Only manual pre-sort discounts will be available since the POSTNET codes are no longer accepted.  As of January 28, 2013, the US Postal Service no longer provides any discount for old style “POSTNET” bar codes.  They have been replaced with Intelligent Mail bar codes.  The labels printed from Realist CAN STILL BE USED, regardless of the bar code, but NO DISCOUNT WILL BE ADDED FOR INCLUSION OF THE BAR CODE on the label.

Realist has scheduled an updated for March or April 2013 that will make the new Intelligent Mail bar codes available for printing on the labels in lieu of the now-defunct POSTNET codes.  Currently, Realist labels that utilize bar codes can display only the POSTNET bar code.

PLEASE NOTE: Until such time as Realist integrates the new Intelligent Mail bar codes, labels printed from Realist will not be eligible for automation-based discounts for bulk mail from the USPS.

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02/11/2013

The MLS Policy Violation and Data Maintenance Fee Manual has been revised and is now on the CBR web site here.

Specific policies that were added/changed are:

 1.03.02 – Improper Display of Photos

1.03.03 – Unallowable Data on Photos

1.03.05 – Primary Photo Build-to-Suit Property Types                                                  

1.06.01 – Re-entry of Same Property Prior to 30-Day Off-Market

SECTION 5.01 – DATA MAINTENANCE FEE WAIVER PROCESS WITH EDUCATION CLASS

The Data Maintenance Fee(s) must be paid prior to attending the Real Estate Data Accuracy class.

• ·         REALTOR® is required to stay for the first hour of the Real Estate Data Accuracy class to receive a refund of a data maintenance fee.
• ·         REALTOR® is required to stay for the entire two hours of the Real Estate Data Accuracy class to receive CE credit.
• Refunds will be issued for the Data Maintenance Fee(s) allowed within 4-6 weeks of (1) attending the Real Estate Data Accuracy class or (2) granting of waiver by the Review Panel. (Jan.’13)

Please call Karen Thompson at 614-475-4000, ext. 270 if you have any questions.

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02/08/2013

It’s that time of year again to update your listings with the latest property tax information so they are reflective of the 2012 tax year.    Most county auditors have updated their tax records to reflect the taxes owed for each parcel in their taxing districts for the 2012 tax year.   Voter approved school and bond levies impact those figures usually each year along with any auditor reassessments or owner appeals of property valuation.    Since most real estate taxes change annually, it is important that REALTORS®, clients and even sellers be kept apprised of these ever changing figures.   Remember, while Realist can autopop the Yearly Taxes and Tax Year for you when you first enter the listing, it does not and cannot automatically update them for you when those figures change.   Nevertheless, this routine remains an important manual operation for REALTORS® to complete the beginning of each year.

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Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) has been added to the Residential A2A – Agent to Agent Remarks report.  CDOM appears directly below the DOM (Days on Market) field on the A2A report.  This will be added to additional reports in the coming days.  It will also be added to the other categories (Multifamily, Land/Farm, etc).

CDOM accumulates the days on market for a property in the MLS going back 365 days from listing date.  This number will include a sum of the DOM for all listings that have been active for a given address over the last 365 days.

CDOM calculation rules:

1) If no matching property is found going back 365 days, then the DOM and CDOM values will be identical

2) If a Sold Status listing is encountered for the property address in question, the CDOM will stop adding the DOM market values.

(Note: there is a glitch currently that will display some CDOM with 1 less day than the DOM value due to the starting value of zero.  This will be remedied very soon).

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12/11/2012

Beginning January 1, 2013, a new image policy has been added for primary property photos.  The primary photo for every listing in the MLS must either be “of the actual property, as it exists” or must be marked “Not Actual Property” with a clearly legible and visible watermark over the photo.  The watermark must be 36 pt type or larger.  A video tutorial on wdwpy.com that will walk you through adding the necessary “Not Actual Property” watermark.  REMINDER:  No branding of MLS images is allowed.  MLS Policy strictly prohibits watermarking of images with any personal or company branding.

