SRCAR Connect

On Wednesday, July 7^th, MRMLS Matrix will include all CARETS Roster information from the participating MLSs  of CARETS – CLAW, CRISNet, iTech, and SoCAL MLS.

You will have the ability to search for all CARETS Agents and Offices within the Roster tab of MRMLS Matrix.  A prefix of three alpha characters followed by a dash (-) will be appended to their Agent User ID and Office Code.

This prefix does not affect any MRMLS Matrix Agents or Offices.  Your MRMLS Matrix User ID and Office Code will remain the same.

IMPORTANT: If you are a Listing Agent working with a participating CARETS agent, please discontinue the use of the “out of area” User ID when entering the Selling Agent, Co-Selling Agent or Co-Listing Agent into your listing.  You can now use the CARETS agents found in Matrix Roster to populate those fields.  If you are working with an agent outside of CARETS, please continue to use the “out of area” User ID.

The table below will help you distinguish the identity of the Agent User ID and Office Code.

Training Video:

• How to Search For an Agent
• How to Modify Your Contact Information in Matrix

CARETS and ePropertyData have teamed up to create a new CARETS Commercial Property Centric system.  This new system will allow you to add your commercial, commercial lease and business opportunity listings directly into the system with the ability to view commercial listings through most of Southern California.

As with any new change we look for your input.   MRMLS values and needs the input of working professionals, such as yourself, in order to make our systems everything that they should be.

IMPORTANT: if you currently pull our commercial listings to feed your website or back-end office system you will need to transition over to the new CARETS Commercial system to prevent any disruption of services.  Please contact our customer support for more information at 800-925-1525 or fill out your request at www.imrmls.com/SupportRequest

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more training and information on how to access CARETS Commercial.

If a property does not have an assigned APN (Assessor’s Parcel Number), do not use any filler numbers such as “9s” when adding a listing. Instead leave the APN field BLANK.

Do not leave APN field blank when a property has a valid APN. It is a violation of the CARETS Data Integrity Standards. Instead, you must input the valid APN for the property you are listing into the MLS.

Starting May 1st, a revised CARETS Data Integrity Standards and Standardized Rules & Regulations will be enforced.

Click here to read the list of changes between the original and revised rules and policies.

Example a property without an APN:

• Do not put any filler numbers such as “9s” in the APN field
  

• Instead leave the APN field blank when a property does not have an APN
  

Realist Tax will be temporarily offline Monday, April 5th from 7pm to 10pm for system maintenance.

And Smart Trac & Smart Fax will be temporarily offline Tuesday, April 6th from 7pm to 7:30pm for system maintenance.

MRMLS Matrix, Pinpoint, Mercado and other MRMLS products and services will be ONLINE during this time.  It is recommended to run your searches in Realist Tax prior to this time.

What is a better way to start your year than getting trained?  You could take FREE classes through your Association that will:

• Help you better understand how to use the MRMLS Matrix system
• Improve your ability to service your clients

The best part is… THE CLASSES ARE FREE!!!

Click here for a list of other classes in your area.

MRMLS will be delaying the rollout of the new SCOUT security login procedure until April 13th. We are moving the time back in order to provide the vendor and MRMLS additional time to prepare the system for implementation! We are sorry for any inconvenience but look forward to introducing you to the exciting new features of the SCOUT solution very shortly.

Be on the lookout for more implementation information in the coming days!

What is SCOUT?

SCOUT’s multi-layered authentication and heuristic methods in securing your account information is done behind the scenes. SCOUT captures and reports unauthorized activity. The technology clears the path for you to log onto MRMLS Matrix WITHOUT the need of your SAFEMLS Token.

Now starting April 13th, during the phased rollout, you will continue to use your SafeMLS token until you are prompted to enroll your new password. You may keep or recycle your SafeMLS token after you have successfully enrolled your new SCOUT password.

What do I need to do to prepare for SCOUT?

