Newsletter Archive 2008
January
« WIREX Announces Contract for Statewide Data Sharing
The South Central Wisconsin MLS Corporation, Multiple Listing Service, Inc. and the REALTORS Association of Northeast Wisconsin MLS Inc. are proud to announce the creation of WIREX. The three organizations have been working together for a year to develop their vision - most recently with the assistance of the Wisconsin REALTORS Association and Kevin McQueen of Focus Forward Consulting.
WIREX stands for the Wisconsin Real Estate Exchange, and its purpose is to permit all Wisconsin MLSs to combine and share their listing content into a single database for the use and benefit of all MLSs who participate in WIREX, subject to a Data Sharing Agreement and Common IDX Rules applicable to the database. The development of common IDX Rules was a key factor in meeting broker expectations.
After reviewing numberous vendors, a contract with MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Services) to employ their CURE or "Cornerstone" product has been approved by the three MLSs. The merging data from each MLS will begin soon. Content is anticipated to include current active listings, and all sold, pending, expired and withdrawn properties from the last three years. Documents, photos and public records will also be integrated in a RETS-compliant data server.
Once the initial three databases have been merged, the remaining Wisconsin MLS's will have the opportunity to participate and add their listing content to the database. The initial design and setup should be completed in mid-2008, and the group anticipates widespread support throughout the state. The three entities comprising the founding group represent approximately 14,000 participants or about 75% of the state of Wisconsin.
« Searching for Listings Outside Our Main MLS Area
Our MLS covers mainly South Central and Southwest Wisconsin (click here for map). Occasionally an agent will list a property located outside of this region. The location codes used for these listings are Y01 for other parts of Wisconsin, Y02 for Illinois, Y03 for Minnesota, and Y04 for Iowa. If you are looking for a specific county or municipality outside the South Central/Southwest Wisconsin region, it works best to skip the location box and use the County or Municipality search boxes which are located on the bottom of the Primary Criteria search screen.
« December 2007 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« December 2007 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
February
« How Do I Search For Open Houses in Paragon?
You can search for upcoming open houses under the Search Program in Paragon. Click on Search, Property, and select the property class. Open up the Advanced Criteria section at the bottom to find the Open House Date search prompt.
If you have access to add and change listings, you can find fields to enter open house date and time to your listings under the VTour/Open House tab under Maintain Listings. When the open house date is past, Paragon automatically deletes the date and time.
Open house date and time as entered in Paragon is included on the Agent Full Report.
In addition, there is an Open House Brochure included as a Detail View under the Views/Reports button. Open house date and time also displays on
www.wisconsinhomes.com.
« Photos For Properties Under Construction
When entering a property that is under construction, you may include a sketch or a photo of a similar model. If you use a photo of a similar model, please make sure the photo has the words "similar model" included as part of the photo.
« January 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« January 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
March
« 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 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
« February 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« February 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
April
« Entering Net Taxes
Please remember to update tax amounts on current active listings. When entering Net Taxes, the figure that should be used is after other taxes, specials, and the lottery credit (if applicable) are applied.
« Paragon/Profile Sheet Changes - March 18
Farm Class to be Merged with Residential
Over time we have seen the number of true farms listed in the MLS decline. Currently we have 450 active farm/farmette listings (2% of our total active listings), and over half of them are also listed in Residential. In working with other MLSs in the state during the process of combining data for WIREX, it was discovered that the other MLSs do not have a separate class for farm; therefore Farm is not included as a class within the statewide WIREX database.
When comparing the current farm profile sheet to residential, more than 80% of the sheet is the same. Maintaining separate property databases, profile sheets, and reports is costly and time consuming. We have also heard complaints that having to do two separate searches to find farmettes is confusing and time consuming as there has been no uniformity in placement of property in farms/farmettes.
All of these factors were taken into consideration by the MLS Committee and the MLS Board of Directors when they made their decision to combine Farms with Residential.
On Tuesday, March 18, farm listings in the South Central Wisconsin MLS will automatically be converted to residential and the farm class will be deleted.
In order to allow you to still search for farms, we have added a feature labeled Farm under the Type Feature. In addition we have added Pasture, Tillable and In Federal/State Land Program under the Lot Description feature. We have also added a new searchable feature group called Farm Features. The selections under this new feature are Dairy Farm, Livestock Farm, Horse Farm, Crop Farm, Tree Farm, Organic Farm, Barn(s), Outbuilding(s), Machine Shed, Feed Storage Unit(s), and Currently non-working. Lastly, we have developed an associated document that must be attached to all listings that are marked as Farm under Type. This associated document includes all the information that was on the farm profile sheet that is not on the residential profile sheet, such as information on outbuildings and acreage breakdown. This form and the new Residential Profile sheet can be found under Forms on www.scwmls.com as well as under MLS Documents on Paragon.