Video Tutorial – How to Watermark MLS Images

This new policy applies only to the primary image.  Secondary images are not required to be marked “Not Actual Property”.   All listings are affected by this new policy.  Any modification of the “actual image”, including any 3D renderings, pictures of the model property, edited or retouched images and the like must be marked “Not Actual Property” in 36pt type or larger.  The MLS committee feels that the technological advancements of photo-manipulation software and the potential to make a property appear more complete or in better condition they “as

This requirement does not supersede the mandatory standardized image that is required for Build-to-Suit (BTS) properties.  The BTS mandatory default image downloadable from the the CBR website or wdwpy.com is still the only acceptable primary image for BTS properties.  The “Not Actual Property” watermark requirement is for all other properties, excluding Build-to-Suit which has it’s own requirement.

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12/10/2012

Recently, CBR leadership approved a change in procedures and policy for new construction listings in MLS that do not have a building permit.   Effective immediately any new Build to Suit listings you enter and effective November 30 any listings already entered as Build to Suit, the primary photo must be one of two now found on the CBR’s Web site at www.columbusrealtors.com under the MLS Worksheets, Forms and Contracts tab that is accessed by using your TEMPO login name and password.

Listings typically displayed in MLS reflects existing property that is available immediately for a buyer after reaching an agreed upon purchase price, while Build to Suit listings imply to a buyer the promise of future availability of perhaps several model home choices different from what is displayed.     Although the listing of Build to Suit properties presents marketing challenges for both the buyer and seller as well as the MLS, nevertheless, leadership believes Build to Suit properties are important to the real estate industry and discussions with the CBR leadership, the MLS Committee, and the BIA have led to this current policy designed to accommodate them.

Listings in MLS that have the Property Type Build to Suit imply they are either a single family or condo without a building permit but the property described and displayed could be built with an accepted purchase offer.    Please note the following instructions:

• If your listing(s) is a Build to Suit property type, meaning it does not have a building permit, it is now required that you select and display the applicable primary photo that is now also mandatory for the listing(s) found at www.columbusrealtors.com.
• If your listing(s) is not a Build to Suit, meaning it does have a building permit, it is now required that you change the property type to either a single family free standing or condo free standing or to a single family shared wall or condo shared wall and there are no mandatory photo requirements from MLS.    However, if the primary photo you display for this listing is not the actual property for sale such as a 3D image, sketch, architectural rendering, it is now mandatory that you imprint in 36 point type the words Not Actual Property on your primary photo.

Important … remember, all new construction residential listings in MLS without a building permit will now be required immediately (1) to use the Property Type Build to Suit and (2) to use one of the two newly created MLS photos as the primary image in MLS found on CBR’s Web site at www.columbusrealtors.com under the MLS Worksheets, Forms and Contracts tab that is accessed by using your TEMPO login name and password.     Also, please review your current Build to Suit listing inventory and make any necessary photo change by November 30.   Any existing Build to Suit listing found in MLS after November 30 without the required primary photo will be assessed a warning.    To learn more on the new Build to Suit Property Type, please click on  http://columbusrealtors.com/NewsDetail.aspx?article=81723394

Your cooperation is appreciated … thank you.

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11/13/2012

This an update to the Windows 8/Internet Explorer article also on the MLS Welcome Screen.  This is specifically for Tempo users on the MLS.

Tempo compatibility with Windows 8 is still not 100%, but has much improved after a recent update.  Tempo/Fusion received a patch Thursday, December 6, 2012 that fixed a large number of bugs and errors for Tempo users on Windows 8.  Windows 8 is not yet recommended for use with Tempo, but the majority of MLS functionality should be available now to Windows 8 users who choose to use Tempo.  Fusion will still function better than Tempo, but there is much improved Tempo performance since the original “do not use” warning.

REMINDER:  The Metro browser in Windows 8 is still not supported for Fusion or Tempo.  You must use the desktop browser (IE10) within Windows 8.

