Newsletter Archive 2005
December
« More Counties Added To Paragon Tax
Adams, Juneau, Monroe, and Richland Counties were added to Paragon Tax Records in September. Marquette and Vernon Counties were added to Paragon Tax Records in October. Lafayette County was added to Paragon Tax Records in November.
« November 2005 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« November 2005 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
November
« What Can I Count As Finished Square Footage?
At their September meetings, the MLS Committee and the MLS Board of Directors voted to add the following to the MLS Square Footage Guidelines:
To be considered finished square footage, the space must be heated, have finished walls (painted concrete does not count), have a finished ceiling (no exposed floor joists), and have a finished floor (painted concrete does not count). If one of these four components is missing, the space can still be counted as finished, but disclosure of the missing component must be included in MLS remarks.
« Two New Listign Features Added
Electronic Pet Containment System is now listed as an option under Exterior Features for Residential listings. This option has been added within Paragon, but will not be added to the MLS Profile Sheets until the next scheduled reprint in January.
Commercial Condo is now an option for Type for Commercial listings. Again, this option has been added within Paragon, but will not be added to the MLS Profile Sheets until the next scheduled reprint in January.
« Autofill Tax To New Listings
If you are not currently using the Tax Autofill link when adding a listing, you may want to check it out. Clicking on the Tax Autofill link at the top of the Add Listing screen will take you to the Tax Search page. Locate the property you are adding by parcel number, address, or owner name. Select the tax record, and then click on the Autofill link at the top of the screen. Information such as address, owner, legal description, assessments, and taxes will be automatically imported into the add-listing screen saving you keystrokes. If the listing agent has provided information that is different from what is auto-filled, you can simply overwrite the auto-filled information.
« Lookup Offices/Agents On Paragon
Office and Agent roster information is accessible to all users via Paragon. To find an office, agent or roster of an office, click on Reports from the blue menu bar on the home page of Paragon. The Member Roster includes a list of agents within an office. The Agent Roster provides one line of info about each agent. Within each report, there are links to agent and office phone numbers and email addresses. The search tool included allows you to look for one individual, a list of agents within an office, or even all offices/agents in a specific city.
« Stats
« Stats 2
October
« Keyboxes And The End Of Daylight Savings Time
When daylight savings time ends on Sunday October 30, the access time for keyboxes will change to open one hour earlier. Keyboxes will be set to open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. until daylight savings time begins again in the spring.
« Updated!! MLS Profile Sheets
Slight changes have been recently made to the MLS Profile Sheets. Please check to be sure you are using profile sheets with a revision date of 8/05. The most current Profile Sheets can be found under Forms on this website, or within MLS Docs from the Paragon home page. The MLS Profile Sheets within Zip Forms are in the process of being updated.
« Feb Stats
« Feb Stats
September
« "More Counties Added To Paragon Tax
Adams, Juneau, Monroe, and Richland Counties were recently added to Paragon Tax Records. In addition, we have secured data for Vernon County and will be adding it to the list shortly.
« New Links On Agent Full Reports
The Agent Full Reports in Paragon now include colorful boxes labeled H, M, T. These boxes are quick links to History, Mapping, and the Tax Record. If your listing does not have a T box, this means the parcel number entered for that listing is incorrect, or is located in a county we do not have tax records for.
« MLS Take Photo Y/N Question Removal
Currently, only 8% of the new listings entered into the MLS include a request for the MLS Photographer to take a photo. Of this 8%, 19% end up with duplicate photos as the agent that marked yes for MLS to take a photo also provides a photo. At their last meeting, the MLS Board of Directors voted that it is time for the MLS to remove the MLS Take Photo Y/N question from the MLS profile sheets and no longer offer this service. This change will take effect September 1.
Please keep in mind that uploading a photo as soon as a listing is entered creates the biggest “bang”. When new listings are automatically emailed via Paragon to other agent’s prospects, those with photos are more apt to capture the attention of that potential buyer.
« Properties To Be Sold At Auction
More properties to be sold at auction are being marketed via the MLS. In these cases, the listing broker (often times the auctioneer) is offering cooperation and compensation to other members of the MLS. To ensure needed information about these auction properties is provided, an MLS rule was recently adopted to mandate that properties being sold at auction include the date of auction, preview dates, and an explanation of what is being represented as the list price within the first line of MLS Remarks. In addition, it is recommended that if there is a flyer with additional information about the auction, that this flyer be included as an associated document.