New Features Added
Besides the new features being added to Single Family for farm properties, we have also added a new feature group for Environmentally Friendly Features. This new feature will be added to Single Family, Condominium, and Multi Family. The choices for this new feature will be: Green Built Certified, WI Energy Star Certified, Energy Assessment Available, and Energy Star Appliances. The actual certificate is required to be attached as an associated document. If you have a listing that has one or more of these features, please modify your listing to include this important information.
A few other feature selections have been added under existing feature groups as follows:
| Condominium............. | Terms/Misc............. | Condo Docs to be Recorded |
| Muti Family................ | Miscellaneous.......... | Elevator |
| Lots & Acreage......... | Lot Description........ | On Golf Course |
| Lots & Acreage......... | Miscellaneous.......... | Shared Drive Required |
Residential to Single Family & Residential Income to Multi Family
In an effort to reduce confusion caused by duplicate listings between the classes of Residential and Residential Income, the MLS Committee and the Board of Directors voted to rename the Residential class to Single Family and the Residential Income class to Multi Family. This change will also bring our MLS in line with the work being done for WIREX.
Along with this change comes a rule that will prohibit single family properties from being listed within multi family and multi family properties from being listed within single family. The only exception is for multi family dwellings that were originally single family dwellings and can be converted back, these can continue to be listed as both single family and multi family.
Most of the current single family rentals are located downtown Madison. As our MLS territory grows, agents in outlying areas have been confused as to why they would find single family homes mixed with multi family properties. For those listing single family rentals or searching for single family rentals, location plays a huge factor, and the feature tenant occupied is also a helpful trigger.
School District Added
Currently our MLS includes fields for Elementary, Middle, and High School, but does not include School District. Often times Call School District is used for the actual schools as it is questionable as to the exact school a buyer’s children would attend. School District will be a helpful search field in these cases. School District will be auto populated for all listings based on High School. If you currently have Call School District entered for High School on any of your listings, please go in and select the correct School District.
« What Can I Count as Finished Square Footage
To qualify as 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 the MLS remarks.
« Agent Full Report - Confidential Fields
Please remember that certain data fields in the MLS, as listed below, are considered confidential, and therefore available only in broker-to-broker reports. Reports containing these fields may not be distributed to the public. As the agent full report in Paragon contains these fields, this report should be used internally by Members of the MLS only, and not given to the public. We have had recent reports of the Agent Full report being left in brochure boxes. This is against MLS rules. Please remove Agent Full reports and replace them with Customer Full reports if you have been including them in brochure boxes.
| -Listing Date | -Named Exceptions Y/N |
| -Expiration Date | -Variable Commission Y/N |
| -Subagent Commission | -Licensee Interest Y/N |
| -Buyer Agent Commission | -Limited Service Y/N |
| -Owner Name | -Subject to Policy Letter Y/N |
| -Broker-to-Broker Comments | -Exclusive Agency Y/N |
| -Occupancy Features | -Internet Y/N |
« WIREX Update
The South Central Wisconsin MLS Corporation, Multiple Listing Service, Inc. and the REALTORS® Association of Northeast Wisconsin MLS Inc. announced in 2007 the creation of a joint data project known as WIREX. The three organizations have been working together for more than a year to develop a vision of sharing data across MLSs, most recently with the assistance of the Wisconsin Realtors® Association and Kevin King, and with Kevin McQueen of Focus Forward Consulting.
"WIREX" stands for the Wisconsin Real Estate Exchange, and its purpose is to permit all Wisconsin MLS's to combine and share their listing content into a single database for the use and benefit of all MLSs who choose to participate in WIREX, subject to a Data Sharing Agreement and Common IDX Rules applicable to the database. The development of common IDX Rules was a key factor in meeting broker expectations.
After reviewing numerous vendors, a contract with MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Services) to employ their CURE or "Cornerstone" product was approved by the three MLSs. Together with MRIS, the MLSs have over the past few months accomplished the task of merging or "data mapping" their MLS data. That phase is complete and we will begin testing the quality of the combined data in February and March. The shared WIREX content will include all active listings and sold, pending, expired and withdrawn listings from the last three years. Documents, photos and public records will also be integrated in a RETS-compliant data server. The common IDX data is currently proposed to be the first product to become available to MLS brokers in second quarter 2008. Common IDX rules will apply and brokers who want to provide consumers with expanded market information through their web sites will be able to do so through a single access RETS feed from WIREX.
Once the initial three databases have been merged and Participants can successfully access and use the data, the remaining Wisconsin MLS's will have the opportunity to participate and add their listing content to the database. The initial design and setup should be completed in 2008, and the group anticipates widespread support throughout the State. The three entities comprising the founding group represent approximately 14,000 participants or about 75% of the state of Wisconsin.
