A new searchable field known as the Sewer field has been added to FlexMLS. Using this, members can indicate on their listings whether the property has a Public Sewer, or a Private Sewer. This can also be used as search criteria for quick searches. Sewer is not enabled on searches by default and must be added to your search using the Add a field to this search option at the bottom of the currently added criteria.

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07/19/2021

Closed listings must be entered into the MLS within 96 hours from the actual closing and funding date.

HUD listings are to be updated within 96 hours of either:

1) Asset Manager’s notice of closing
2) the county auditor or Realist published sale information for the property.

Please ensure that your closed listings are entered before this deadline to avoid any warnings or fines.

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05/13/2021

Have you ever wanted to hide your photos in the MLS? Well, you can’t exactly hide them, but you can mark them as “private”. When a photo is marked as Private, only other agents can see them. Be sure to check out the video on this topic with the link below. Each video will provide a very short synopsis of a timely MLS policy or software function, so don’t miss them!

MLS Video Minute – 1 – Private Photos (vimeo.com)

• From the main MLS page, go to the “change listing” screen for the listing you want to edit.
• If you have photos on your listing, you should see the Photos option under the Media section as seen below.

• Inside are the photos of your listing (Note that the primary photo cannot be hidden). To select a photo, click the checkbox in the upper-right corner of each photo.
• Upon selecting one or more photos, the following options will appear at the top of the photo screen.

• Once you have all the photos you wish to hide selected, click “Mark Private” and the photo will immediately be private and unable to be seen by anyone outside of the MLS.
  • Alternatively, you can click “Mark Private while off-market”, which makes the photos private only when the status is Temp Off Market, Canceled, Expired, or Closed.
• Viola! Your photos are now hidden!

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05/05/2021

The Office Exclusive form allowed agents to keep a listing exclusive to their brokerage. The Brokerage Exclusive Waiver Form is the same form with a new name.  The form is still required when a listing will not be placed on the MLS on the Commencing Date on the Listing Agreement.

                A number of members thought that the old Office Exclusive form limited the listing to just the listing office, denying them the support of their sister offices. The name change of the Brokerage Exclusive Waiver Form clarifies that the listing can be shared with the entire brokerage, not just a satellite office.

                Most details of the form remain the same. The Brokerage Exclusive Waiver Form is still required to have an exclusive listing. It must be submitted to the Columbus MLS within 48 hours after the Commencing Date on the Listing Agreement. Exclusive listings cannot be advertised outside the brokerage, as doing so can result in a Clear Cooperation violation. Any exclusive listing marketed outside the brokerage must be entered as Active or Coming Soon in the MLS within 1 business day, or a significant fine for Clear Cooperation violations will be assessed.

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04/30/2021

The Delayed Showing Authorization form has been discontinued following the replacement of Showing Start Date (SSD) with Coming Soon and the Active on MLS date. Delayed Showing forms are no longer available or required for listings. The rules and regulations for Delayed Showings/Showing Start Date have been consolidated and rolled into Coming Soon, so reference these rules when considering a delayed showing.

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04/29/2021

Coming Soon MUST be selected at the time the listing is created.  An Active listing cannot be returned to Coming Soon status.

When a new listing is being entered into the MLS, user must choose a status under the Main Fields section. The new listing status can be either Active or Coming Soon. Coming Soon must be selected before the listing is made active. When Coming soon is selected, the user will then be prompted for a List Date and an Active on MLS date.

The List Date is the day when your listing goes up on the MLS showing as Coming Soon. This corresponds with the MLS Entry Date field on the listing agreement. While in Coming Soon status, your listing does not accrue Days on Market (DOM). The Active on MLS date is when the MLS switches your listing to the Active status for you, making it fully available for showings.

No showings are allowed while your listing is in the Coming Soon status. When it becomes Active, it must be available for showings immediately. Be aware of this when you set your List and Active on MLS dates, as this is the only method to delay showings for properties. Coming Soon and Active on MLS Date have completely replaced the Showing Start Date.

 While you can extend Coming Soon up to a maximum of 30 days from List Date, you cannot move the Active on MLS date to an earlier date.  You can, however, use the End Coming Soon button, which makes converts the listing to Active status immediately.  So, be sure to double-check your dates!

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04/26/2021

EDIT – 4/12/2021: FBS is now reporting this issue as resolved. If you notice the issue still occurring, please contact MLS Tech Support.

MLS Technical Support is aware of a bug in the Flexmls system that generates duplicate emails in client email subscriptions when a “Coming Soon” converts to “Active” as a “New Listing”.

This has been reported to FBS who manages the back-end of the Flexmls system and they are continuing to work to resolve this ASAP. MLS Technical Support is in contact with the vendor regarding an urgent need for resolution and monitoring of the situation. Updates will be provided as soon as they are available.

We thank you for your patience and apologize for the inconvenience.

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04/09/2021

Please Note: Showing rules and requirements (eg showing instructions in property description) are applied to Coming Soon’s “Active on MLS” date. Coming Soon status MUST BE USED as the replacement for Showing Start Date.

The image above shows the Status field on Add/Edit.  Active on MLS date field appears when Coming Soon status is selected. 

