Newsletter Archive 2009
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.