New Customer Displays and Reports on MRMLS Matrix

image005Not finding what you need when you print listings for your client?  Based off member input, starting April 3rd, MRMLS Matrix offers three new customer displays and reports for your clients!

  • Customer 1 Line
  • Customer Thumbnail
  • Customer Brief

Follow these steps to view the new Customer Displays and Reports.

  1. From your search page, change your Display to view the new customer 1 line, customer thumbnail or customer brief.
  2. To print the new customer 1 line, customer thumbnail, or customer brief report, click Print Report.

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Are Your Clients on AOL? Please READ!

aolAmerica On Line (AOL) actively blocks spam email for their users. Unfortunately this approach also tends to block emails that your clients want to receive.

If your clients use AOL mail, they may not be getting your emails.

If clients mark your MRMLS Matrix Emails or Auto-Emails as junk or spam, AOL receives that as a complaint. If AOL receives enough complaints they block the entire system.

The MRMLS Matrix Email and Auto Email function was created for agents and brokers to communicate directly with clients. The MRMLS Matrix Email and Auto Email function is a communication system, and should not be used as a marketing system.

MRMLS is working with AOL to resolve this issue. The MRMLS Matrix system conforms to AOLs requirements, and has applied to be added to AOL’s “White List.” Until AOL approves that request, you may continue to receive email delivery failures from AOL.

We encourage you and your clients to contact AOL directly to request that they unblock MRMLS Matrix Emails and Auto Emails.

Here are some best practices for avoiding email problems:

  • Keep your Client List Clean. Identify, modify and disable invalid email addresses when you receive a failed invalid email address notice sent to you via email
  • Keep Your Client List Current. Disable Auto Emails that no longer apply
  • Keep Your Contacts Current. Maintain and update your contact list in Matrix
  • “Unsubscribe”, Don’t “Junk Mail.” Have your clients hit the “Unsubscribe” link in the Email or Auto Email rather than mark your email as junk or spam. At the bottom of each email there is a link where your clients can unsubscribe for example:

    If you wish to stop receiving these emails, please Unsubscribe by clicking:

    http://www.mrmlsmatrix.com/UAE.asp?ID=0-59253721-96

  • Respect Clients That Unsubscribe. Do not re-enable Auto Emails that were disabled by your client. Doing so increases your chances of being “Black Listed.”

Note, no other major email providers are blocking MRMLS Matrix Emails or Auto Emails at that time.

Need training? All MRMLS training classes are FREE! For a list of classes go to www.imrmls.com/training

MRMLS offers Continuing Education Credits

MRMLS is the first Multiple Listing Service to offer Department of Real Estate Continuing Education Credits in the Consumer Service Category.  Two hours of continuing education credits are given for each for Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Listing Management Matrix class.  These classes are offered at your local Association or Board of REALTORS®. Go to www.mrmlsu.com for the training calendar, online videos and other training materials.

MRMLS training classes include the following:

  • Basic Matrix **
  • Intermediate Matrix**
  • Advanced Matrix**
  • Listing Management**
  • Realist Tax
  • Pinpoint Mapping
  • Smart Trac
  • enCMA
  • Wyldfyre7

**C.E. Credit Class

PLEASE NOTE: The regularly scheduled Matrix classes (3rd Thursday for Basic Matrix training, and last Mon. for Advanced Matrix Training each month) @ SRCAR DO NOT offer continuing education credits. We will be offering a few classes for credit in addition to the regular offerings. The reason for this is because they have to test on each section for credit and not as much information can be covered in the “for credit” sessions. We will offer the first for credit sessions in March. Online sessions for these for credit classes might be offered in the future.


Interactive Customer Portal

We are excited to announce on December 3, 2008, your customers will be able to physically interact with their Auto Emails.  This improvement is called the Interactive Customer Portal.  This cool new feature will allow your clients to select listings as Favorites, Possibilities and Discard unwanted properties.  In addition, your customers will be able to rate these listings on a 5-star star system.

Important Note:  On December 3rd, all listings that match your client’s criteria will be resent to your client to accommodate this new feature.  Please notify your clients to avoid questions or frustrations.

The Interactive customer portal will help you be engaged with your customers’ wants and needs.  To find your customer’s review of listings click on the Open Portal link in the Save/Automatic Searches in the My Matrix tab.

CARETS Has Finally Arrived!!