« Stats
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AUgust
« Entering Net Taxes
When entering Net Taxes as part of a new listing, the figure that should be used is after other taxes, specials, and the lottery credit (if applicable) are applied.
« Paragon Public Records Enhancements
The following have been added or enhanced in Paragon Public Records:
- -Iowa County has been added
- -Links to plat maps have been added for Dane County parcels
- -Mailing labels in Dane County now display owner name as first name, last name
« Commission Paid On gross Sale Price
The MLS rules imposed by the National Association of Realtors state that offers of compensation made through the MLS must be based upon a percentage of the gross sale price or a specific dollar amount. This applies even in the case where seller-paid concessions/credits increase the sale price, or in a case where improvements on existing property, or add-ons on new construction are negotiated. If it is your intent to pay a commission based only on the net sale price (before seller concessions/credits, improvements or add-ons), the cooperating broker must agree to this in writing.
« Tracking Your Market From The Paragon Home Page
The MLS Market area within the Market Monitor (left edge of the Paragon home page) is a great place to track activity for a specific geographic market. By default, the MLS Market is defined as the whole MLS. You can limit that to just the market you would like to monitor by clicking on the Change Area button within the Market Monitor. Click Remove All to move all municipalities from the right to the left box, and then move just the municipalities you want to monitor back to the right box. If you want to include a whole county, click the Sort by Code button to group municipalities by county.
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July
« New Features Available For Listings
The following new features have been added to the pick lists within Paragon. If you have a listing that has one of these features, please add it. As we are awaiting a few more changes, MLS Profile Sheets will be updated to reflect these additions in August.
- Studio has been added as a new Style for Condominiums.
- Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) has been included under the Terms section for Residential properties.
- Life Lease (no title transfer) has been added as a new feature under Style and Terms/Misc. for Condominiums. If a listing is marked as a Life Lease transaction, further information on selling this type of property will be included by the listing broker under the Associated Documents.
« Statistics in Paragon
Statistics (average, median, volume, days on market) can be calculated via Paragon for any list of properties. From any view after doing a search, click on the Views/Reports button and then choose Statistical Reports. The following 4 reports will be listed. Remember to use the Get All button if your list of properties is over 100.
- Current Market - displays statistics by municipality
- Market Summary - displays statistics by price range
- Sold Market - displays statistics by financing, municipality, in-house vs. co-broke
- Sold Price - displays original price vs. sold price by address
« Customize The Spreadsheet In Paragon
You can change the fields that display on the spreadsheet list of properties that comes up after a search in Paragon. Click on the Customize link at the top of the page to display a list of fields that can be added. The box on the right lists the fields that currently display on your spreadsheet. If you want to remove a field simply highlight it and click Remove. If you want to add a field from the left box, click on the field and then on Add. If you do not see the field you would like to add, click on the Group box at the top to display different types of fields (i.e. Feature Categories). To make it easier to find a specific field, click on the top of the Name list to alphabetize. Click on Save and Close to apply your changes. Your customized spreadsheet will now come up each time you display the spreadsheet.
« Updated! Attaching Documents to Your Listings in Paragon - Click Here!
« Stats
« Statss
June
« Contacting The Seller For Showing Appointments
If a fellow Realtor directs you to contact the seller to set up a showing, please remember that it is against MLS rules and the REALTOR Code of Ethics to solicit this listing prior to its expiration. Your conversation should be limited to setting up the showing. All exclusive listings, whether full service or limited service, are protected from solicitation by REALTORS.
« New Paragon Enhancements
On May 18, enhancements (and a few bug fixes) will be installed to Paragon. Here are a few we feel warrant special attention:
- Photo maintenance was greatly improved in both speed and functionality. All photos for a listing now appear on one screen for easy reordering.
- Spell check was added when composing email.
- Features (page 3 of the profile sheet) can now be added to the spreadsheet view.
- By clicking on a photo you can now enlarge it on the screen.
- Quick Address Look Up has been added on the main page.
- Breadcrumbs within the Prospect and CMA modules now allow for easier navigation back to previous screens.