« March 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« March 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
May
« 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 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.
« 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.
« April 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« April 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
June
« 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.
« 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.
« May 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« May 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
July
« 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.
« 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 Farm Yes/No Field
A new field for Farm Y/N will be added to the Secondary Criteria search screen above the current Waterfront Y/N field. Farm = Yes will be autofilled for all Single Family listings that contain the feature of Type = Farm. You can still find farms by searching Type = Farm, but it may be easier to use the new Farm = Yes field. If you search for farms often, you may want to move the Farm Y/N field from the Secondary Criteria section to the Primary Criteria section. Simply click on Customize Search at the top of the search screen, and remove FarmY/N from the Secondary Criteria box and then add it to the Primary Criteria box. You can move Farm Y/N up on the list by clicking on the move up button. Click Save and Close and then click Save Search at the top of the screen. Check the box to make this your Default Search and indicate Without Criteria Values. If you get stuck, please call MLS support at 608-240-2800 or 800-422-8831.
« 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.
« June 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« June 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
August
« Updated MLS Madison/Subarea Map
The 2008 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 since the last printing (2006) have been added. If you would like an updated copy of this map, please 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.
« New Fields/Features added to Paragon on June 23
On Monday, June 23, the following field/features will be added to Paragon. These new options will be included on the next revision of MLS Profile Sheets which is scheduled for the Fall.
- Showing Instructions: On the last tab during the add/maintain listing process, a new 512 character field will be added for Showing Instructions. These instructions will be automatically loaded to the ShowingAssist program and will be added to the Showing Set Up Report.
-Additional choices under the Waterfront feature will be added for No Motor Lake, No Wake Lake, and Water Ski Lake. Please modify your current waterfront listings as appropriate.
-Additional choices under the Terms feature will be added for Short Sale and Bank Owned. Please modify your current listings if appropriate.
« July 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« July 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
September
« Why Are Some Photos Not Loading
On June 23, we increased the number of photos allowed per listing from 9 to 25. Because most listings do not have 25 photos, the "Photo not Available" place holder was printing each time a photo was not included for one of the 25 spots. We received many complaints that this place holder was a waste of toner, and frankly that was a good point. So, we eliminated the place holder. Now if a listing does not have a photo, a blank space will appear where the photo should be. If you would like to double check to be sure the listing does not have photos, the first column on the default spreadsheet is titled Picture, and represents the number of pictures for each listing. As a side note, 20% of the current 14,300 active single family and condo listings already have more than 9 photos.
« Photo Reminder - Copying Photos
It is against MLS rules and copyright law to copy another agent's property photos for use on your listing without permission. Unfortunately we have been receiving an increasing number of complaints that agents are using photos from past listings without the permission of the past listing agent. Those submitting photographs with the knowledge that they do not have the right to authorize the MLS 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 owner of the photograph(s).
« Keeping the Battery Charged on your New Supra ActiveKEY
You can leave your ActiveKEY plugged in to the power cord when you are not using it. You cannot overcharge your key. We recommend charging your ActiveKEY nightly. To conserve your ActiveKEY battery, you can turn the radio signal off when not using the key. First, turn your key ON by pressing the On/Off button. Then press and hold the On/Off button for 10 seconds, until the key says RADIO IS TURNED OFF. The next time you turn on your ActiveKEY, you can then press 1 (and release) to turn the radio back on (your key will remind you the radio is off and tell you how to turn it back on). Your ActiveKEY will not update with the radio off. Another option for power is a car charger - Available at the MLS office for $21.05 (incl. tax).
« August 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« August 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
October
« Customer Reports Available Via Paragon
Paragon offers 5 different full customer reports. A description of each is listed below. These reports can be found under the Details section of the Available Reports panel.
- Customer Full - Includes all listing data, the primary photo, a link to a map showing the location of the property, and a customizable section at the bottom about the agent providing the listing. A photo spinner is included for viewing all photos online. This is the most popular report chosen to email.
- Customer w/ Map - Includes all listing data, the primary photo with the photo spinner, a small map showing the location of the property, and a customizable section at the bottom about the agent providing the listing.
- Customer w/ Agent - Includes all listing data, the primary photo with the photo spinner, a link to a map showing the location of the property, and the listing agent information. This is a nice report to use for your own listings.
- Customer 9 Photos - Includes all listing data and 9 photos on one page. Designed to be used as a printed report.
- Customer All Photos - Includes all listing data, room for all 25 photos, and a customizable section at the bottom about the agent providing the report. This report is 2 pages and is designed to be used as a printed report.
