Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.
Technical Terry:
Aaaaargh!!!! Does every subscriber have the same issues I do when uploading or reordering photos in the Listing Load Photo Manager? I’ll reorder photos, save my work, then discover that not only was my new order not saved but sometimes the photos disappear! Am I the only one having this issue? What can I do?
POed in Portland
POP:
Not all RMLS™ subscribers are having the issue but you’re not the only one who is. And I’m glad to tell you, today is a new day! Our development team has created a tool you can use if you’re having that issue again.
Behold—the new Refresh button on the RMLSweb Photo Loader!
Here’s how it works: if you’re using the Photo Manager and believe your listing photos have disappeared, reordering hasn’t happened, or are experiencing some other issue, click the Refresh button above the image preview (see above). This will refresh the work done inside the Photo Manager (like refreshing a web browser) and the issue should be resolved.
If you find that this new tool is not resolving the issue, there could be something else at play. One behavior the RMLS™ Help Desk has noticed while working with subscribers is that if someone is uploading a batch of photos and closes the Photo Manager window before processing is 100% complete, using the new Refresh button is not going to magically restore the whole batch.
The majority of Photo Manager issues have been fixed by using the Refresh button though, and that should have a profound impact on you and other subscribers who have been experiencing this issue. If you use it and the issue persists though, contact the RMLS™ Help Desk and they’ll do their best to assist!
Technical Terry
Dear ATT:
I remember hearing a while back that the RMLS™ office in Portland is going to move. When is that move happening? Where will you be?
Roman Realtor
Dear RR:
What a timely question! The Portland office will be moving in just a couple of weeks, but other parts of RMLS™ will see some impacts as well.
First things first: as we reported back in August, the new office location will be in Southwest Portland at 16101 SW 72nd Avenue. The office in Northeast Portland will close its doors at 12:00 PM (noon) on Friday, November 1st. On Monday, November 4th, the office will remain closed, but we plan to be open and available for RMLS™ subscribers on Tuesday, November 5th! We also plan to invite subscribers in for an open house a few weeks after we’ve settled in.
While the office in Portland is in transition, the RMLS™ Help Desk and Front Desk will still be available for questions by phone and via email, as we utilize staff across the region to assist subscribers through those methods.
Once the Portland office has moved, the RMLS™ office in Clark County will close at 12:00 PM (noon) on Friday, November 8th in order to do some office maintenance involving furniture. We’ll still have staff on email and phones ready to assist, and otherwise Clark County REALTORS® are advised to plan to do any office business that morning.
We’ll have up-to-date information posted on the RMLSweb desktop as needed, so don’t forget to check there for the latest!
Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.
Dear TT:
I am so frustrated! Ever since Listing Load got updated, whenever I start a new listing and save it as in progress I’ll come back later to finish it, and it’s GONE! Sometimes this happens several times per listing! I’ll then call the RMLS™ Help Desk and they help me see all the in-progress listings I’ve started. What the heck is going on?
Tired in Tigard
Dear TT:
How frustrating! As you’ve experienced when contacting the RMLS™ Help Desk, your listings are still there but the new “filter” option is set with criteria that keeps the listings from appearing on your screen. Let me show you how to access the filter and change the settings.
The filter button is located here on Listing Load.
Notice there are three unique tabs available in Listing Load: Listings, In-Progress, and My Inventory. The filter button gives you unique options for each tab as shown here.
LISTINGS FILTER:
Notice the variety of filtering options you have available! Also note the ability to clear all filter values, and apply the filter values you’ve chosen. Don’t forget “Save Criteria” if you want the filter to retain your choices for that particular tab!
IN-PROGRESS FILTER:
Once again, so many options! Again you’ve got the ability to clear all filter values, apply the filter values you’ve chosen, and and save the criteria to retain your choices for that particular tab.
MY INVENTORY FILTER:
Again you’ve got a cornucopia of options, the ability to clear all filter values, apply the filter values you’ve chosen, and save the criteria for that particular tab.
Since we’re on the topic, I’ve also heard that the RMLS™ Help Desk staff has gotten plenty of calls from subscribers wondering why they can’t edit their listing in the My Inventory tab. The My Inventory tab is simply that: it shows your inventory based on the filter settings you’ve applied. All editing capabilities are performed under either of the other two tabs.