We are excited to announce users of MRMLS have the ability to access CARETS Residential and Residential Lease listings across ALL status types (actives and one year of solds; expired and canceled listings will begin to appear later this week) from the participating CARETS MLS organizations (CRISNet, CLAW, i-Tech, and SoCal MLS). We have MORE listings, MORE historical data, and MORE searchable choices in ONE convenient system for you, MRMLS! The only CHANGES will be MORE listings and EXPANDED search options!

Q. How do I retrieve CARETS listings?

A.  Run a Residential or Residential Lease property search to pull CARETS listings.  CARETS

Listings appear the SAME way MRMLS listings appear with a few noticeable changes.

They are:

  1. More searchable options in the City, Market Area, and School District fields for Residential and Residential Lease property types.
  2. MLS identifier has been placed on the far right side of the Agent 1 Line display.  The identifier indicates which MLS organization the listing originated from.
  3. Thousands of listing data will have been imported into Residential and Residential lease property types.  Other property types are set to arrive in early 2009.

Agent 1 Line Display of Carets Listing

MRMLS Distributes SAFEMLS® Tokens

During the last three weeks of September MRMLS will begin a phased distribution of the SAFEMLS™ token product.  Distribution events and location details have been posted to Matrix News.  At the event you will receive a brief presentation, the SAFEMLS® token, and instructions on how to register and use your SAFEMLS® device.

Throughout the past few weeks we have collected questions from our membership regarding SAFEMLS® tokens.  Here are the top questions we have received.

Top Questions and Answers:

Q. Who is required to use SAFEMLS™ tokens?
A. All users including office and personal assistants are required to have their own SAFEMLS® token.  If your office or personal assistant does not have their own MLS login credentials; you will need to contact your Association or Board of Realtors.  Please contact them prior to November 1st to avoid additional charges.

Q. If I am an existing member of Sandicor or SoCal MLS and have an existing token, do I need to attend a distribution Event?
A. No, you do not need to attend a distribution event.  You can register your existing Sandicor or So Cal MLS token on the Matrix login page starting September 15, 2008. If you have issues with your Sandicor or SoCal SAFEMLS® token, please contact them directly.  If you have Rapattoni token or a token from iTech; you will be required to attend your distribution event.

Q. What if I cannot make it to my distribution event?
A. We understand that there may be some difficulties in getting to the event in your time slot.
Therefore, we will be having make-up events in October.  The schedule will be posted in the early October timeframe.

Q. How does the SAFEMLS® tokens work?
A. You will need your SAFEMLS® token each time you log into the Matrix system or Matrix Mobile. At the Matrix login page you will be required to input your User ID, a 4-digit pin, and the SAFEMLS password.  Your 4-digit pin is what you have assigned at the time of registering your token.   The SAFEMLS password is the unique number that is generated by pressing the grey button located on your SAFEMLS™ token device.

Q. Can I have the SAFEMLS Password generated on my Active Key or Mobile Phone?
A. Yes, you can have either device setup for a nominal fee. Please contact your Association or Board of Realtors for their setup fee.  Please note you can have multiple device activated to generate your SAFEMLS password.

SafeMLS Token Distribution Schedule

You are required to have the SafeMLS token each time you log into Matrix. Please pick up your tokens during your distribution times.

Where:
Embassy Suites (map – directions)
29345 Rancho California Rd.
Temecula, Ca 92591

When:
Day 1: September 22, 2008 from 8:30am to 8:00pm
Day 2: September 23, 2008 from 8:30am to 8:00pm
Day 3: September 24, 3008 from 8:30am to 8:00pm
Day 4: September 25, 2008 from 8:30am to 6:30pm

Distribution is based on the first few characters of your last name.
*All sessions will promptly begin at your start time.
***Please Bring a Valid Photo ID.***

September 22, 2008

Time Initial of Last Name
8:30am A
10:00am Ba to Bk
11:30am Bl to Bz
2:00pm Ca to Chh
3:30pm Chi to Cz
5:00pm Da to Dn
6:30pm Do to E

September 23, 2008

Time Initial of Last Name
8:30am F
10:00am Ga to Gp
11:30am Go to Ha
2:00pm Hb to Hz
3:30pm I to J
5:00pm K
6:30pm L

September 24, 2008

Time Initial of Last Name
8:30am Ma to Mb
10:00am Mc to Mm
11:30am Mn to Nd
2:00pm Ne to Pa
3:30pm Pb to Q
5:00pm Ra to Rod
6:30pm Roe to Rz

September 25, 2008

Time Initial of Last Name
8:30am Sa to Sh
10:00am Si to St
11:30am Su to To
2:00pm Tp to V
3:30pm Wa to Wh
5:00pm Wi to Z

Should you have any questions, please call the Association office at 951-894-2571.

