RMLS™ is polishing up a round of improvements to RMLSweb set to make their debut on February 5th. Among these is a bold new look for Listing Load, more responsive design for search functions, and easier listing edits.
Tile View, a new look available to users in Listing Load, will feature large icons. Status, price, and other details may be easily edited by clicking on icons and/or text. Listing view counts can also be accessed through this interface. My Inventory has also been added as a tab in Tile View and List View, although access remains through the Back Office menu anywhere in RMLSweb.
In addition to Listing Load’s easier interface, RMLS™ has also reworked the search pages on RMLSweb to be responsive to a user’s browser. This means that users on a mobile device will find the search options easier to use.
Subscribers can use this increased responsivity to easily make changes in the field. Listings with an accepted offer, for example, may be changed instantly—well within the 24 hour time window required for changing a listing’s status in RMLSweb. Furthermore, users who have had difficulty navigating RMLSweb using a mobile device or a regular browser set at less than full screen should have an easier experience when using the site.
Because these search pages have been reworked, users will also notice some layout changes on searches. When switching to Map View on Advanced Search, for example, will push the search criteria over to a left sidebar so users may see the map and criteria all on one screen.
The majority of these changes are a direct result of subscriber feedback, including Listing Load focus groups held over the last several months by Beth Raimer, our new product manager. If you’re interested in participating in future focus groups, contact Beth Raimer directly. We especially encourage REALTORS® from outside the Portland metro area to participate!
Here we go again! RMLS™ celebrates another year working hard for thousands of subscribers across Oregon and Southwest Washington by presenting an annual collection of numbers. These numbers show just how much RMLS™ has supported real estate activity over the course of 2018. We hope you enjoyed journeying along with us.
RMLSweb Number of times subscribers logged in to RMLSweb: 1,662,042 Photos uploaded to listings: 1,981,602 Number of new prospect profiles created: 71,914 All residential properties listed for sale: 78,378 All residential properties sold: 57,902 Median sold price of homes listed: $350,000 Total dollar volume of homes sold: $22,455,096,000 Reports viewed: 8,286,339
RMLS™ Subscribers RMLS™ subscribers as of December 2018: 14,489 New RMLS™ subscribers (compared to December 2017): 516 Increase in subscribers, above: +3.69 Subscribers who attended training: 5,406 Number of calls to the RMLS™ Help Desk: 27,794 Number of Help Desk chats: 5,215 Number of incidents reported using the “Report Issue” button: 7,027 CE hours distributed by RMLS™ at no cost to subscribers: 1,565 Total attendance at RMLS™ training events: 5,747
RMLS.com Total customer visits to RMLS.com: 2,120,150 Unique visits: 791,455 Total listing views: 1,145,379
RMLS™ regularly compiles plenty of other numbers as well! In addition to publishing Market Action each month, we have statistical summaries available on RMLSweb with information dating back several years.
We love numbers here at RMLS™, and hope you find this data as fun and interesting as we do.
RMLS™ recently announced a handful of upcoming changes to the RMLS™ Rules and Regulations. These changes, effective December 17th, include changes to the time limits allowed for new listing input and status changes, and other changes that clarify online marketing issues for listings in Coming Soon-No Showing (CSN) status.
The RMLSweb CSN status has generated a high volume of questions and feedback from subscribers and we anticipate these rules adjustments to garner more questions. Following are some of the most common questions we anticipate receiving in light of the upcoming rules changes.
I am the seller’s agent for a CSN listing which is published in RMLSweb. I have placed a sign on the property that includes the words “Coming Soon.” I received a call from a prospective buyer who saw the sign and would like to know more information about the listing. Can I share information about this CSN listing with the prospective buyer?
Yes, you may share information about this listing with that prospective buyer.
I am the seller’s agent for a CSN listing which has been published on RMLSweb. Can I send an email to my fellow agents with information about this CSN listing?
Yes, you may send an email to fellow agents assuming they are all active RMLS™ subscribers.
Can CSN listings be published on home search sites outside of RMLSweb, such as Realtor.com and Zillow?
No, they cannot. While a listing is in CSN status, it can only be published on RMLSweb.
I have a private Facebook group that includes other RMLS™ subscribers and my clients. Can I share my CSN listing with members of that group?
You may share your CSN listing with your private Facebook group as long as only your clients, current customers, and active RMLS™ subscribers are members of this group. If any member of the group is not your client, customer, or is an inactive RMLS™ subscriber, you may not share the CSN listing.
