The Showing Start Date field was added to our MLS almost 2 ½ years ago in December 2015. Implementation of the Showing Start Date field is a response to the “coming soon” marketing that is widely used across the country.  It is also a policy clarification and addition to allow premarketing options for MLS listed properties. Members are now able to promote those listings “not quite ready for showing” while still entering them in MLS.

The Showing Start Date field enables members to enter an exact date when showings will begin. The field is a required entry for all listings. It is important to note that NO SHOWINGS FOR ANYONE are permitted prior to the Showing Start Date.

Verbiage such as “No Showings until June 14” is allowed in the Property Description field. You may also include a reason for the delayed showings such as “new carpet being installed”.  All wording in the Property Description field is still subject to MLS policies, rules and regulations.

Read the Full Article from 2015 at columbusrealtors.com that announced Showing Start Date for additional information regarding proper utilization of this field.

For specific questions regarding showing start date and MLS policy surrounding it, please contact the MLS Policy Compliance Administrator at mlspolicy@columbusrealtors.com or (614)475-4000 during the hours of Mon-Fri 8:30a-5:00p.

Primary Policies regarding Showing Start Date/Delayed Showings

1. There may be no showings of any kind until such time as the date established as the “Showing Start Date” has been met. For the purpose of the “Showing Start Date” policy, the following would qualify as showings: Open Houses, realty tours, agent previews
2. The “Showing Start Date” may not be moved to an earlier date for any reason once it has been entered into the MLS. The only exception would be when a mistake is realized and the MLS is notified within 24 hours of entry.
3. The “Showing Start Date” is limited to a date no more than 30 days in the future. If originally set to less than thirty (30) days in the future, it can be extended. The extension cannot be further out than thirty (30) days from the original list date.
4. The “Showing Start Date” cannot be changed once it has been met. If showings must be stopped again for a period of time after the “Showing Start Date” has passed, the listing should be in the withdrawn (Temp off Market) status.
5. Any showing of a property before the “Showing Start Date” has been met is a potential violation of the NAR REALTOR® Code of Ethics. There may also be issues with Fair Housing Laws that could affect the REALTOR®, their broker and the seller.

Can I change the Showing Start Date if I made a mistake?

The Showing Start Date (SSD) field cannot be “pulled back” after a listing goes live on the MLS. You should set the SSD to the minimum future date that you believe will be necessary. That is, if you think a repair will take 3 weeks, it would be in your best interest to set the SSD only 1 or 2 weeks in the future. If you need an extra week, the date can be extended into the future, but not retracted from the original date set. You will just have to wait until the 3 weeks pass. Just remember to extend the SSD BEFORE the date passes. You will not be able to extend the date after it has already passed.

I made a mistake when I entered the Showing Start Date. Can I fix it?
If you accidentally put the Showing Start Date out too far, you MAY be able to correct it. You must contact MLS by email or phone within 24 hours of the listing entry and request that the SSD be corrected by MLS staff. Make sure to leave a message or send the email. Requests to modify the SSD that are received on weekends or holidays will be adjusted on the next business day. This is the only way to correct an error when SSD was entered. If more than 24 hours passed before you contacted MLS either by email or phone, the SSD cannot be changed according to MLS policy. You must contact MLS regardless if it is a weekend or holiday either by email or phone at mlscorrections@columbusrealtors.com or (614)475-4000.

PLEASE NOTE: Even if MLS staff is notified of an SSD error within 24 hours, the SSD can only be adjusted to the next business day since SSD cannot be entered as a past date, even by MLS staff.

Delayed Showing Authorization Form – Required for Listings with Future Showing Start Date

The Delayed Showing Authorization Form is required for any listing for which the Showing Start Date is after the List Date. (Example: List Date June 1, Showing Start Date June 10.)

Brokers are permitted to formulate their own version of the form provided the substitute form contains at least the same requirements as the MLS version of the form.

Download the Delayed Showing Authorization Form from columbusrealtors.com website or email mlscorrections@columbusrealtors.com.

Showing Start Date Displayed on Public and Private Reports

The Showing Start Date field appears at the top of the Full (1 page), Full 2-page, and Brief with Photos MLS reports. The field appears directly below the List Price/Original List Price fields at the top right corner of both the public and private versions of these reports.

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05/31/2018

We frequently receive calls to the MLS inquiring whether an Office Exclusive Waiver form is on file for a particular property where signage is placed. Frequently there is no form on file and a warning or fine must be assessed to the agent named on the sign. MLS policy mandates that a listing must be submitted to MLS within 48 hours from the date the listing agreement is signed or an Office Exclusive Waiver form must be on file. If the 48-hour limit falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the listing or form must be submitted on the next business day.

Actual MLS Policy:
1.02.02 – Listing Not Submitted to MLS                                                                                   Fine with Warning

Warning, $100, $200, $500

Listings required in MLS but not to be displayed initially in MLS at the request of the seller shall be submitted to MLS within 48 hours from the date signed except weekends and federal holidays whereby the data is to be entered the following business day or the Office Exclusive Waiver Form found on CR’s web site at http://www.columbusrealtors.com shall be on file with the MLS.