« ActiveKEY Upgrade to Increase Battery Life
During the last week of July, your ActiveKey should have received an automatic upgrade which will better manage network communications to prevent unnecessary battery usage. In addition, the battery status display has been changed to bars rather than numbers and words. The new battery meter will display four bars for a full charge. When the battery is nearly drained, the key will display "Low Battery" when it is turned ON, and the battery meter will show no bars. If you are not seeing the new battery meter bars, please call Marian or Kristine at the MLS (608-240-2800 or 800-422-8831) for instructions on manually receiving this upgrade.
« MLS to Allow Up to 25 Photos
On Monday, June 23, the Paragon system will be adjusted to accept 25 photos per listing. All 25 photos will be accessible via the photo spinner on each listing. The current Customer Full All Photo Report will be expanded d to two pages to accommodate all photos in a print format.
« September 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« September 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
November
« Have You Tried the Slide Show in Paragon?
If you click on a photo within Paragon, a slideshow of all the images for that property will display. If you have never done this, give it a try. It's pretty cool. You even have the ability to maintain photos for your listings via this slide show, which is a nice time saving feature.
« Upcoming Paragon Enhancements
A few bug fixes and the following enhancements will be installed within Paragon on Monday, September 22:
- An upload progress bar will be added to the photo maintenance screen.
- Multiple views of the same listing will be available for manual emails.
- A static version of the URL will be added to the email message body to address limited issues where "Click Here to View Listings" does not work for some clients.
- A blank line will be added before the "Click Here to View Listings" in the email body to allow for easier insertion of a typed message.
- The login screen will include an option for users who have forgotten their password to retrieve it automatically via email.
- Changes to agent and client email addresses will automatically filter through to the auto notification section of the prospect program.
« Condos and Single Family
Q: When can you list a condo under the single family class in Paragon? When can you list a single family dwelling as a condo?
A: A single-family residential property can only be entered as a condo if it has condo documents, a shared wall, or a monthly maintenance fee associated with the property.
A condo can only be entered under the single family class if it is stand-alone or a half-duplex.
« 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.
« October 2008 MLS Stats By Price Range (PDF Format)
« October 2008 and YTD/Annual MLS Stats (PDF Format)
December
« Cities and Villages that Cross County Lines
Other Marketing Area can only be used for rural township properties, with one exception. Paragon automatically includes the other county code as Other Marketing Area for cities and villages that cross county lines. For example, if you list a property on the Jefferson County side of Cambridge (K02), Paragon will automatically include D12 (Village of Cambridge in Dane County) as the Other Marketing Area.
Cities and villages in our database that cross county lines are as follows: Belleville, Blanchardville, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Livingston, Muscoda, Randolph, Watertown, Waupun, and Wisconsin Dells. If you know of other cities or villages that have crept over a county line, please let us know and we will add the Other Marketing Area autofill.
« Other Marketing Area - Marketing Rural Properties
Where the heck is the township of Elba and how can I market my property if nobody knows where it is? Here are a few tips for marketing township properties:
- Use the "Other Marketing Area" field. If you add what you think is the most appropriate contiguous city or village as the Other Marketing Area, your township listing will come up in searches for that city or village on Paragon and on wisconsinhomes.com. You may want to consider location, school district or mailing address when making this decision. Please keep in mind that contiguous means adjoining, adjacent, abutting, or bordering.
- Start your remarks with something like "Only 2 miles east of the City of Columbus." Most of the public websites, including wisconsinhomes.com and realtor.com, include the remarks section of your listings.
- If the street number of your rural listing begins with an alpha character, do not move the alpha character to the street direction field. The W or N before the street number is part of the street number, not a street direction. This is very important for correct mapping placement.
« Keybox and ActiveKEY Reminders
- - With temperatures dropping, keep in mind that your ActiveKEY battery can be affected by the cold. We recommend that you do not leave your key in the car overnight, or for extended periods of time when the temperatures get below freezing.
- - With the changing of the clocks on November 2nd, the keybox access hours also changed. The boxes now open between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
- - Please remember: DO NOT write shackle codes on keyboxes or attach labels with shackle codes to keyboxes. In the best interest of your seller & your company, be careful where this information is kept. If a shackle code is printed on a box, it allows anyone with a keycard to remove the box, and the key inside, from the premises.
- - Charging your ActiveKEY on a daily basis will ensure that your key will function properly when you need it. You can leave your ActiveKEY plugged in until you are ready to use it. You cannot overcharge the battery in your ActiveKEY. Optional car chargers are available at the MLS for $21.05.
« Photos on Realtor.com
Listings on Realtor.com were recently upgraded to include the first four photos, as they appear in Paragon, for each property. This is a free and automatic upgrade to your listings. There is nothing you need to do to take advantage of this upgrade. Wisconsinhomes.com continues to display the first eight photos as entered in Paragon. Please keep both Realtor.com and Wisconsinhomes.com in mind when deciding what order you place your listing photos.