This new login screen requires Adobe Flash. This is a very common program, thus the majority of computers are already equipped with it. However, you may be prompted to download the latest version. Please seek technical assistance from your Office Admin or IT professional. Running updates on your computer may result in other changes to your settings.

View Training Videos:

• SCOUT Enrollment Process
• How to Modify Your Email Address or Contact Information in MRMLS Matrix

When MRMLS launched the SafeMLS token security program in 2008, we made a promise to our membership that we would continue to explore new and less intrusive ways of making sure your data was as secure as possible. MRMLS and your local Association feel that the rollout of our new security program, SCOUT for SAFEMLS on March 24th accomplishes giving you both ease of use and the highest levels of security.

SCOUT for SAFEMLS’s multi-layered authentication and heuristic methods in securing your account information is done behind the scene.  SCOUT clears the path for you to log onto MRMLS Matrix by providing your username and single password without the need of your SAFEMLS Token.

Beginning March 24th, we will begin a phased rollout.  Over the subsequent four weeks, groups of members will be required to register the next time they logon to Matrix.  After you have successfully registered, you will no longer need your SafeMLS token to log into the Matrix system.

Note: You will continue to need your SafeMLS Token UNTIL you have registered your new password.

Within a few weeks, MRMLS and your Local Association will provide you more detailed information about how this exciting new program will work!

EDIT: There has been a delay on the roll-out of the SCOUT Security System. Look for the new roll-out date to be April 13th, 2010.

Understanding the different ways to describe commissions on the MLS often can be misunderstood. Selling Office Compensation is a required field and must be entered as a percentage or fixed dollar Amount.  In addition, any specific conditions related to estate sales, probate listings, auctions, sales dependent on lender approval or other special circumstances must be entered in Agent Remarks. Below are some typical questions and answers that should help clear the obstacles when placing your listing on the MRMLS Matrix system.

Questions and Answers:

Q. What is a Dual Variable Rate Commission?

A. The CARETS Rules and Regulations section 7.22 provides that a dual or variable commission is one in which the seller agrees to pay a different commission if:

• The Listing Broker represents both the Seller and Buyer (dual agent) or
• The Seller finds the buyer themselves: or
• The Listing Broker is not the Selling Broker.

In situations like these, you must disclose this information by using the Dual Variable Rate field when you add a listing in MRMLS Matrix.

Q. Is Selling Office Compensation based on Gross or Net Sales Price?

A. Selling Office Compensation is calculated on the Gross Sales Price. If applicable, listing brokers can invite a cooperating broker to “contact the listing broker for terms of additional compensation” in Agent Remarks.

Q. Are Conditional Offers of Compensation allowed on the MLS?

A. No. Conditional or discriminatory language regarding the payment of compensation is not allowed in public or agent remarks. Examples of discriminatory language include: “If the listing agent shows the property first to a buyer, total selling office compensation will be reduced to ’x‘%”, or, ’y’% compensation is given for full price offers, or ‘z‘% compensation if offers are less than full price.”

Q. How can I protect myself if the cooperating broker insists on the originally offered commission when the commission is reduced by the lender?

A. The CARETS MLS Rules and Regulations Section 7.15.2, which mirror the C.A.R. Model Rule, allows the listing broker to reduce a commission offered in the MLS to the cooperating broker if the lender reduces the overall gross commission it pays to the listing broker.  In order to receive protection of this rule, a listing broker or agent is required to publish in the Agent Remarks field (a) the fact the sale and gross commission of the listing are subject to lender approval, (b) the amount or method by which the compensation offered through the MLS will be reduced if the lender reduces the gross commission and (c) to disclose the listing is a Short Sale.

Readers who require specific advice should consult an attorney. C.A.R. members requiring legal assistance may contact C.A.R.’s member legal hotline at 213-739-8282, Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm.  Broker-owners, office managers, or designated REALTORS® may contact the member legal hotline at 213-739-8350.  Or you may email your questions to legal_hotline@car.org or fax to 213-480-7724.

Not 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.

America 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