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It is highly recommended that you fill out the Green Features Y/N field immediately.  If you do not complete the Green Features selection now, you will be forced to do so when you attempt to mark the listing as closed.  This will be very inconvenient because all of the sold information you entered on the Closing window will be lost when you are forced to go back to the main listing edit screen and and make your Green Features selection.

If you are unfamiliar with the new Green Features Y/N field, you can read the full Green Features story below.

Original Green Features Y/N story:
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A new field, “Green Features Y/N – Form Required” has been added to the Residential property type.  Because the field is brand new, it will take some time for the new field to be fully populated.  Agents will be required to make a Yes or No selection in the Green Features Y/N field for all new listings.  Existing listings will require a selection in the field the first time the listing is edited.   If Yes is selected, then the Green Features Checklist form is required to be completed and attached as a PDF to the listing on the MLS.

This Green Features Checklist can be used to detail the green features present on a Residential property.  Items on the form include Energy/Green Certifications and Energy and Water Efficient Features.  The Green Features Y/N field allows agents to search specifically for listings that have “green/energy efficient features” of some type.  After searching, they can then review the attached form to see all green features present on that property.

It is highly recommended that you immediately update your listing for this new field particularly if your listed property has energy efficient green features.  Simply edit your listing and look for the new, required Green Features Y/N field.  Do not forget to fill out and upload the complete Green Features Checklist to your listing as an attachment.

Download the Green Features Checklist  from www.ColumbusRealtors.com > Tools > Worksheets, Forms and Contracts page by clicking here.

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05/09/2018

The Auction Y/N field was added to the default Residential Quick Search in March 2018 to make it even easier to filter Residential listing as “auction” or “not auction”.

Auction properties in MLS are included in searches for Active status properties. The Auction Y/N field makes it very easy for an agent to search for only Auction properties or even to specifically exclude auction listings from the search results. When a listing is entered in the MLS, the agent is required to make a selection in the Auction Y/N field. If Yes is selected, the Auction Date field will also be required.

Additional Auction details such as type of auction can be selected in the Additional Acceptance Conditions field.  The auction selections entered by the listing agent will appear on the MLS reports.  The Auction and Auction Date fields will appear only on the private version of the reports.

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The Showing Start Date (SSD) field cannot be “pulled back” after a listing goes live on the MLS. You should set the SSD to the minimum future date that you believe will be necessary. That is, if you think a repair will take 3 weeks, it would be in your best interest to set the SSD only 1 or 2 weeks in the future. If you need an extra week, the date can be extended into the future, but not retracted from the original date set. You will just have to wait until the 3 weeks pass. Just remember to extend the SSD BEFORE the date passes. You will not be able to extend the date after it has already passed.

I made a mistake when I entered the Showing Start Date. Can I fix it?
If you accidentally put the Showing Start Date out too far, you MAY be able to correct it. You must contact MLS by email or phone within 24 hours of the listing entry and request that the SSD be corrected by MLS staff. Make sure to leave a message or send the email. Requests to modify the SSD that are received on weekends or holidays will be adjusted on the next business day. This is the only way to correct an error when SSD was entered. If more than 24 hours passed before you contacted MLS either by email or phone, the SSD cannot be changed according to MLS policy. You must contact MLS either by email or phone, regardless if it is a weekend or holiday.

PLEASE NOTE: Even if MLS staff is notified of an SSD error within 24 hours, the SSD can only be adjusted to the next business day since SSD cannot be entered as a past date, even by MLS staff.

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05/08/2018

Would you like to learn more about RPR?  There are live and pre-recorded webinars available on the RPR blog.  You can register for an upcoming live webinar or watch previously recorded webinars on a variety of RPR topics.  There are even RPR Commercial webinars available.

In addition to webinars, there is also a wealth of training and promotional information available on the RPR blog.  Get going, get learning.  Check out the RPR blog here.

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05/02/2018

*** Originally posted 4/26/18 at 5:05AM ***

FBS will be performing scheduled maintenance in the early morning hours of Monday, April 30th.  The expected window is 4:30am-5:00am while the software is being restarted.  This could result in sporadic connectivity issues for some users accessing the Flexmls system. Please note that any such issues should be very short lived.

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04/27/2018

FBS identified an issue on that was causing slowness on flexmls have taken action to resolve it.  They will continue to monitor the situation.

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04/20/2018

Providing your MLS password to anyone is a violation of MLS policy.

MLS Policy specifically forbids providing your password to any other user.  There is NOT an exception for vendors or virtual assistant.  Do not provide your password to vendor or virtual assistant provider who will then log in as you to run searches or reports in the MLS.  This is subject to a $500 fine.  No one is permitted to access the MLS with your login information except you.

In addition to vendors, no one else is permitted to login as you either.  Other agents, members of your team, assistants and all other users must have their own login. They must login as themselves, then “superuse” (do business) as you.  Family members, friends, and clients should never be given your MLS login credentials.  Password sharing for any purpose is not permitted.

ACTUAL MLS POLICY:

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04/16/2018

CoreLogic will be performing system maintenance the evening of Saturday, April 14, 2018 during the designated maintenance window from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM the following morning.  Realist may be intermittently unavailable during this maintenance period.

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04/11/2018