Only 16% of Listings in RMLSweb Have Documents Attached
When entering a listing in RMLSweb you can attach up to five PDFs of documents that would be useful to other agents such as:
- Lead Paint Disclosures
- Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions
- Floor Plans
- Feature Sheets
- Platt Maps
It’s pretty simple to do and we’ve been told that it’s incredibly important to provide this information, but it appears that only a handful of agents are using this feature of RMLSweb. In fact, only 16% of active listings have documents attached.
We’re curious why that number is so low. Are any of those 6,500 listings yours? If so, what kinds of documents do you normally attach? If not, why don’t you use it? How do you share that information with your fellow agents? Leave a comment below and let us know.
I appreciate that we can upload docs. Thank you for providing that ability. I am often surprised more REALTORs don’t use that important feature. It’s a great way to educate our buyers about any given property, when we have disclosures, maps, CCRs etc… Sometimes that helps us to show them WHY they would want to buy that home. Hint Hint.
Thank you for providing that field. Yes, I use that on my listings to upload both disclosures & a List of Amenities. When I was buying a home I wanted to know everything that home had. When a buyer sees a long list of extras on a home it makes that home stand out.
As I recall in a recent article, Phil Querin, PMAR’s
legal counsel advised caution when posting lead based paint and seller’s property disclosures on the RMLS as sometimes it was confusing to agents as to what constitutes delivery. I may have misunderstood the content of his article, and you may want to seek clarification.
I read an article from Oregon Realtors e- news sent Nov. 3 from Legal. Here is the answer from Legal regarding posting disclosures. ”
Posting client information online for public viewing without the client’s permission could be seen as a breach of agency duties if the seller is harmed. Using the MLS to deliver property disclosure statements by simply posting them on a public site may not actually work if the buyer contests “delivery” under the statute. All and all, the processes that have evolved for posting disclosures are dangerous and ineffective. They apparently have developed without concern for either liability or effectiveness. Although, with proper MLS rules and procedures, the MLS could be used to deliver disclosures efficiently and effectively, simply throwing them up on a public website for anyone to download at anytime is neither efficient nor effective.”
I would rather have control over the disclosures and give them to a Buyer who has an excepted offer from the Seller rather than posting them for public view.
I appreciate it when agents load specific instructions and/or details, especially floor plans.
It would be nice if there was an ability to load documents for public access and for private access. As it is now, only agents can access the uploaded documents.
I use that information when I am working with buyers, really makes the buyer informed and it is easier for the buyer to make a decision. The more information buyers have, that much easier for them.
Our office put them in
Reason some realtors do not put them in is, they feel there is no way to track when realtors pull them up for the client to start the time frame running showing them the buyers had looked at them.
I use it, its GREAT. I try to use it for all attachments and sometimes I have more attachments than space available. Also, a little known fact which is very helpful is that you can go to the input section and actually see who has viewed your attachments and when, so if you want to call that agent to see if they have anymore questions, ask if they are going to show it, or anything else they may need is a great way to communicate with your fellow realtors and a great marketing tool as well.
What a tool! We attach disclosures, CC&Rs, plat maps, floor plans, amenities sheets, contractor warranties, the whole gamut. Other Realtors usually always comment how easy it is to show their Buyers the beautiful new homes at Lighthouse Estates. Thank you.
Delivery time/date is an issue for time sensative items. Also feel the seller’s disclosure gives to much info to public. Had one seller deluged by calls from repair people. All other forms and info should be attached to RMLS. Tim is correct.
Floor plans, feature sheets and plat maps (not platt maps) can be made available for an agent’s access. The disclosures too can be uploaded for an agent’s perusal but should not be considered delivered under any circumstances and the same can be said for CC&R’s as well. We must prove delivery of disclosures and other documents that are of record.
Just a reminder that the public does not have access to the attached documents to the listing, only RMLS members. I attach disclosures, lead paint, anything of value, floor plans…. I find it interesting how many buyer agents don’t see the documents or open them up even when they are writing an offer on my listings. I’m glad to hear in this forum that many agents do.
Yes, the attachments are not accessible to the public directly. However they have, at least on one occasion, gotten out to repair people somehow. It is great to be able to access these documents when used properly.