- The Search Tab within Prospect has been removed. Do searches under the Listing Info tab.
- Features can now be added to the vertical CMA Comparable Report. Yes, this includes garage information.
- The horizontal CMA Comparable Report has been improved.
- There is a new Seller’s Net Sheet and a Price Comparison Graph within the CMA Presentation.
- Agents can now choose between a subject property or an agent focused cover page in CMA.
- The subject property in a CMA can now be included on each page (or on just the first as in the past).
- The Associated Document count is now a link. You no longer have to go to Specialty Views.
« DisplayKey Annual Access Fees Billing
The Supra DisplayKey renewal date is June 1st of each year. The May MLS billing statement, which is sent in June, will included a charge for $100 for each individual currently leasing a Supra DisplayKey.
If you are no longer using your Supra DisplayKey, and would like to cancel your lease to avoid the annual fee, simply return your DisplayKey and cradle to the MLS office prior to June 6th. Contact Marian at 608.240.2800 with any questions.
« Photo Quality In Paragon
To minimize the distortion to your property photos when they are uploaded to Paragon, the original photo should be as close to the following as possible: The file size should be under 32k and the image size should be as close to 640x480 as possible. If a photo is over 32k, or larger than 640x480, Paragon will compress the image possibly decreasing the quality.
« Stats
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May
« Disclosure For Limited Service Listings
To alleviate some of the possible confusion in dealing with Limited Service Listings, the MLS has mandated that the listing broker of a Limited Service Listing disclose, via Paragon, the services that s/he will not provide. If a listing is marked as Limited Service = Yes, click on Views/Reports, Specialty Views, and Associated Documents. Here you should find a document outlining the services that will not be provided by the listing broker. It is our hope that this information, up front, will provide the cooperating agent with the information needed to make informed decisions on how to proceed in bringing the transaction together.
If you list a property for which you are offering limited services, you can find a standard form that can be used for disclosure, along with instructions on attaching it as an Associated Document, under the Resources Button at www.scwmls.com. If you do not have the ability to create this attachment, you must submit a disclosure form to the SCWMLS the same day the listing is entered into Paragon. SCWMLS staff will attach it for you at no charge
« Copying Listing Photos Without Permission
In response to numerous recent complaints, the MLS Committee and the MLS Board of Directors voted to add the following MLS rule prohibiting agents from copying other agent’s property photos without permission. Although this practice is a violation of copyright law, the committee and directors felt it was appropriate to also incorporate the following rule so that MLS staff could more quickly act to remove photos if need be.
Participants submitting a photograph(s) to the SCWMLS represent that they have the right to authorize and are authorizing the SCWMLS to publish the photograph(s) anywhere the SCWMLS data is intended to appear. Participants shall indemnify the SCWMLS in the event of any action or litigation relating to the reproduction of such photograph(s) by the SCWMLS or other authorized entities.
Participants submitting a photograph(s) to the SCWMLS with the knowledge that they do not have the right to authorize the SCWMLS to publish the photograph(s) shall be subject to a fine of $25 per photograph in addition to any legal or equitable remedies available to the copyright owner of the photograph(s).
The SCWMLS shall remove in a timely fashion any photograph(s) submitted by a Participant who does not have the right to authorize the SCWMLS to publish the photograph(s).
« 2004 Tax/Mill Rates Available
The 2004 Tax Mill Rate charts are now available for municipalities in Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk Counties. Click here to view and/or print these charts.
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April
« Supra Keycard Battery
The Supra keycard runs on a rechargeable battery. If the battery is low, you may be able to open the key compartment, but may have difficulty releasing the shackle on the keybox. Your keycard needs more power to release a shackle than it does to open the key compartment. The only way to charge your battery is to place your keycard on its cradle. The cradle does not need to be attached to a phone line, but does need to be attached to power. A full charge takes about 4 hours. You can check the status of your battery by scrolling down on the keycard to the battery status option (near the end). If your battery is less than 50%, you should perform a full charge. The highest battery level that will display is 99%.
« 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.
« Keyboxes And Daylight Savings Time
The access hours for the Supra keyboxes will change with Daylight Savings. After April 3, keyboxes will open only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. If you need to access a keybox outside of these hours, the listing office can override the timed access.
