Newsletter

March 2022

Control Showings on your Listings 

The ShowingTime default* is set to allow 2 showings at a time. This default can be changed for all listings within an office, for all listings for an agent, or listing by listing via the Office, Agent, or Listing setup options within ShowingTime. Options exist for no overlap, or for overlaps of 2-10 showings at a time. If more than one showing is allowed, the showing agent will see a pop-up letting them know another party may be present. 

The ShowingTime default* for maximum time allowed for a showing is set for 30 minutes. You can adjust this listing by listing. If you anticipate many showing requests for your new listing, for example, you could set the maximum showing duration to 15 minutes to allow for more showings the first few days.  Once you feel the initial rush is past, you could lengthen it. You can find this setting from within Paragon. Click on Preferences -> ShowingAssist -> Listings. Select the listing and scroll down to Appointment Restrictions. Look for the Maximum Appointment Length drop down. 



*The default may be different for you if your office has already modified this default. 

Office Exclusive Listings 

If you find yourself in a situation where your new seller directs you not to include their listing on the MLS, your options for marketing their property are very limited. If an office exclusive listing is not handled correctly, it can result in a large fine. If you are at all unsure about the rules pertaining to office exclusive listings, please call 608-240-2800 and ask for Heather or Patty. We would much rather talk to you ahead of time, than follow up on a report that you have strayed outside MLS rules.

Instructions for Keybox Non-Member Access (NMA) 

Supra Keybox Non-Member Access (NMA) allows a non-member, such as an agent from outside our area, or a contractor, access to a single keybox by invitation of the listing agent. Information on granting NMA can be found here:

• Complete Instruction on How to Grant NMA Access
• Shortcut to Instructions for the Non-Member

Transparency Regarding Commission 

To encourage transparency to the consumer, the National Association of Realtors® recently mandated that the compensation being offered to the cooperating broker, can now be included on consumer websites.  If you display MLS listings on your website, and you would like to display the buyer agency commission and the subagent commission, contact your website vendor.  This data was exposed to all IDX/VOW vendors on February 21.  If you opt to display commission fields, you are required to include the following disclaimer:  The offer of compensation is made only to Participants of the South Central WI MLS and WIREX datashare.  If you add the display of commission, functionality cannot exist that would allow the consumer to filter out or restrict listings based on the level of compensation offered to the cooperating broker.  

In another step to encourage transparency, national MLS policy now prohibits MLS brokers and their agents from representing that their brokerage services to a buyer client or customer are free or available at no cost, unless the broker or agent will receive no financial compensation from any source for those services. 

How Many Views? 

Did you know you can track the number of times your listing is viewed by agents and consumers via Paragon? To access this information, pull up your listing via Listings -> Maintain, and click on Select an Action.  From the Select an Action box, choose View Activity Report.  Within the report there is a link that defines the statistics displayed.

South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service

4801 Forest Run Rd, Suite 101

Madison, WI 53704

(608) 240-2800

www.scwmls.com