Newsletter

March 2023

SCWMLS is Committed to Fairness and Cooperation 

Recent Violation:  A listing that was to be entered in Delayed status was shown by the listing firm prior to MLS entry.

Discipline: A $500 fine to both the listing agent and their broker was assessed.   This was the first time the agent and broker were found to have violated this MLS rule. Subsequent violations will result in accelerated fines and potential suspension of MLS services.

Please remember that if a new listing is to be entered as Delayed, or as Active with restrictions to show at a later date, nobody, including the listing firm, can show the property during the period between the effective date and entry into the MLS. The grace period for MLS entry allows time to gather information. It does not provide an opportunity to show the property if it will not be available for showings when it hits the MLS. More information on Delayed status can be found here.

Exclusive Right to Sell vs. Exclusive Agency Listing

In an Exclusive Right to Sell listing, the seller has agreed to pay a commission to the listing firm regardless of who procures the buyer. By default, all WB listing contracts are Exclusive Right to Sell.

In an Exclusive Agency listing, the seller has agreed to pay a commission to the listing firm if the property is sold through the efforts of any real estate broker, but if the seller procures a buyer themselves, they are not obligated to pay a commission. For this reason, all listings marked as Exclusive Agency = Yes in the MLS must also be marked as Variable Commission = Yes.

An explanation of each of the "Yes/No" fields in Paragon can be found here. Within the Add/Maintain Listing screen, there are also helpful question mark "hint" icons to the right of many of the fields. When clicked, the icon will display an explanation of how to complete that field:

Remove Signs Promptly



The MLS has received multiple reports of "for sale" signs not being removed in a timely manner. Properties may only be advertised while the listing contract is in effect, so please remember to promptly remove all signs when a listing closes, expires, or is withdrawn.  Thank you!

Realtor Level Access to Edit Listings Expanded

Agents with standard Realtor level access can now edit all fields of data within their listing(s) with the exception of those fields that are contractual in nature (status, price, commission, Y/N questions, and address). These contractual fields can be modified by someone with a higher security level (ex: office admin or broker).

Personalize Your CRS Tax Experience 

Set your Default County for Searching:  From within CRS, open Settings at the top right. Select Default County Search, select up to 4 counties, click to Save.  

Customize your Results List: When viewing search results, you can toggle between Simple Results or Custom Results.  You can customize what displays under Custom Results.  Open Settings at the top right and select Custom Results List.  From here you can select up to 10 columns and even set your desired display order by dragging and dropping.  Click Save before closing.

Personally Brand CRS Tax Reports: Within the Branding option under Settings you have the option to upload a photo, logo, and other information you want to include on CRS reports. At this time, agent information does not flow from Paragon so you will need to keep this data updated manually. 

Check out the other options to customize your CRS Tax experience.

Easy Access to Offer Suggestions

Look for this graphic and click to offer suggestions to improve our MLS.  This graphic can be found on the Paragon home page, our scwmls.com home page, and at the bottom of every newsletter.

Upcoming Training Opportunities 

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.

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

South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service

4801 Forest Run Rd, Suite 101

Madison, WI 53704

(608) 240-2800

www.scwmls.com