« August Stats
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March
« Measuring Homes With Vaulted Ceilings
When measuring a property with vaulted ceilings, please do not include square footage for the vaulted ceiling area(s) on upper levels of a multi-level property. For MLS guidelines on measuring square footage, click here.
« Slight Change In Reporting "No Show" Properties
Active listings that cannot be shown, per the seller’s request, can remain as active in the MLS, but must include the date showings will be allowed. In the past, this date was to be included within the broker-to-broker comments. In order to more accurately disclose the showing status to the public, beginning March 1, the date showings will be allowed should be included within the first line of the first set of MLS Remarks. The MLS Remarks are the Realtor comments that are included for display on public websites.
If you run into a situation whereby an active listing is not available to show, but the date showings will be allowed is not included in the MLS Remarks, please contact the MLS for follow up.
« New Correction Button
When viewing a listing on Paragon, one of the links at the top is "Correction". If you click on this link, an email box will open. Use this link to report what you believe to be "inaccuracies" on that listing.
« August Stats
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February
« Paragon & Agent Transfers
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Update your E-Card in Paragon if you have it turned on.
- Update the information in the standard message body of your auto emails.
- Update company info in saved CMA presentations.
- Update your company logo if used on your reports.
« New Paragon Training Class Offered
A subject property added for a CMA can be converted to an active MLS listing. If you do not have access to add your own listings, but would prefer to enter listing information into Paragon rather than filling out a profile sheet, you can use the subject property feature in CMA to input the listing. Click here to register for the new Subject Property class within the SCWMLS online training registration center. This class has been scheduled immediately following CMA classes for those who would like to attend both. Please note that only those with security to add listings can convert subject properties.
« Caution: Using "Call School District" For School Names
The pick list option “Call School District” should only be used if a school district cannot provide you with schools at the time you list a property. Entering “Call School District” in cases where a school name is available does your seller a great disservice. If an agent working with a buyer uses school names as criteria in their search or prospect, which many do, listings with “Call School District” will not come up as matches. Contact information for school districts can be found under Related Links on the menu to your left.
« August Stats
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January
« Reporting Square Footage
The MLS has been receiving an increasing number of complaints from consumers, appraisers, and Realtors regarding inaccurate square footage on MLS listings. The major complaint has been in the distinction between above grade and below grade. In some cases more than 1,000 square feet has been represented as above grade when it was clearly below grade. Misrepresenting square footage can lead to lawsuits. Please let us help you avoid lawsuits by following the MLS Square Footage Guidelines that can be found by clicking here.
« Paragon Shortcut for 10-Key Users
The plus (+) key on your keyboard 10-key number pad can be used as a comma in Paragon. So, if you are keying in several MLS numbers separated by a comma, you can quickly key them in on the 10-key number pad using the plus sign (+) as the comma separator.
« Updated! MLS Madison Area/SubArea Wall Map Available
The 2004 version of the MLS Madison Area/SubArea Wall Map is now available. Each MLS office and branch office is entitled to one free copy of this map. There were no area/SubArea reassignments for this update, but streets added within the City of Madison boundaries since the last printing (end of 2002) have been added. If you would like an updated copy of this map, stop by the MLS office Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The cost for additional maps is $15 each.
« SupraKey Upgrade Ongoing!!
Supra Systems, the manufacturer of our keybox system, has come out with the new generation of keyboxes called iBoxes, which take advantage of “point & shoot” infrared technology. As we place orders for additional keyboxes, our inventory will begin to include these infrared boxes. Some of the current keycards and cradles currently in use by our members will not work with the new boxes and must be exchanged before the iBox makes its debut later this year.
DisplayKeys and cradles that do not need to be upgraded can be identified as follows:
DisplayKey – After you enter your 4-digit PIN number and press Enter, the message that displays on the screen will read “Place or Point Key to Keybox”.
Cradle – Check the back of the cradle for a sticker that says “iBox Ready”. There are some cradles that do not say "iBox Ready". These are actually updated already.
Supra will be in town to exchange keys and cradles with new, iBox ready product the week of September 27th. There is no cost to you. If your keycard and/or cradle need to be exchanged, you will receive a flyer from Supra describing the details. Kristine at the MLS office (608.240.2800 or 800.422.8831).
« August Stats
« Stats2