MLS News

Tempo^TM 5 Conversion

On March 25 the MLS membership experienced a significant upgrade to the Tempo^TM system after running parallel with the former system for 30 days allowing subscribers the opportunity to complete most of their daily routines on the new system except for add-edit. As with any change to daily routines, the process raised some questions about why it occurred and the timing of the upgrade. First, the MLS contract with MarketLinx to provide the TEMPO^TM system expired in December 2007, and the current database was beginning to reach its functional limitations and it became clear that any future system enhancements would be severely limited on the current system. Second and coincidentally, a new system platform had been developed and was now available and being offered to all Tempo^TM accounts and Boards of REALTORS® in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Tampa, Raleigh, San Diego, etc., and were being assigned dates for the upgrade to occur.

Our goal was to arrange for the change as early as possible to minimize interruption of services before seasonal market activity increased. Preparation required considerable integration design and testing with Realist, Rand McNally mapping, third party vendors, IDX providers, realtor.com etc. While hundreds of hours of preparation by MarketLinx and MLS staff preceded the actual implementation, your efforts afterwards contributed greatly to identifying and helping resolve issues that unexpectedly surfaced especially with prospects.

Please note that both MarketLinx and your MLS staff remain committed to resolving all issues discovered and we will continue to keep you apprised of these efforts primarily on the MLS Tempo^TM Status Notification Page available at http://columbusmls.net/t5Status.htm. You will also find links to notify CBR staff of any system issues and to request changes or enhancements. These combined efforts should serve to help provide the technology that your clients will continue to demand.

Thus, although your new Tempo^TM system has a number of new features and functionality which have added a perceived layer of complexity, many have already discovered its benefits such as the mapping integration, ability to perform functions directly from the Welcome Screen such as Search, Modify, Photos, Hotsheets etc. Despite the offer of early training classes, many have requested more formal training in the lab and we have increased the size and added two-a-day classes for that purpose. It's encouraging to find that some of you are cancelling your introductory class and wanting more advanced training and we have also added those classes for you. You can find the schedule of classes and register for them on the CBR calendar at https://columbusrealtors.com/13397.cfm. There is also some basic video training modules that can be downloaded and you will find these at http://wdwpy.com.

Below is a grid of the classes scheduled for Tempo^TM 5 training in May & June. These are the same Tempo^TM 1, 2 and 3 classes we've been teaching for years now -- but using the Tempo^TM 5 system, of course.

MLS Reciprocity

CBR has reciprocity agreements with the following:

Firelands Association of REALTORS® (Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Seneca, Sandusky counties)
Lancaster Board of REALTORS® (Fairfield, Hocking Perry counties)
Licking County Board of REALTORS® (Licking county)
Marion Board of REALTORS® (Marion, Wyandot counties)
Scioto Valley Association of REALTORS® (Ross, Vinton, Jackson and Pike counties)
WRIST MLS - Midwest Ohio Association of REALTORS®, Springfield Board of REALTORS® (Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Logan, Mercer, Miami and Shelby counties)

With this reciprocal agreement, CBR members may join another Board/MLS without paying membership dues to another REALTOR® board. As with any MLS in Ohio, the broker is first required to join the MLS and then any sales associates may also join.

Important information regarding real estate commissions
If you show any property listed in the CBR Tempo^TM MLS, you can expect to receive a commission for the amount listed. HOWEVER, if you show a property not listed in the CBR Tempo^TM MLS and your broker IS NOT a member of MLS in which the listing appears, you cannot assume you will be paid a commission for selling the property. An MLS, by definition, is an offer of compensation to participants. However, that offer does not extend to brokers who are not members of that MLS. In this circumstance, any compensation would need to be negotiated between brokers.

Short Sales

Appropriate disclosure of short sale listings has been the subject of much discussion and debate lately. The National Association of REALTORS® will be addressing this at their Spring Conference (end of April). CBR has put together a task force to address how best to handle this in CBR Tempo^TM. If you have comments/suggestions, please direct your input to any of the following task force members so they may bring your thoughts to the table: Rick Benjamin, Terry Bryant, Gary Francis, Greg Hrabcak, Bob McCarthy, Bonnie Nyikes, Chip Parrish and Chris Pedon.

Changes in CBR Tempo^TM expected late summer 2008...

Amenities List Split into Interior/Exterior

Approval has been given for the residential feature group called amenities to be split into two feature groups -- Interior & Exterior.

INTERIOR: Air Filter, Attic Fan, Central VAC, Dishwasher, Elec Range, Garden/Soak Tub, Gas Range, Handicap Access, Humidifier, Microwave, Pool, Refrigerator, Security System, Trash Compactor, Whirlpool Tub, Wood Floors -- All, Wood Floors -- Part.

EXTERIOR: Above Ground Pool, Additional Building, Deck Fenced Yard, Handicap Access, Inground Pool, Irrigation System, Patio Home Features, Screen Porch, Storage Shed, Waste Treatment System, Well, Patio.

Waterfront and Water View added to Lot Characteristics