If you are a Tempo user with Windows 8, please call or email MLS Technical Support if you encounter issues with Tempo on Windows 8.

Previous Warning (Prior to December 6, 2012):

Tempo has some fairly severe issues with Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 10 currently. In the Windows 8 compatibility article, there are several recommendations to maximize compatibility.  That said, there are still real problems using Tempo even if all steps are correctly taken to maximize compatibility.

For this reason, Fusion is recommended for all Windows 8 users.  Tempo is not recommended currently.  If you have already upgraded to Windows 8, Fusion is the best solution at this time.  If you are considering upgrading to Windows 8 and intend to use Tempo as you primary access to the MLS, you may want to delay upgrading to Windows 8.

Marketlinx continues to work at correcting any incompatibilities with Tempo.

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11/09/2012

You can subscribe to be notified by email when the MLS system goes down unexpectedly and also be notified by email of anticipated, future system down time.

To subscribe, follow the link below, fill out your email address and hit Subscribe. Then, check your email. Once you receive an email from noreply@cbrmlsstatus.com, click the link inside of that email to confirm your subscription. Make sure to allow the noreply@cbrmlsstatus.com email address to your spam filter to ensure you receive email alerts.

Click here to subscribe now.
(opens in a separate window)

Any expected or unexpected downtime is also posted on the welcome screen for viewing after the event has occurred.

You may also bookmark the following page, which shows a history of down time alerts starting in November of 2012. The previous alert system has been replaced by this new alert system.
MLS Down Time Alert Status (for bookmarking)

The new down time alert system replaces the old alert system. If you had opted in to the old alert system, you will need to subscribe to the new one using the subscribe link above.

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11/05/2012

A policy change was instituted in April 2013. Members of MLS will now receive notification of unexpected MLS down time through the Columbus REALTORS© newsletter system.

The email address this will come from is newsletters@cbrnews.info. This is the same email address you receive Columbus REALTORS© e-Notes, c-Notes, and/or b-Notes newsletters.

Additionally, as a part of this policy change, unexpected down time will be posted to the Columbus REALTORS© Facebook page as well.

Expected down time will posted in advance and only be posted on the MLS welcome screen as usual.

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10/26/2012

Windows 8 – Friday, October 26 – This new version of Windows includes a new version of Internet Explorer.  This new version, IE10, can be run in two different modes within Windows 8. Marketlinx does not recommend updating to Windows 8 at this time for compatibility reasons.

1. Internet Explorer (Metro) – NOT SUPPORTED – This mode does not support browser plug-ins, Flash, or ActiveX controls.  This means Fusion/Tempo will not function in this browser. This is the default mode and has a radically new appearance.

2. Internet Explorer on the Desktop – Supported – This mode supports browser plug-ins, Flash, and ActiveX controls necessary for Tempo MLS functionality as long as Compatibility View is turned on.  This mode of IE10 is similar to prior versions of IE and Windows. All Active X and Trust Site settings should be the same as IE9.

NOTE:  Even in Internet Explorer on the Desktop (the supported IE10 version) you will need to enable COMPATIBILITY MODE/VIEW.  Without Compatibility View, frequent Errors may be experienced.

TEMPO is supported in IE10 in Desktop mode only.  Users who attempt to login to TEMPO using the native Metro mode will see a warning at the bottom of their screen that the site uses add-ons that require Internet Explorer on the desktop.  This alert displays only on the first page accessed during each session.

Users must click the Open button and launch the Desktop mode of IE10 for all features of TEMPO to function as expected.  If users ignore this warning and choose to use the Metro version, they will still be able to access TEMPO, but not all features will work as expected.

FUSION is also supported in IE10 in Desktop mode only. Users who access Fusion using the native Metro mode will see the same warning at the bottom of their screen.  Because the Fusion login screen requires Flash and the Metro mode does not support Flash, users will not even have the option of accessing Fusion with this mode.

All public-facing pages, such as Contact Websites (client gateways) and emailed reports, function as expected in both modes of IE10 and no warning is displayed to the user.

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10/25/2012