• Coming Soon status is the ONLY WAY to “delay showings” (until the Active on MLS date).
  • Fines will be assessed for listings that state “no showings until” that are not in Coming Soon status. All MLS showing requirements will be applied to Active on MLS date as it has replaced Showing Start Date.
• The Active on MLS date is the date upon which showings will begin.
  • Maximum of 30 days from Listing Entry (List) Date.
• Coming Soon status must be selected at time of entry. It cannot be selected after the listing is entered.
  • Yard signs require a “Coming Soon” rider while in Coming Soon status.
• The “Active on MLS” date field appears after Coming Soon status is selected. 
  • The Active on MLS date appears at the top right corner of the MLS reports, but only while the listing is in Coming Soon status.

• The Coming Soon status can be converted to Active status sooner (using “End Coming Soon” button.)
  • The “End Coming Soon” button converts the Coming Soon listing to Active immediately.
  • If “End Coming Soon” is used, it is recommended that time should be allowed for Subscription Auto-email notifications to be sent prior to showings.
  • Listings cannot be placed back into Coming Soon status after it has been made Active.
  • If showings are not available for an active property, the property must be made “Temp Off Market” (unless Curb Offers Only is indicated)
• The Active on MLS date can be moved further into the future.
  • Coming Soon status can be used for a maximum of 30 days from Listing Entry (List) Date.
• Days on Market do not accumulate during the Coming Soon period.
• Advertising is allowed.
• Showings of any kind are not permitted before the Active on MLS date.
  • This includes buyer inspections.
• Coming Soon status listings will be included in Subscription Auto-emails. (Listing email will be sent to clients.)
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: Agents must add Coming Soon status to the saved search in order for the Subscription email to include those listings.
• Showing Start Date is completely replaced and no longer visible after March 1, 2021.
  • The Delayed Showing Authorization form (for Showing Start Date) is no longer required.
• REMINDER:  Coming Soon status must be selected at time of listing entry if showings are to be delayed.

20200305 rev. 0

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03/05/2021

Columbus Realtors is currently in the process of migrating to a newer phone system to better serve our members. Until the final tweaks and updates are applied, members may experience dropped calls or other disruptions when calling into Columbus Realtors.

We are working to minimize the impact of these disruptions and thank you for your patience.

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03/02/2021

Please Note: Showing rules and requirements (eg showing instructions in property description) are applied to Coming Soon’s “Active on MLS” date. Coming Soon status MUST BE USED as the replacement for Showing Start Date.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

New listings:

• Coming Soon must be used if showings will be delayed (until the Active on MLS date).
  • Delayed showings are prohibited for Active listings.
• Coming Soon status must be selected at time of entry. It cannot be selected after the listing is entered.
• The “Active on MLS” date field appears after Coming Soon status is selected. 
• The Active on MLS date is the date upon which showings will begin.
• Showing Start Date has been hidden on the MLS Add/Edit screen.  Use Coming Soon/Active on MLS date instead.

The image above shows the Status field on Add/Edit.  Active on MLS date field appears when Coming Soon status is selected. 

Current listings:

• Showings are not allowed until BOTH of the following dates have passed:
  • the Showing Start Date originally entered at the time of listing which is displayed on the MLS reports until March 1.
  • the Active on MLS date (for Coming Soon listing status).
• Listings in the Coming Soon status can be made active early by clicking “End Coming Soon” on Add/Edit.
  • Showing Start Date cannot be moved to an earlier date.
  • If “End Coming Soon” button is used, it is recommended that that time should be allowed for Subscription Auto-email notifications to be sent prior to showings.

GOING FORWARD FROM MARCH 1, 2021:

• Coming Soon is the ONLY WAY to “delay showings” (until the Active on MLS date).
  • Fines will be assessed for listings that state “no showings until” that are not in Coming Soon status. All MLS showing requirements will be applied to Active on MLS date as it has replaced Showing Start Date.
• The Active on MLS date is the date upon which showings will begin.
  • Maximum of 30 days from Listing Entry (List) Date.
• Coming Soon status must be selected at time of entry. It cannot be selected after the listing is entered.
  • Yard signs require a “Coming Soon” rider while in Coming Soon status.
• The “Active on MLS” date field appears after Coming Soon status is selected. 
  • The Active on MLS date appears at the top right corner of the MLS reports, but only while the listing is in Coming Soon status.

• The Active on MLS date can be moved earlier (using “End Coming Soon” button.)
  • The “End Coming Soon” button converts the Coming Soon listing to Active immediately.
  • If “End Coming Soon” is used, it is recommended that time should be allowed for Subscription Auto-email notifications to be sent prior to showings.
  • Listings cannot be placed back into Coming Soon status after it has been made Active.
  • If showings are not available for an active property, the property must be made “Temp Off Market” (unless Curb Offers Only is indicated)
• The Active on MLS date can be moved further into the future.
  • Coming Soon status can be used for a maximum of 30 days from Listing Entry (List) Date.
• Days on Market do not accumulate during the Coming Soon period.
• Advertising is allowed.
• Showings of any kind are not permitted before the Active on MLS date.
  • This includes buyer inspections.
• Coming Soon status listings will be included in Subscription Auto-emails. (Listing email will be sent to clients.)
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: Agents must add Coming Soon status to the saved search in order for the Subscription email to include those listings.
• Showing Start Date is completely replaced and no longer visible after March 1, 2021.
• REMINDER:  Coming Soon status must be selected at time of listing entry if showings are to be delayed.

20200210 rev. 1

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02/26/2021