I am the seller’s agent for a CSN listing. I have not yet published the CSN listing on RMLSweb. Before I do so, I want to publish it as a Coming Soon listing on a public internet site first. Is that okay?
No, that is not permitted. The CSN listing must be published on RMLSweb and cannot be published on any public internet site.
I am the seller’s agent for a CSN listing. Can I post a vague statement on social media—without the listing address—that I have a CSN listing coming soon in a certain neighborhood, and to contact me for more information?
No, that is not allowed. Once published on RMLSweb, CSN listings can only be shared privately with a broker’s clients, current customers, and active RMLS™ subscribers, and must be published on RMLSweb.
My clients said they were ready for their listing to go live, then two days later they had an emergency and wanted the listing to go back to CSN. I logged in to RMLSweb but I’m not seeing CSN as an option anymore. What gives?
Your question is addressed by our prior set of CSN questions from August. What we’ve answered above only reflects those parts of the CSN rules that will be changing effective December 17th. Everything else about CSN listings—the 21 day limit for a listing to be in CSN status, the inability to change a listing back to CSN status once it’s active—were all addressed when the CSN status was introduced earlier this year.
That said, RMLS™ is happy to guide you through a specific situation or answer questions you may have about CSN listings or anything else. Contact the RMLS™ Rules staff at (503) 236-7657, they’re happy to educate subscribers who reach out!
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’m curious why RMLS™ is changing its lockboxes. I have had great success with the current lockbox and can’t imagine the newer version has enough new features that it’s worth the hassle of a conversion. Can you convince me it’s worth all the trouble?
Frustrated in Fairview
Dear FF:
I totally understand the short-term disruption presented by changing out your lockboxes. While the lockbox companies are quite skilled in organizing their events to minimize disruption it is still a hassle for you, and for that I apologize.
The RMLS™ Board of Directors thought long and hard when the opportunity to upgrade became an option with the release of the SentriLock Bluetooth lockboxes. The decision is difficult in general terms because most of the board members actively sell real estate—just like you. They fully realize the disruption conversion events create. That taken into account, they agreed that the benefits of the Bluetooth lockbox were significant enough to embark on the conversion.
Here are just a few of the benefits the new Bluetooth lockbox provides to subscribers:
SentriSmart™ will have more capabilities! Here are the benefits RMLS™ is excited to bring subscribers:
Open the key compartment directly from the app. Currently, users must enter a mobile access code AND have cellular coverage—no cell coverage is required with the new Bluetooth lockbox!
Release the lockbox shackle using the app.
Take ownership of a lockbox through SentriSmart™.
Dual-licensed REALTORS® can change their lockbox region for use in Oregon or Washington right from within SentriSmart™!
Virtually all lockbox settings that currently require a time-consuming process of updating your SentriCard® and using it to transfer changes to the lockbox will be able to be taken care of through the SentriSmart™ app.
SentriConnect is a new app available with the RMLS™ upgrade to Bluetooth lockboxes. SentriConnect controls lockbox access by non-SentriLock users at a much higher level than previously:
Listing agents may temporarily grant lockbox access for contractors, appraisers, out-of-area REALTORS®, or locked-out homeowners.
Greater flexibility to define the time window for this access.
Immediate notifications of access code use—since the access is provided via an app the notifications are much faster.
That’s just a fraction of the benefits the RMLS™ Board of Directors saw when they determined the upgrade to Bluetooth was worth the short-term disruption. If the above improvements aren’t enough to convince you, consider that you’ll be swapping out an older piece of technology with a brand new lockbox…for free.
One more thing—have you ever had to check out the “power paddle” from your local RMLS™ office, in an attempt to restore power to a dead lockbox? This process was not super easy and didn’t always work. SentriLock Bluetooth lockboxes feature a port on the outside of the lockbox that can receive a jump from a battery jumper pack (available for $15 at any RMLS™ office). The jump will open the lockbox, then the batteries inside can be used to switch out with the dead ones inside! Then just replace the batteries in the jumper pack and you’ll be ready to go whenever you have a dead lockbox again.
TT
Hello Technical Terry:
It certainly came as a surprise when I navigated to RMLSweb in August and found the login screen and desktop page with a completely different look. At a recent office meeting I heard that RMLS™ is working on giving Listing Load a treatment next. What can you tell me about that?
Curious in Clatskanie
Hello Curious:
It’s true! RMLS™ does have a refreshed version of Listing Load in the works. Don’t get too antsy though—RMLS™ is taking the time to get plenty of input from different stakeholders and users to make sure details can be worked out before it goes live. We did a similar process in advance of the login screen/desktop page refresh, but we’ve got an additional resource this time around.
