On August 3, FBS will update the design of the contact information screens in Contact Management. This change is part of an ongoing initiative to modernize the look and feel of Contact Management to make it easier to use. The first change to the Contact Management page was released in June, updating the way the contact list appeared. This update changes the display when viewing a contact’s detailed information. Future updates will include additional design changes as well as enhancing functionality with new features.

NOTE: This update does not change existing functionality. Only the display and layout will change.

To view a contact’s information go to Contact Managment and select a contact.

The new contact information screen displays the contact’s name at the top of the screen and provides the same options you currently have. The first option is now called Contact Details.

The menu options are responsive to your screen size. On a wide screen, all of the options may display, but on a smaller screen you will see a More option. Clicking More opens a dropdown with the other available menu options.

The options to Edit, Remove, Deactivate, and Transfer the contact are at the bottom of the screen and are accessible regardless of which information tab you are currently on. If you don’t see these options, scroll to the bottom of the screen to access them.

To exit the contact’s information screen, click Close.

Back To Top

08/01/2017

Read the full obituary here:

http://www.johnquint.com/Obituary.php?FuneralHomeID=JohnQuint&ID=2933

Back To Top

Be cautious of fake e-mail allegedly from DocuSign
Greg Swearingen, Howard Hanna Realcom Realty, received a bogus e-mail supposedly from DocuSign that appeared to be legitimate. Had he followed the link provided in the e-mail and clicked REVIEW DOCUMENT, it’s likely that it would have attempted to install a virus of some sort or get him to disclose sensitive password information. Red flags were 1) he was not expecting an e-mail from DocuSign and 2) when he put his mouse cursor over the link, his browser displayed the following link: https ://bluejeri.com.br/ — a website setup in Brazil.  He forwarded the e-mail to spam@docusign.com and they provided him with the following tips to help spot the difference between real and spoof DocuSign e-mails:

• All URLs to view or sign DocuSign documents will contain “docusign.net/” and will always start with https.
• All legitimate DocuSign envelopes include a unique security code at the bottom of notification e-mails. If you do not see this code, don’t click on any links or open any attachments within the e-mail, forward it to spam@docusign.com.

For this notice and more, click http://www.columbusrealtors.com/alerts/default.aspx

Back To Top

07/28/2017

Columbus REALTORS® offices will be closed from 12pm-5p on Friday, Jul. 28, 2017 for staff training.

Back To Top

The new redesign of the menu bar is here! If you have not yet configured your menu bar during the preview period, you will have been shown a video explaining the new features during your initial log in since the change. If you skipped or missed the tutorial video and documents, you can find and view them below:

Watch the Video Tutorial now

View the Menu Quick Start Guide PDF

Original Announcement from May 25th, 2017:

===========================================

Big Flex Change in June: Customizable Menus

Soon you will have access to a new, easy to use menu in Flexmls. The new design provides a modern look, and allows one-click access to your favorite menu items. This update will be made available sometime in June.  The new feature will be rolled out in waves in June.  The exact date it will appear in Columbus is yet to be determined.

Initially, the new menu will be optional, so you can choose to turn it on or choose to continue using the old menu. After 30 days, the new menu will no longer be optional; all users will be moved over to the new menu.

Turn on the New Menu
When the new menu is available, you will receive an invitation to turn it on when you login to Flexmls. If you don’t turn it on immediately, you will be able to click the Use the Customizable Menu button to turn it on. You can also click the What’s this? link to access more information about the custom menu before you decide to turn it on.

When you turn the menu on, you’ll answer a question about your role: are you an Agent, an Appraiser, etc. Your response will determine the default items on your Favorites bar.

When setup is complete, you’ll see a Menu button and your Favorites.

Menu
Click on Menu to see the fully expanded menu. All the menu items are here in the same groups and in the same order as the old menu. Click a menu item to go to that feature. For example, click Quick Search to start a new search.

Type into the search box (“Search the menu…”) to easily find a menu item. For example, if you type “sav” in the search box, the menu will bring the Saved Searches link to you. Click the link to go to Saved Searches. It’s faster than looking through the whole menu.

To exit the full menu, click Menu again.

Add and Remove Favorites
Favorites give you one-click access to features you use the most. You can easily add, remove and rearrange Favorites to match how you work.

To mark a menu item as a Favorite, open the Menu, hover your mouse over an item and a Favorite star will appear. Click the star to create a one-click shortcut to it on the Favorites bar.

If you want to remove an item from your Favorites, click on the star next to an existing Favorite. The item is instantly removed from your Favorites and the star changes to an outline.