MRMLS SAFEMLS Token Deployment and Marketing Plan

Project Plan

The Project Plan is a schedule of events for the SAFEMLS Token Implementation. As we communicate with
our members via telephone meetings, email, and in person, we will customize the Project Plan to ensure
a successful implementation. The Project Plan clarifies and recaps how the Implementation process will
be conducted.

In order to ensure a successful implementation of our new SAFEMLS® Token system, it is beneficial to
have the areas of responsibility clearly defined. This project schedule lists all the key events and
action items for this product launch.

This guide will outline the various details of the SAFEMLS Implementation. The implementation will
be broken up into three phases:

  1. Pre-Implementation
  2. Token Distribution and Launch
  3. Post Token Launch

MRMLS Tasks:

We will be responsible for the following implementation action items. Clarity will provide us with
consultation during the planning of our implementation and assist us in ensuring a smooth transition
to our system.

Pre-Implementation

  1. Token Database and Setup
  2. Training
  3. Communication and Marketing
  4. Distribution Planning

Token Distribution Launch

  1. Go Live
  2. Association Distribution
  3. Communication

Post Token Launch

  1. Communication
  2. PA & OA Security Fee Charge
  3. Association Distribution Follow-up
  4. Token Required

An explanation of the action items follows.


Communication and Marketing Plan

“Communications” will be sent to members and associations to properly educate and inform them of
upcoming SAFEMLS Token events. Clareity Security will co-develop the communication content with us.

We have developed a 90 day communication process that will guide us through communicating SAFEMLS Token
topics and key dates to our members. This will provide us and our members with timely and detailed
information about SAFEMLS Token, requirements, and what is expected of them.

The target dates for distributing the communication are:

  1. 8/1/08- iDate 1: “Why Security Is Important”
  2. 8/18/08- iDate 2: “What We Are Doing” (including authenticator choices).
  1. All new participants , subscribers, and Appraisers will be charged $40 security fee (Sept
    1)
  2. PC/AC will require their own separate login

  • 9/1/08- iDate 3: “Deployment Details and Schedule” (including authenticator choices” sent
    multiple times.
  • 9/15/08- iDate 4: Deployment Details and Launch Schedule
  • 9/29/08- iDate 5: Token Requirement and PC/AC Login requirement
  • 10/13/08- iDate 6: PA and OA $40 Security Charge goes into effect (Nov 1)
  • 10/27/08- iDate 7: PA and OA $40 Security Charge goes into effect recap (Nov 1)
  • 11/10/08- iDate 8: Token Usage Required (Nov 18)
  • 11/17/08- iDate 9: Token Required recap (Nov 18)
  • 12/29/08- iDate 10: PC and AC whole sale charge for each login created (Jan 1)
  • Methods of Communication: Newsletter, Matrix Messaging, Training Classes, MLS Home
    Page, MRMLS News, Office Visits, and Inbound/Outbound Calls.

    Token
    Database and Setup

    Clareity Security will coordinate with the us and Tarasoft to install the SAFEMLS system on Servers
    at the Host Site including the configuration of the software, user database, group roles, and appropriate
    web agents and services.

    1. August 18- Token will be deployed to Staging
    2. August 18-September16- MRMLS and Association will test Token system on Staging
    3. September 15- Token Login on Production
    4. November 18- Token Required


    Staff
    /Association Training and Member Training Materials

    Clareity Security will provide MRMLS with a Master “SAFEMLS User Guide” that will include instructions
    on how to enroll, use, and maintain their specific SAFEMLS authenticator. Also included are instructions
    for what the end user should do if they lose or break their SAFEMLS authenticator. The Customer can
    customize or update this user guide to include site-specific information, policies, or additional Frequently
    Asked Questions.

