2004 MLS Committee Report

Busy year for the MLS Committee!

Gary Parsons, Chair
MLS Committee

Busy, Busy, Busy!  That is the tone of the MLS committee for the 2004 year. 24 members meet on a monthly basis to make sure that the mission and purpose of the Multiple Listing Service is met.

If one were to check the purpose of the MLS, you would see that there are 4 distinct purposes for the Multiple Listing Service of Central Ohio

1. a means of providing a blanket unilateral offer of compensation to other participants
2. a means by which information is accumulated and disseminated to enable participants to prepare appraisals and other valuations of real property
3. a means by which participants engaging in real estate appraisal contribute to common databases
4. a facility for the orderly correlation and dissemination of listing information  among the participants so that they may better serve their clients and the public.

With technology driving the database system today, the MLS not only covers the purposes described above but so much more:

By now most have experienced the new Realist software program. This program was started in July to provide an up to date public record data source (nine counties) that would interface with the MLS. As Realist evolves over the next couple months we will have robust public records with pictures, MLS data and mapping all on one computer screen. Realist also will auto populate MLS data to provide a little better integrity of information. If you haven?t taken the Realist training- Please do!

The MLS staff is in the process of creating a Tempo Training CD that each REALTOR® can use to learn and relearn the Tempo system on their own private computer at any time. This CD should be available 4th qtr- 2004.

The Board of Directors has recently signed an extension of the MarketLinx contract for another 3-year term. By signing this extension, we can continue to grow with the system and have the stability of not learning a new system.

A new residential data worksheet that we all have been waiting for is finally in the last stages of review and should be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

As we go thru the rest of the calendar year 2004, I would encourage the over 650 broker members, the 6800 REALTOR® members that share our multiple listing services to enjoy and appreciate the marketing database tool that helps  us earn a living daily.  Take a couple mornings and take a MLS advanced class to upgrade your skills.

Just think...year to date, over 31,600 new listings have been put into the MLS system and over 17,800 homes have sold.  It takes an average of 93 days to sell a home and the average sale price is $167,566 - which is 97.12 percent of the list price.  We have a wonderful dedicated staff to keep this system running and experience very little down time. Are we lucky or what?

30-Day Re-List Policy Modified

According to the MLS Rules, no listing is allowed to be issued a new MLS number unless it has been:

• withdrawn for a period of 30 days
• expired for a period of 30 days
• in contract for 6 months or longer
• re-listed by a different broker
• re-listed by a different agent in the same office who is not a member of the former agent’s team and provided the office broker and/or manager agrees to sign a statement to this effect.

When listings are found to be in violation, current policy is to notify the agent/broker and provide them three days to correct the listing information. 

Last month, the MLS Committee voted to authorize staff to immediately restore original MLS listing information and number when a listing is found to be in violation.  Notification will be sent to the agent/broker that the listing has been modified.

Any unauthorized creation of incaccurate data within the MLS system is strictly prohibited and could result in a fine and/or suspension.

More CBR Tempo Enhancements Coming

The next group of CBR TEMPO enhancements are expected in late September or early October and should include the following:

• Sub Agency/Buyer Broker data fields to prevent a zero entry simultaneously in both
• Add a photo icon button on reports
• Add archive link on reports
• Change expired listing purge to keep 2 years instead of 1
• Update area descriptions resulting from recent 2 new areas
• Create a Yes/No photo field for photographer
• Establish link on county name to go to auditor site
• Lock out data fields address name, number, unit or suite number, direction and parcel number

CBR Tempo Combo Report

As a planned MarketLinx system enhancement currently being created, the Combo Report will be located under the Reports’ menu on the CBR TEMPO system.  When complete, there will be four windows (sections) - hence the name ‘Combo Report’:

1. Selected Properties - one line report of properties selected
2. Photos of the properties selected displayed individually
3. Property Information of the listing selected that toggles between Realist and agent Full Report
4. MarketLinx map that identifies location of each of the properties selected individually. 
   The report will be available in phases.  Windows 1 and 3 will be first and Windows 2 and 4 later.  Estimated availability is late 2004 or early 2005.