I hope this helps, TT. Just remember, if you’ve saved a listing in progress and it seems to have disappeared when you come back to RMLSweb, check the filter! I’d bet you’ll find a filter option has been chosen that keeps the listing from appearing.
Technical Terry
Dear Technical Terry:
Why do you sign some of your responses “Ask Technical Terry?” Typically, one signs a letter or email using his or her name.
Ward Smith
Dear Ward Smith:
Great question! Indeed—sometimes I use my full name, which includes my first name Ask (from Norse mythology), sometimes I use initials, and in one of the blog posts I reviewed I forgot to sign off at all! I’m so embarrassed. Be assured that these oversights were made in the pursuit of quality content for RMLS™ subscribers.
Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.
Dear Technical Terry:
I’ve been keeping an eye on conversations about the solicitation of expired listings. It seems like technology has made that process much easier than in the old days, but in some cases at the expense of irritating home sellers. My opinion is that we should be allowed to solicit expired listings, as it has historically been a good source of business.
I’d like to ask you about the solicitation of withdrawn listings. Unfortunately I have a client that has had to take their home off the market due to some unforeseen circumstances, and we will go back to being active as soon as she is able. I placed the listing in withdrawn status as I still have an active contract on the home. The very next day, my client’s phone began ringing off the hook with offers to list the home, even though the home is not expired or cancelled, simply changed to withdrawn on RMLSweb. Is this allowed by the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations?
Irritated in Irrigon
Dear II:
It most certainly is not allowed in the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations! In fact, as a result of the work done by our expired listing task force, the RMLS™ Board of Directors recently approved a new sanction to the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations regarding the solicitation of listings under contract. Here’s what it says:
Recommendation to add a new sanction to Section 5.1 Sanctions of the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations:
Solicitation of Listing: For solicitation of a listing under contract (ie: Active (ACT), Bumpable Buyer (BMP), Short Sale Pending (SSP), Pending (PEN), Pending Lease Option (POP), Withdrawn (WTH), or Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN)), a fine of up to Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) in an amount to be determined by the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations Committee.
As you can see, the RMLS™ board takes this activity seriously, as demonstrated by the introduction of a new sanction (effective October 1, 2019) that may now be applied for the solicitation of any listing that still has an active contract.
If you have questions about this or wish to report applicable activity, I encourage you and other RMLS™ subscribers to contact the RMLS™ Rules staff at (503) 236-7657 or (877) 256-2170.
Yours, Ask Technical Terry
Dear ATT:
Over the weekend I was bombarded with emails from Homesnap! I received so many emails that I was afraid of missing some emails from clients that might be in the mix. Why is this happening, and more important, how can I make it stop?
Sincerely, Feeling Spammed
Dear FS:
You’re not alone! RMLS™ has heard from other subscribers that they’ve been bothered by the amount of Homesnap emails they’ve received as well.
When we started hearing from RMLS™ subscribers about this issue we did alert Homesnap about the feedback we were receiving.
In the meantime though, if you’re Feeling Spammed, we invite you to click the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of one of the unwanted emails. This will take you to a web page where you can adjust how frequently you hear from Homesnap, and about what.
Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.
Dear Ask Technical Terry,
It seems like not a day goes by I don’t read another story about a seller who is inundated with phone calls, being solicited after their listing expired or was cancelled. In many cases it’s not just the seller receiving calls but family members! I used to farm expired listings too—in fact it was a great source of listings at one time in my career. I was the one doing the calling and interacting though—now there are services that will call about hundreds of expired listings over and over, and they’re not polite to the seller. What can we do?
Spitting Nails in Springfield
Dear Spitting Nails in Springfield,
I hear you loud and clear! I’ve read these kinds of stories too and honestly there are times I’m really embarrassed for our industry. There’s not a whole lot that can be done on the RMLS™ side if the process is being conducted by real estate licensees, and they are truly calling only expired and cancelled listings. Where the problems come in is when the seller is on the Federal Do Not Call (DNC) list. In theory, the companies that offer expired/cancelled listing mining services vet the lists against the DNC but I’ve certainly heard of sellers on the DNC that have been solicited. Where RMLS™ can provide support is if the listing is neither expired nor cancelled, or has been relisted when the seller is being solicited. Any RMLS™ listing that is considered active should never be solicited, and this includes those in withdrawn status. RMLSweb offers a search called “Actual Expireds” under the Search menu that can be used to ensure the expired listing you’re about to call has not been relisted.