    1. August 1-August 30th- Revise or Develop Token End Use Guide, Instructions, Member
      policies, FAQ, etc.
    2. August 18th- Staff Training
    1. Clareity Security will provide on-site end user security training and/or Train the Trainer training
      services as outlined in the Customer’s Purchase Agreement.
    1. Overview of the SAFEMLS solution, including the end-user experience
    2. SAFEMLS Administration Website
    3. Clarity’s SAFEMLS Administrator Guide (administrator forms / procedures)
    4. Review of Warranty and Return Process
  • September 8-September 12- Association Training
  • SAFEMLS Distribution Plans

    Distribution of the SAFEMLS Tokens will be held at the members’ local Board or Association of Realtors.
    Temps and MRMLS resources will be in each Association/Meeting place at the time of Distribution. MRMLS
    will work with Association Staff to schedule meeting times and resources needed.

    1. August 1 to August 30- Distribution brainstorm planning, Distribution Calendar,
      and Hire Temps
    2. September 15- September 30- Distribution of Token at the Board/Associations


    Post
    Implementation and Contact Information

    MRMLS will continue to communicate to Membership regarding SAFEMLS Token requirement. MRMLS will
    re-evaluate the need for additional resources for each Association/Board distribution. Clareity Security
    will be available to answer question and provide guidance for ensuring a well-organized and efficient
    transition to your new SAFEMLS system.

    For questions regarding Support, Product Ordering, Warranty Replacement Procedures, Implementation,
    and/or Training please contact our Clareity account manager at 866-221-9291 or e-mail support@clareitysecurity.com.

    Project Timeline

    MRMLS Announces “SafeMLS Tokens” Security Initiative

    MRMLS is addressing a challenge that is prevalent in our entire industry – data security. MRMLS made it possible for you to access the MLS system from any computer with Internet connectivity to increase your ability to communicate with clients. However, this convenient method opens our valuable MLS data to misuse and theft.

    Our biggest threats are people who shouldn’t have access to the MLS and are logging in with passwords they have either been given or have obtained through unauthorized methods. Often, real estate professionals do not realize when they give out their login to one trusted person, that person may tell another, and eventually (in some documented cases) hundreds of people gain access. Even if a member never shares their password, it can be stolen or guessed. Because of password sharing and theft, MLS organizations and vendors estimated that 10 to 25 percent of user logins are not legitimate MLS members.

    Limiting access to the MLS information is important. First, a lot of sensitive information stored within the listing, including showing instructions that in the wrong hands can lead to burglary and other crime. Second, many of our members store clients and prospecting information that can be misused by someone else logging into your account. Third, the MLS is the front door to a host of consumer and financial information protected by federal legislation. The need to protect this information is urgent!

    Beginning on September 15th, 2008, MRMLS is implementing SafeMLS Token, a proven security technology that has been in use by millions of people in the private industry and government for over a decade. This solution was researched at length by Clareity, a well-respected real estate consulting company. Several MLS have implemented this solution. In addition, this technology is supported by well known third party vendors such as Wyldfyre and eNeighborhoods.

    Within a few weeks, MRMLS will provide you with more detailed information about how it will work and where to get the SafeMLS token.

    What is My Home Worth? Use Realist ValueMap for Quick Estimates!!!

    MRMLS is pleased to announce Realist ValueMap is now available to our brokers and agents as part of their regular dues.


    Offer Realist ValueMap Property Evaluation to Clients on Your Website
    You are the expert—Customers should come to you instead of less accurate real estate websites. With Realist ValueMap clients can get automated estimates of the value of their property, but for a more exact quote they will need to contact their agent.The Realist ValueMap automated value model (AVM) is one of the most accurate property estimation engines on the market. It uses both public record data and current MRMLS data to generate the most reliable automated estimate possible.

    1. Offer automated property estimates to your clients via your website.
    2. Search Realist ValueMap to get a quick estimate of the value of a property while your client is still on the phone.

    To add ValueMap to your website open Realist Tax and go to the Realist ValueMap tab (For detailed instructions see www.imrmls.com/ValueMap):

    1. Go to My ValueMap and accept the license agreement.
    2. Generate a link for your Web designer to add to your website. Choose from one of the following three options:
    3. Have the ValueMap page framed on your website.
      • Generate a customized banner with your branding and a link to click.
      • Generate the default banner from Realist ValueMap that clients can click..

    Features & Benefits:

    • ValueMap gives estimates on property values throughout most of Southern California.
    • ValueMap estimates the value of the property from the Realist Tax tab within MRMLS Matrix.
    • ValueMap offers automated property estimations from your website.
    • ValueMap keep viewers/potential clients on your website longer.