What additional resource is that? It’s our new RMLS™ Product Manager Beth Raimer! Beth has been studying subscriber comments, talking with RMLS™ subscribers, and holding focus groups around the RMLS™ region. If you’d like to participate in one of Beth’s focus groups in the upcoming weeks, contact her via email. Multiple listing services are all about cooperation between participating REALTORS®, so your input will be most welcome as we seek to make the RMLSweb of the future the best it can be for our very diverse subscribership.
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:
I’m confused! I’m a dual licensed REALTOR® and since the RMLSweb facelift how I log in has changed. Can you please explain in layman’s terms how the process works? What is the best way to access my two unique accounts on RMLSweb?
Login-challenged Loretta
Hi Loretta:
Of course! The RMLS™ Help Desk has told me that our recent changes to RMLSweb have created some uncertainty among subscribers so let me demystify the new process.
There are three basic scenarios that come in to play when logging in to RMLSweb.
Once you are logged in to RMLSweb with either of your options, you can change to the other login (state) by clicking on the Help menu and choosing “Switch License,” as seen below.
If you need to set or change either password for RMLSweb just log in to the account in question, then go to User Preferences/My Account Information to edit.
Dear ATT:
Over the past few weeks I’ve been getting emails from RMLS™ about some survey. It seems like I’ve gotten one for the last few years since I joined RMLS™. Why do you keep sending me these?
Demotivated Dana
Dear DD:
Indeed! RMLS™ conducts one big survey per year of all RMLS™ subscribers—the RMLS™ Subscriber Satisfaction Survey—usually in September. We aim to hear from 20% of you, which is a pretty big response rate—but that’s because the survey is pretty important to RMLS™.
You may have read about how the enhancements process works. It is a process, and the Subscriber Satisfaction Survey is a large part of that. We are asking our members to give us feedback about specific projects that RMLS™ may be undertaking in the next calendar year, but we also use the opportunity to get feedback about nearly every aspect of RMLS™.
Every single comment collected in the survey is read by a RMLS™ staff member. The data is also used in aggregate by the RMLS™ Board of Directors to steer the ship, so to speak. Even so, if you’re reluctant to take the survey anymore because RMLS™ just won’t add “Clown Car Parking” to the Advanced Search options (even though you’ve suggested it 27 times!), keep in mind that you may be the only person requesting that particular change.
Why do we keep sending you emails about taking the survey, then? We really do want to hear from you! Our response rate has also been a little low so far and we’re aiming for that 20% before we close things up for the year.
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:
What a shock—I logged in to RMLSweb this morning, and the website has completely changed! Where’s Listing Load? Where did everything go? I can’t find anything!
Al K. Seltzer
Dear Al:
Yikes! I’m sorry to hear that the update to the login screen, RMLSweb desktop, and navigation bar has stirred you up. We haven’t completely changed the site yet, just those three components. We understand why it made a big splash with our subscribers though.
Be assured that little to no content got dropped when RMLSweb rolled out the new desktop page. We did make the desktop page less text-heavy, added graphics, and relied on layout to do some of the heavy lifting. There are some links and other components that moved, but they’re still there.
Listing Load, for example, is accessible via a button on the very top of the RMLSweb desktop page, along with our prospecting module, CMA, map search, and advanced search. These are the most commonly used components of RMLSweb so we put them front and center.
If you’re having a tough time finding your favorite part of RMLSweb, contact the RMLS™ Help Desk. They’d be happy to guide you to the new home of the feature you find indispensable!
Technical T. Terry
Hello Ask Technical Terry:
Wow, RMLSweb looks so different! I think I’m starting to adjusted to some of the changes, but there’s one I haven’t quite figured out yet. How do you log out?
Ammon from White Salmon
Dear Ammon:
Thanks for writing in—lots of things changed when we debuted the new look on RMLSweb, didn’t it? It’s easy to understand why it might be difficult to find where the option to log out lives when the entire interface is new to your eyes. Now when you’re done with RMLSweb, look under the Help menu in the navigation bar—the link to log off is on the lower left.
Ask Technical Terry from the Internet
Greetings, ATT:
I was in the process of writing The Great American Novel—focused on real estate, of course—on my RMLSweb notepad. Where’d it go?
N. Onymus
Greetings, N.:
The Scratch Notes feature of RMLSweb, which used to be on the right sidebar, now lives under the Help menu in the navigation bar.
In your case, however, I read your novel and thought it was the finest piece of literature I had ever read, so I’m currently working on shopping it around to New York publishers to get you the best advance. You’re welcome!
