Announcing an Easier, More Flexible Syndication Process

Coming Next Week: Brokers and Managers Can Now Opt Individual Listings OUT of Syndication

Pinergy's "3rd Party Data Transfers" tool has been renamed "Syndication" in Pinergy's Tools tab. It also has been updated to make managing syndication selections more efficient and flexible. Brokers and Managers can see the updates when they select the "Syndication" link in Pinergy's Tools. The new Syndication tool includes the ability to view only "opted-in" or only "opted-out" publishers. Viewing those publishers places the companies in alphabetical order, making it much easier to find specific publishers on the list. Clicking "Back to Tools" will return you to Pinergy's Tools page. An even bigger change to our syndication process is the new ability for Brokers and Managers to opt OUT of syndication on a per-listing basis! In the Listings tab, Brokers and Managers will see a new Syndication button above each listing. Select it to view the list of publishers for that listing, then click "Edit" to modify the publisher selections by selecting and deselecting them. MLS PIN realizes one size does not fit all, and we hope this new process helps when deciding to which markets individual listings will be syndicated.

Updated Interface and Features Coming to Cloud CMA

Cloud CMA has been refreshed with new and improved features. Here's some of what to expect: (1) an updated interface will be used, though it will retain Cloud CMA's familiar look and feel; (2)  public records data will populate subject property fields automatically;(3) comps may be selected and de-selected from a larger, expanded map interface; (4) a new default theme ("Modern") will be available for reports. When the new Cloud CMA goes "live," the option to switch to it will appear in the upper-right corner of the page after logging in to Cloud CMA. Agents will have the ability to switch back to the "classic" Cloud CMA whenever they want, so there will be no downside to trying out the new enhancements.

Easier Access to MyFloodStatus Now in Pinergy

We've been flooded with positive reviews of MyFloodStatus' reports! Hundreds of discounted reports have already been ordered, and over 20 gold memberships (10 reports per month for the price of a single report) have been ordered by our clients. These customers are seeing the insurance and liability benefits of structure-based flood reports that analyze the elevation of the BUILDING (not just the property) to determine if flood insurance is required. We've been hard at work integrating MyFloodStatus into Pinergy. It's available when clicking the Pinergy Homepage ad or the Quick Links icon, and now you can click the new MFS icon on a listing's detail report. Click HERE to check out MyFloodStatus right now!

"A Day in the Life of a Homesnap Agent" In-Person Classes Coming to MA

Two classes Remain for June 21-22

Have you downloaded the free Homesnap Pro app but are unsure of the next steps to take? Homesnap Pro's upcoming live class could be just the ticket. This is a practical class that teaches how to use the agent-specific features that Homesnap Pro does so well, including searching, sharing, client collaboration, setting the safety timer, creating a 5-minute Rapid CMA, increasing your client pipeline, scheduling showings, viewing colleagues' production activity, and more. The classes will be taught by actual Homesnap trainers and will be held mornings and afternoons at GBREB in Reading on June 21 (register HERE), and NEAR in Westford on June 22 (register HERE). If you need assistance downloading the app, plan to arrive 15 minutes early. We hope to see you there. Happy snapping!

RatePlug Helps Turn Browsers into Buyers

Usage Rises for MLS PIN Customers

RatePlug, the free mortgage information plug-in for Pinergy, saw a 40% rise in usage by our customers last year, making us one of the best-performing markets for this simple but amazing tool. Signing up is easy: click their icon on Pinergy's Quick Links, and input your information and the information of lenders you've worked with and trust. From then on, when you select "RatePlug" above listing reports, property-specific home payment affordability information will be automatically embedded in every property listing you send your clients, including PITI, HOA, and special financing options like FHA, VA, or USDA. The result? Browsers become buyers, with real-world numbers that help them decide what they can afford. RatePlug also includes a property flyer system that costs nothing extra and an agent dashboard to request lender flyers and to post listings to social media. Click HERE for more information, and see what a difference well-informed homebuyers can make.

Attention Runners (and Walkers): REALTORS® Relief Run Coming to Boston in November

The National Association of REALTORS® Conference & Expo is coming to Boston this November (awesome!), and one of the biggest events will be the first ever REALTORS® Relief 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, Nov. 3. MLS PIN is proud to be a major sponsor of this event (along with MAR and GBREB) which will benefit the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, an organization set up to provide mortgage assistance and temporary housing in times of need. You can register as a Runner, a Walker, or a "Cheer/Volunteer/Run in Spirit" participant by clicking HERE. Registrants receive a medal, t-shirt and lots of swag, and the gratification that they've helped support a truly worthy cause.

Disclosing a Dual Rate of Commission

Sometimes an office will work with a seller to establish a discounted commission arrangement if a home is sold in-house by the listing office vs. being sold through the efforts of a second brokerage. Under MLS Rules and Regulation, this sort of arrangement is called a Dual Rate of Commission. Each office is free to negotiate their commissions with the seller. If a Dual Rate of Commission makes sense, the parties are, of course, free to use it. However, MLS PIN Rules and Regulations require disclosure of the existence of a Dual Rate of Commission. This is done by choosing the appropriate "listing type" under the Type of Listing Agreement field when entering the listing. Sometimes overlooked, it is important to comply with the Rules & Regulations and disclose the appropriate type of listing agreement. If you have any questions for us, please feel free to contact our Quality Assurance Department at 800-695-3000, option 6 or email qa@mlspin.com.

Summary of Recent Changes to Rules & Regulations

MLS PIN Welcomes New York Licenses

We love New York! MLS PIN is pleased to announce that Brokers from the state of New York are eligible to become Participants. This is just one of a few modifications to the Rules and Regulations that were recently adopted. Click HERE to view the all of the most recent changes. If you have any questions, contact our QA Department at 800-695-3000, option 6 or qa@mlspin.com.

Guarantee Your Listing Maps Correctly in Pinergy!

Have you ever performed a map search or a radius search and found a property that really was outside of your search area? If so, then you've found a listing that was plotted incorrectly. Not only do such listings appear in search results when they shouldn't, but they also don't appear in search results when they should. Don't let that happen with your listings! When editing your listing, click "View/Edit Map Plot" (located just after the Zip Code) to see where your listing will be mapped. Change the plot if needed, click "Done," and save any changes you make. This will ensure that your listing maps correctly in Pinergy, thus allowing it to appear in all relevant search results.

"Clone" a Search to Save Time in Your Contact's Search Setup

Pinergy's Contact Manager makes it easy to set up similar searches for a Contact. Select a search using its checkbox, then click the Clone button to create a copy of the search that you may edit however you'd like. For example, you might change the selected statuses to Under Agreement and Sold and then change the Email Frequency to Weekly. Save the search and rename it to "Weekly Comps." Another example might be to clone a search and then modify just the selected towns and the price range. You wouldn't have to re-enter other criteria like the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, living area, or anything else. Using "Clone" can save you a lot of time and effort when working with your Contact's searches.

Employee Spotlight

Kristal Hilton, Customer Service/Tech Support Representative

Kristal Hilton has been with MLS PIN for over 8 years as a Customer Service/Tech Support Representative. While you might think that position is mostly answering customer calls, in actuality it involves a multitude of tasks like processing listing status change forms, replying to the support email queue, and entering customer listings and reciprocal listings into Pinergy. Oh, and also taking customer service and support calls! Prior to joining us, Kristal fielded tech support calls at CVS' Corporate Call Center. These days, for a creative outlet, Kristal paints ceramics and crochets (we'll take a scarf, please!). The next time you need help with a listing, you may find yourself talking with Kristal, one of MLS PIN's most dedicated, experienced CSRs.