it is not posted on Craig's List. If you find your property is being advertised falsely for rent, report it as a scam to Craig's List and request that it be removed immediately.
« Profile Sheet Updates
« Recent Bathroom Change May Impact Your Prospect Auto E-Mails
On February 11, three quarter baths were combined with full baths within Paragon, and the Total Baths search field was replaced with minimum and maximum Full Baths and Half Baths search options. (See full details on www.wisconsinhomes.com.) If you have prospects that have specified a certain number of total bathrooms, you will need to update the criteria for those prospects as the total bathroom field was deleted. If you do not add a bath limitation to your prospect’s search, they will still get emails, but listings with all bath counts will be included.
In addition, the Master Bedroom Bath feature has been modified to include: Full; Half; None; Walk through; Tub/Shower combo; Walk-in Shower; Tub,No Shower. Listings with three-quarter selected under Master Bedroom Bath were automatically modified to reflect a full bath. Please modify your current listings to indicate the type of tub/shower present in the master bedroom bath.
« Building Contracts and Under Construction Listings
We are grateful to have building contracts included in our MLS data. They are very helpful for appraisers and for Realtors doing market analysis. If you would like to enter your building contract, please wait until after it closes, and then enter it directly into sold (choose sold rather than active). Enter the actual list date, accepted offer date, and closing date. Please note that only building contracts with land included are allowed in the MLS.
If you have a building plan (with land) or a property under construction listed as active, please make sure you update the property characteristics (square footage changes, lower level finish, deck addition, etc.) when they change. If you end up making additions, please remember to update the list price as well. Please note that you must include the estimated completion date for all properties under construction within the first line of the public remarks.
« New Searchable Flag For Open Houses
If you enter an open house date and time for your listing, a yes will automatically be triggered in a new Open House Y/N field. You can now set up auto emails for prospects looking for open houses. The Open House Y/N search field can be found on the Advanced Criteria tab along with the open house date. You can still search by open house date, but dates are not able to be stored in auto searches, hence the reason for the new Yes/No field. The Yes flag will be automatically flipped to No when the open house date is passed.
« February 2010 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« February 2010 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
April
« New MLS Rule
At their March meeting, the MLS Board of Directors approved the following in regards to MLS Remarks. This new rule went into effect on Monday, April 5.
If, in the judgment of the SCWMLS Board of Directors, the information contained in a property profile entered into the SCWMLS system displays content or links to other sources that contain content that is illegal, obscene, indecent, disparaging, discriminating or otherwise offensive, the listing broker shall have 2 business days to remove this content or link(s). In the event that listing broker fails to comply with this obligation, the property shall be deleted from the system by the SCWMLS.
« MLS Will No Longer Accept Photo Prints
Beginning May 1, the MLS will no longer offer the service of scanning actual photo prints for inclusion into Paragon. All photos submitted for Paragon must be done electronically. All full SCWMLS members have the ability to load photos directly into Paragon, but if for some reason you cannot access Paragon, and need MLS staff to load a photo for you, you can submit it in an electronic format on our member website at www.scwmls.com
« Got an Offer - Share the News
If you have an accepted offer on a property you are still showing, please inform agents setting up showings that there is an offer. This has always been an area of frustration within our MLS, but with the addition of more showing lines and the current market environment, we are receiving an escalated number of complaints.
Also, please remember MLS rules mandate that if you are no longer allowing showings, you must change the status in the MLS to Pending. The statuses of Active, Offer Bump, and Offer Show indicate your seller will allow a showing. If you run across a listing that is in violation of this rule, please notify the MLS immediately by clicking on the Correction link while viewing the listing in Paragon. This link opens up an email window. Simply type "not showing" into the body of the email, click Send at the top, and we will take it from there.
« New Single Family Search Feature
To facilitate easier searching for properties that have only one dwelling unit, but are being used for student housing and allow unrelated occupants, a new feature under Terms/Misc has been added for Zoned Multi-Family.
« Is There Really Waterview?
In response to recent complaints, the MLS Board of Directors added the following to our rules regarding photos allowed on MLS listings:
No photos of bodies of water are allowed unless the view is visible from the property, or from deeded access.
« March 2010 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« March 2010 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
May
« Annual Key Fee
The Supra Key renewal date is June 1st each year. Next month offices will be billed $150 for each agent currently leasing a key, whether it is an ActiveKey or an eKey. If you are no longer using your Supra ActiveKey, and would like to cancel your key lease, please return your key and charging cord to the MLS office prior to June 4th. If you have an eKey and would like to cancel your lease, call the MLS office. If you have any questions, please contact Marian or Kristine at 608-240-2800.
« Reporting Sales After 10 Days Will Result In Late Fees
At their October meeting, the MLS Board of Directors adjusted the time allowed to report solds to the MLS from 7 days to 10 days. Failing to report a status change in accordance with MLS rules falls under our general $5 per day fee for inaccurate or incomplete information. MLS staff has not gone looking for solds reported late in the past, but in light of recent complaints, we will unfortunately be re-assigning staff to check for solds reported late and will follow up with late fees of $5 per day invoiced to the broker. At that same meeting, the Directors placed a maximum of $25 for a sold reported late, but also added a penalty of $100 on top of the $5 per day if an office falsifies the closing date to avoid this penalty. Please report your closings within 10 days so we don’t have to fine you.
« April 2010 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« April 2010 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
June
« May 2010 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« May 2010 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
July
« Upgrade to an eKey
Currently, you have the option of using either an ActiveKEY or an eKey to open keyboxes. Most members currently use the ActiveKEY. For those who have a *Smartphone or *PDA, they have the option of using that device as their keycard. This is a great convenience as these agents only have to charge and keep track of one device.
If you would like to switch from the ActiveKEY to the eKEY, please call the MLS (608-240-2800) or email marian@wisre.com to schedule an appointment to make the switch. The exchange will take about 20 minutes, and can be done in person or via a phone call. If over the phone, you will need to return your ActiveKEY via the mail. There is no difference in fees charged for the ActiveKey versus the eKEY.
*Not all Smartphones and PDAs can be used as keycards. Blackberry users will need to purchase a FOB (approximately $50) to make their Blackberry infrared compatible. Click here for a list of compatible devices.
« MLS Statistics
Over ten years of MLS historical statistics can be found by clicking on the Statistics button on the left hand side of this site. The newest addition includes Dane County single family and condo sales listed separately by month going back to 2003.
« MLS Rule Reminder for "New" Listings
A new listing contract must be obtained before re-entering an existing listing into the MLS as new. If the MLS discovers a new listing contract was not obtained, the new listing will be deleted and the listing broker will be fined $50. It is not acceptable to draft only an amendment to create a new MLS listing.