Welcome Screen News Archive
Note: Most posts prior to 11/2012 are not available in the archive.

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Search Results:
· Need Help? – Check out our training video selection!   10/10/2017
· Contingent Listings Now Expire on Expiration Date   08/07/2017
· Contact Management Design Update – August 3   08/01/2017
· Customizable Menus – Now here!   07/27/2017
· Under Contract Listings will Expire on Expiration Date – Beginning August 1 – Contingent to Follow   06/29/2017
· Realist Counties Added: Total of 23 Counties Now Available   06/29/2017
· Photo Policy Change: Not Actual Property Watermark Required for All Photos – Beginning August 2017   06/29/2017
· Contact Manager in Flexmls: Longer List of Contacts Visible – June 13   06/09/2017
· Flexmls Mobile Website: Hot Sheet Redesign – June 12   06/09/2017
· Accessibility Features Worksheet Must Now Be Attached – Beginning July 1   06/05/2017
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Note: Most posts prior to 11/2012 are not available in the archive.

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Need Help? – Check out our training video selection!

Training Videos – Getting Started with Flexmls
Please note: The videos contained on this page may be class length, but are not available for Continuing Education credit. For a list of upcoming, hands-on classes available at the Columbus REALTORS® for Continuing Education credit, please see the class list to register online or call 614-475-4000.

COLUMBUS SPECIFIC TRAINING VIDEOS

Flexmls 1 – Full Class
Specific to Columbus *NEW*
Lesson 1 – Getting Started
Lesson 2 – Basic Search Criteria
Lesson 3 – Polygon Searching
Lesson 4 – Results, Details, Print and Email
Lesson 5 – Add/Edit (4 parts):
Add/Edit Listing Entry 1 of 4
Add/Edit Listing Entry 2 of 4
Add/Edit Listing Entry 3 of 4
Add/Edit Listing Entry 4 of 4

Duration:
L1 – 53 min
L2 – 37 min
L3 – 26 min
L4 – 47 minL5P1 – 12 min
L5P2 – 31 min
L5P3 – 33 min
L5P4 – 17 min

 

Flexmls 2 – Full Class

Specific to Columbus *NEW*
Lesson 1 – Quick Search, Saved Search and Collections
Lesson 2 – Contacts, Opt-in, and My Sent Email
Lesson 3 – Lesson 3 – Subscription Auto Email
Lesson 4 – Client Portal Setup
Lesson 5 – CMA Search & Reports
Lesson 6 – Hot Sheets and Misc

L1 – 49 min
L2 – 33 min
L3 – 39 min
L4 – 57 min
L5 – 58 min
L6 – 16 min
More Videos Coming Soon!
More Videos Coming Soon!
Add/Edit – Photo Upload only – Specific to Columbus   12 min – 3/17/2015
Add/Edit – Autopop/Geocode only – Specific to Columbus   8 min – 1/28/2015
Add/Edit – Status changes for Pending and Contingent – Specific to Columbus  7 min – 7/14/2016
Subscriptions – Opt-in Status page and My Sent Email – Specific to Columbus  12 min – 7/14/2016
Hotsheet Basics – Specific to Columbus  9 min – 1/17/2017
Saved Search Basics – Specific to Columbus  9 min – 2/20/2017
CMA: 1 of 2 – Simple CMAs – Specific to Columbus  17 min – 3/18/2015
CMA: 2 of 2 – Full CMA – Specific to Columbus  37 min – 3/18/2015
Superuser – Team and Assistants Logins
Specific to Columbus
 7 min – 6/2/2014
More Videos Coming Soon!

Vendor Created Videos (FBS)

Other screencasts can be viewed here. You may also register for upcoming FBS screencasts. Please note, these videos linked are maintained by FBS and are subject to removal at anytime.
Subscription Basics 8 min- 11/19/2015
Subscriptions 101 54 min- 12/8/2015
Contact Management 101 53 min- 12/7/2015
Listing Collections, Driving Directions 20 min- 12/1/2015
CMA Options in Flexmls 51 min- 09/18/2015

Older, subject specific videos can be found here. Subject specific videos are also available by going to that section of the Flexmls system, then click the “Help” button in the upper right corner of the screen.

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10/10/2017

Contingent Listings Now Expire on Expiration Date

Listings that are in any of the 3 Contingent Statuses (Escape, Financing and Inspection, Lien Release) will now expire on their expiration date.  This policy change has been approved by the MLS Committee and Board of Directors.  Previously, listings in Contingent status would ignore the expiration date and remain in that status indefinitely.  The listing agent should receive an email notice that their listing is nearing the expiration date, same as active listings.
The expiration of Under Contract/Pending listing has been delayed indefinitely due to programming issues.
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08/07/2017

Contact Management Design Update – August 3

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.

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08/01/2017

Customizable Menus – Now here!

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.

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07/27/2017

Under Contract Listings will Expire on Expiration Date – Beginning August 1 – Contingent to Follow

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.

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06/29/2017

Realist Counties Added: Total of 23 Counties Now Available

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.

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Photo Policy Change: Not Actual Property Watermark Required for All Photos – Beginning August 2017

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.

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Contact Manager in Flexmls: Longer List of Contacts Visible – June 13

On June 13, you will be able to see more contacts at once on the Contact Management screen.

Select Contact Management from your menu and you will see your contact list fill the entire screen.

Click a contact, and a popup containing all of that contact’s information will appear. Select a specific tab to view and edit information for that contact. Click the Close link to close the contact and return your contact list.

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06/09/2017

Flexmls Mobile Website: Hot Sheet Redesign – June 12

On June 12, the Hot Sheet in Flexmls Mobile Web will have an updated design based on the Hot Sheet in Flexmls Pro, providing you with a more consistent user experience across platforms.

Just as before, tap the Hot Sheet icon to go to the Hot Sheet. Tap Filter to change the search criteria for listings to include in the Hot Sheet.

Filter by specific locations, set the Time Frame (Today, Past Two Days, Past Three Days, or Past Week), and select the specific property types you would like to include. Click View Events to view the the results.

The same Filter options will be applied the next time you run the Hot Sheet from the same device.

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Accessibility Features Worksheet Must Now Be Attached – Beginning July 1

Beginning July 1, 2017,

the Accessibility Features worksheet will be required AND MUST BE ATTACHED to the listing when Yes is selected in the Accessible Features Y/N field. This requirement is for any property with Accessibility Features.  Previously, completion of the worksheet was required but the worksheet was not required to be uploaded with the listing.  Wording on the Add/edit screen help text will be updated to reflect that the form must now be uploaded to the listing in the MLS as an attached document.

Failure to upload/attach the Accessibility Features Worksheet will be a Tier 1 fine (with warning) if the field Accessibility Features Y/N = Yes but the form is not attached.  Please complete and upload the Accessibility Features worksheet to your existing listings or correct the selection in the Accessibility Features Y/N field if the property does not have Accessibility Features.

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06/05/2017