I’ve found the feature very helpful, and given the concerns about what constitues delivery, have started to write an addendum stating that the date of acceptance constitues date of delivery of disclosures as well…that way everyone’s on the same page.
Brad, how do you know that the agent had downloaded the disclosures? Or do you mean that once you have faxed or e-mailed your disclosures and other documents to the selling agent that constitutes delivery? If you mean the latter, then I concur. But I don’t think merely having them available on the RMLS for the selling agent to print out constitutes delivery. My managing broker, Mickey Lindsey, was very clear about this in one of our continuing ed courses.
I too read Phil Querin’s article, and I got the gist that we needed to have the sellers’ permission to put this on RMLS. I could be wrong, but it was my understanding that he felt uneasy putting the disclosures in RMLS. While these documents may appear in RMLS for members only, they can always make their way to the public.
Ditto on reading Phil Querin’s article. I would rather not post any disclosures and give the information later, when asked for it. I feel that way we can give a verbal addition if needed rather than having the forms for folks to read at any time and making assumptions about what something MAY mean.
Disclosure statements are to be “accurate at the time of delivery”. This can open up a huge can of worms and potential mis-representation liability if the basement flooded after you delivered the disclosure statement via RMLS. If your sellers fill out the disclosure statement at the time you take the listing, remember to go over it again and make appropriate changes with your sellers before delivering it to the buyers agent. A lot can happen to a property when a home is on the market for months or even years prior to receiving an offer. The date that the disclosure was signed by the seller is no excuse. You delivered it. Accurate at the time of delivery…don’t keep handing out an outdated document that could put your seller at risk. Keep your clients best interests in mind.
To Linda Morgan. If you go to listing loan and go to the listing in question, click on “D” you can see all the documents you have uploaded in a PDF and also will be able to see the name of the agents who downloaded the information.
I do not post the Full Disclosure or any disclosures on my listings. I like to use this marketing tool for other pertinent information like well logs, septic inspections, recent inspections that the seller had before putting the house on the market, financing flyers, REO Addendums and Instructions, etc.
Thank you Susan. I use a mac and I don’t often see everything that a PC makes available. I have to use a PC for uploading listing and making changes to my listings but I prefer my mac and it’s left me out of the loop apparently. I will have to change my preference for the PC.
I always upload the listing disclosures (and anything else that is helpful). Not only does it save me time if I am away from my computer and can’t email the disclosures to an agent, it also let’s me gauge how serious an agent’s buyer is by whether they have looked at the disclosures on RMLSweb.
I don’t do Disclosures until I get an offer. Things happen and I don’t want my client to be liable because he forgot something happened in between signing and getting a new offer.
Thank you Mike!
What do you guys think about uploading or even having a seller fill out Lead based paint disclosure? The only form I have seen looks as though it is a part of the purchase and sale contract and therefore initiated by the buyers. If I have my seller fill out a WREF lead based paint disclosure prior to having an offer, aren’t I in a way trying to dictate the forms to be used?
As an appraiser, I REALLY appreciate having the most information available possible. Paint disclosures are not as important (although they are important), as floor plan sketches, lots of photo’s, plat map, parking situation(condo’s), tenant occupancy information, etc.
The more information the better……..
The ability to make more pertinent information available to other brokers 24/7 is a great service. There is risk in getting up in the morning and crossing the street. The ‘risk’ of disclosures getting in the wrong hands is far less than not getting them in the right hands in a timely manner. The risk of delivery of dated information should be managable by conducting business in the professional manner required by the code of ethics. Do the right thing and keep disclosures updated and don’t distribute them to anyone other than the pricipals to the transaction.
The ability to upload docs to the listing is powerful and very useful. I would suggest though that 16% is representative of about how often it’s use is applicable. I don’t see the use of uploaded docs as a means of providing disclosures (of the standard variety) but rather as a method of providing offer instructions, floor plans, etc.
As has already been mentioned in another response, having a private & a public location for docs to be made available would be an incredible upgrade to this helpful tool. In this case, offer instructions would be in the private docs and floorplans would be public.
Recent RMLS online enhancements have really come a long way and agents like myself really appreciate the improved capabilities.