If you have more menu items in your Favorites than can be displayed on your screen, there will be a More link in your Favorites. Click More to access your remaining Favorites.

Reorder and Remove Favorites
To rearrange the order of your Favorites or remove an item from your Favorites, click the Reorder link on the menu bar.

Click and hold a menu item to drag and drop it into a new order.

You can also remove an item from your Favorites by clicking Remove. Click Save when you are done managing your Favorites.

Back To Top

07/27/2017

The Columbus REALTORS® association headquarters will all day on Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. The association will open for normal business hours on Wednesday at 8:30am.

Schedule:
Monday, July 3, 2017 – Closed
Tuesdayy, July 4, 2017 – Closed
Wednesday, July 5, 2017 – Open at 8:30am

Back To Top

06/29/2017

Beginning August 1, 2017, listings that are in Under Contract/Pending status will now expire on their expiration date.  This policy change has been approved the MLS Committee and Board of Directors.  Previously, listings in Under Contract status would ignore the expiration date and remain in that status indefinitely.

Contingent Listings to Expire Also – Date TBA:

This same change will occur for Contingent listings in the coming weeks.  The change will occur on August 1st for Pending, but will take longer to program for the contingent listings.  Additional notice will be posted on this MLS Message Board when the date is finalized for contingent listings to begin expiring on their expiration date.

Back To Top

Realist data coverage counties have been expanded to a total of 23 counties within MLS.  An additional 10 counties have been added to the tax data coverage area. The new counties are available now in Realist.  You can now access the Realist detail page by clicking the parcel number in Flexmls on reports or on the Flexmls map pop-up (after clicking the green property icon on the map.)  These counties are also available for auto-population of tax data when entering a new listing.

New Counties:
Athens
Champaign
Clark
Clinton
Coshocton
Highland
Logan
Marion
Richland
Ross

The following counties were already available prior to the expansion: Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway and Union.

Champaign County Listings please note:  There is a bug for the Champaign county data in Realist.  The tax district field is currently showing only the first letter of the tax district.  (ie “K” instead of “K41”).  Please contact the MLS departement if you need assistance correcting this field for your listings in Champaign county on MLS.  Realist has already been made aware and is working on correcting the field within Realist.

Back To Top

Beginning August 1, 2017, all photos uploaded to an MLS listing that do not show the property as it actually exist must be be labeled “Not Actual Property”.  Previously, only the primary photo was required to be watermarked “Not Actual Property”.  This policy change was made because it was determined that secondary photos could be equally misleading as to the condition of the property as the primary photo.

This new policy requirement will become enforced on August 1, 2017.  If a listing is found to have photos that are not the actual property, as it actually exists, a fine will be issued with no warning prior to assessment.  If any photo on a listing is a 3D rendering, sketch, model, etc., it must be marked “Not Actual Property” according to the requirements in the policies below.

Please begin updating your listings immediately. 

MLS Policies affected by this change:

1.03.04 – Improper Display of Photos Fine with No Warning
The primary (first) photo on a listing in MLS shall predominantly display only the property that is for sale, lease or exchange. If multiple photos are used as the primary photo in a collage format, collectively they must still predominately display the property for sale. The primary or any additional photos can display floor plans, staged photos, identical models, 3D renderings, artist renderings, etc. except for the following:
(1) Any Build-to-Suit listing whose primary (first) photo must display one of the MLS images provided. (Please see MLS Policy 1.01.07.)
(2) All images that are not images of the actual property are required to display, on that image, the words “Not Actual Property” in 36-point type or larger.
(3) Any image submitted for display in the MLS may not be modified in such a manner as to misrepresent the true condition, as it currently exists, of the actual property.

1.03.05 – Unallowable Data on Photos and Public Documents Fine with No Warning
No marketing devices of any type (e.g., logos, readable for sale signs, company names, phone numbers, Web sites, e-mail addresses including embedded, overlaid or digitally stamped information etc.) shall appear on or with any photos or public documents except for the following:
(1) Any listing with the MLS watermark “CR” must allow it to remain visible on the photo.
(2) Any Build-to-Suit listing whose primary (first) photo must display one of the MLS images provided.
(3) All images that are not images of the actual property are required to display, on that image, the words “Not Actual Property” in 36-point type or larger.
(4) An image may have text overlays added on primary and secondary photos provided it is descriptive or informative of the property and it is not misleading, branded or leads to branding, i.e., no agent or brokerage information.
(5) No people are permitted in the primary photo. People may appear in secondary photos.

Back To Top

Read the full obituary here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=dennis-j-hickey-pickey&pid=185816368&fhid=8708

Back To Top

06/19/2017