Newsletter

November 2023

10/31/23 - Verdict in on Sitzer/Burnett Landmark Case

Click here to read

Customize your Quick Search

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The Quick Search widget on the Paragon home page is a great tool to quickly find listings. There are only a few criteria to choose from, but you can add and remove things to suit your own search needs. If you are searching for listings for a specific Sale Agent for example, you can add that field. Click the gear wheel icon at the top:

This will bring up a window where you can add, remove, and move search fields. The Available Fields column on the left shows fields you can add. The Selected Fields column on the right shows the current fields on your Quick Search. 

Find the search field you want to add on the left column, click it to highlight, then click the ADD button. Click the Class dropdown to add fields from other property classes. Fields can be removed from the Selected fields by highlighting it and clicking the REMOVE button. You can also reorder the selected fields by dragging and dropping. You can have a maximum of 15 different fields. When you are done click Apply.

Search Hot Tip

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Quickly load a previous search you did in Paragon by selecting the Last Search option located above Primary Criteria after selecting Class. Hovering over Last Search will display the 5 previous searches you performed. Clicking on one of these searches will load the search criteria for that past search.

Quickly load the last Quick Search you did by selecting Last Quick Search located under the Quick Search header on the Paragon Home Page.

Driving Directions

When setting up showings, you most likely use the driving directions available within ShowingTime.

​If, however, you want driving directions for properties before setting up showings, you can do this directly from Paragon:

• Pull up the list of properties from a search or in a listing cart
• Select the properties you want to map
• Click More, then Driving Directions

On the popup box choose a starting point and click Get Directions. This will open the properties into Google Maps and show the suggested route. You can rearrange the order of the properties by clicking and dragging them on the list. There is also an option to send the directions to your phone.

Searching - When to use Wirex?

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South Central WI MLS is one of nine MLS databases that cover the state. We import listings from other MLSs directly into the SCWMLS database if they fall within one of the counties our members typically market in. This means that when you do a search within the SCWMLS, all listings in the following counties will come up, even if they were entered in a different MLS: 

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Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Marquette, Monroe, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Waushara

The MLS numbers for these imported listings will be the number that was assigned when it was input into its native MLS, but will be prefixed by 2 letters to make the number unique, and to identify them as being listings that originated in a different MLS system. For example, listings from Metro Milwaukee MLS will be prefixed with MM. 

If you are searching for listings outside of the counties noted above, you should switch to Wirex. Wirex does not include listings from the Northwoods MLS or the Door County MLS.

New Listings Training Resource

Whether you’re a brand-new agent or a veteran looking to brush up your skills, be sure to check out our new Listings Training page. There, you’ll find short “how-to” videos, helpful guidelines, and quick links to our most commonly used listing input resources.

Tips for Entering Condo Listings

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• When making feature selections, the Basement and Parking features should reflect the individual condo unit, not the building as a whole.

• A helpful resource for determining the condo type/architecture can be found here. The property assessor record will also often have this information. Click here to search for the assessor record.

• Condos that are either stand-alone (1 unit per building) or half duplexes (2 units per building) can be secondarily marketed in the Single Family category. Just be sure to select the Type feature of "condominium" and note the condo fees (if any) in the first line of the public remarks.

Dining Area vs. Dining Room

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When entering a new listing, the Property Info section has options for both Dining Area and Dining Room. The key differences are as follows:

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• A dining area is open to, or shares space with, the kitchen and/or living room

• A dining room is a more formal space that is typically its own separate room

Listing Input - Selecting "Other" in the MLS

Certain fields in the MLS have an option for "other", which can be selected when none of the other choices apply. It appears in several of the feature categories, the source fields for square footage, year built, acreage and waterfrontage, as a room type, and as a type of financing. When it is selected, please use the remarks to explain what "other" means.

Upcoming Paragon Training Opportunities

Paragon Overview Classes: We offer monthly live webinars via Zoom for Paragon training. To register for an upcoming session click here.

In person:  We are also offering an in-person Paragon training class at the MLS office. Please bring your own laptop or tablet. To register click here.



Collab Center: Do you want to set up buyers with an automatic search that notifies them about new properties? Learn how to set up a Collab Center site for your buyers, and what they can do with it. This live class will be held via Zoom, please register here.

Map Search in Paragon: With Paragon's map search you can visually define areas on a map to search for listings. Join SCWMLS trainer, Dave Bass, for this 30-minute class where you will learn how to draw different shapes on the map and edit them, use layers to show lots of helpful information, and more. This live class will be held via Zoom, please register here.

Paragon Connect: Join Dave for a 30-minute class via Zoom where you will learn how to use the mobile version of Paragon, Paragon Connect, on your smartphone. Please register here.

South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service

4801 Forest Run Rd, Suite 101

Madison, WI 53704

(608) 240-2800

www.scwmls.com