Withdrawn (WTH): If the owner requests it, and has signed the proper paperwork, you can withdraw a listing in the RMLS™ database.
The RMLS™ board recently formed a task force to look into possible options for addressing subscriber/client frustration with the solicitation of off-market properties. Keep an eye out for my next blog post—I hope to have more information to share about potential options for you and your seller.
TT
Hello ATT!
This afternoon I received an email claiming that SentriLock wants us to use a different app. Is this legit?
Wary at WallowaLake
Hey WWL!
That email you received is legit! SentriLock is changing the name of SentriSmart™ to SentriKey™! They just recently made the big announcement and sent an email to their active users.
SentriKey™ features a new look and clearer prompts. Android users will find improved Bluetooth® connectivity.
If your device is set for automatic updates, check it out by opening the new icon on your phone. If you update manually, download the latest update.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a very important app update I need to attend to…
Ask Technical Terry is a series RMLS™ aims to offer once a month. RMLS™ subscribers will drive the content—submit any question about RMLS™ to Technical Terry in the comments or by emailing communications@rmls.com. Don’t be shy—we won’t identify you by name.
Dear TT,
RMLS™ has done a great job finding products that provide great benefit to its REALTOR® subscribers, but at times it seems like there are just too many options! It seems like we have new tools to learn on a daily basis. Just recently I went to a training session for a new product called Remine, and now I understand there is another product coming soon called Homesnap. Can you tell me why I would choose one over the other? What are the differences?
Overloaded in Orenco
Dear OO,
Understood completely! It’s not just you—it’s even a challenge for our support and training staff to keep abreast of the rapid pace of innovation around RMLS™ these days.
Here’s a brief overview of the products you mention above.
Homesnap Pro
Homesnap Pro combines agent-only MLS data on a web portal with a mobile app for use in the field.
Provides real-time information to agents on the go, giving them the flexibility to research homes, interact with each other, and collaborate with clients from their mobile devices. Agents and consumers can use the same platform to seamlessly share real estate information and communicate directly.
Additional features of Homesnap Pro include real-time access to agent-only MLS information, information about any home, messaging with clients and agents, customized email marketing, CMA generation from a mobile device, and information about other agents.
Remine
Remine provides some of the same capabilities as Homesnap, but it really excels more for data mining. This means Remine provides users the ability to “watch” homes, neighborhoods, and people to best understand market motivation. Users can use this data to scientifically allocate marketing efforts toward specific properties or people that indicate potential motivation.
Remine has three main components on its app: Discover, Track, and Engage.
Discover: This is the map, where you can use layers to narrow down properties you want to target and set up farming areas to find opportunities.
Track: This is the list of properties and people you’re tracking. You can upload contacts to track data that will help you prioritize who you should reach out to, and when to reach out. You can use this page to export spreadsheets to use for mailers, call lists, or email campaigns.
Engage: This is your client dashboard, where you can keep track of your clients’ activities, invite new clients, and manage your leads.
Both Homesnap and Remine provide great benefits, but they have different strenghts. Homesnap provides great tools to engage clients, and Remine specializes in farming activities. Both products have amazing support portals available, containing plenty of how-tos in both written and video formats, there to help you decide which might work best for you.
The RMLS™ trainers are developing classes for both products, so keep your eyes on your local training calendar in the coming months!
TT
Hey Ask Technical Terry!
Homesnap seems like it’s going to be great for my workflow and working with my clients! My assistant told me that RMLS.com will be going away because of Homesnap—is this true?
Snappin’ for Homesnap
Hey Snappin’!
It is true: RMLS.com will redirect to Homesnap’s Broker Public Portal once RMLS™ rolls out the project on May 7th! We recently published a video about the change:
It’ll be a big change, but one that we think will better serve our REALTOR® subscribers and their clients. We can’t wait to hear what you think once Homesnap is live!
