Newsletter

January 2024

SCWMLS Officers and Director Elected for 2024



We are pleased to announce our incoming officers and new director for the South Central WI MLS.    

President Tom Weber

First Weber Inc 

Vice-President Bobbi Brandt

Castle Rock Realty LLC 

Treasurer David Stark

Stark Company, REALTORS

Raegen Trimmer

RE/MAX Preferred

Director 2024-2026

See all 2024 SCWMLS Officers and Directors

Email Auto-notification in 3 Easy Steps

To set up a buyer with auto notifications about new properties you need two things: a contact, and a saved search. The quickest way to set this up:

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1. Create a contact - Click the Contacts icon and choose Create Contact. Enter a first name, last name, and email address, then click the Save button at the top left.

2. Build the search - On the left panel click Buyer Activity, then click the green plus sign Add Search. Then on the right click the green plus sign Add New Saved Search.

Put in your criteria and then Save. It will suggest a search name for you which you can change if you like. Click Save.

3. Send the Welcome Message - Click the blue Send Welcome Message button to send them the link to access their Collab center site.

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That's it! The search is now running and will send them new matches and price changes. 

Agent Preview 

Do you have contacts in Paragon for whom you would like to preview listing matches before sending?

If you use Collab Center, you can set up the contact for Agent Preview. Open the contact, go to Contact Information, select Agent Preview from the Collab Center Search Options located in the top left, and click Save. When a listing notification is sent, it will come to you first to Approve or Disapprove in Paragon. This approval/disapproval can be done directly from the contact grid.

Click to see video - 3 min

If you use Email Notification, you can edit the notification so it is only sent to you. Open the contact, click Buyer Activity, click the search name, then click Email Notification 1. Click the Edit Notification button at the top. Remove the contact’s email address, check the Bcc Me box, and click Save. Be sure you clearly identify the contact in the subject line so you know who to forward the email to when you receive it.

Click to see video - 2 min

Performance and Connectivity Problems 



Sometimes we get calls about problems connecting to Paragon, even though other websites are working. Or that Paragon is slow to respond while other websites are working fine. Paragon isn't just a website, it's a web application running inside your browser. These problems can usually be fixed by clearing your web browser cache. Every browser is different, so check out this document for instructions.

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If Paragon is responding slowly and you are using your home Wi-Fi connection, restarting your modem and router can fix this.

Address Input Guidelines

When entering addresses in Paragon, please use the following guidelines. This helps keep our MLS database consistent, creates accurate listing history, and aids in precise mapping. Click here for a pdf version of the full guidelines.

If there is a street type (ex: Avenue, Road, Drive, etc.), include it in the Street Type field (not as part of the Street Name):

For County Road or Highway listings, choose "None" for the Street Type:

Street names should be spelled out in their entirety, with the following exceptions:

Finished Square Footage

When entering the above grade, below grade, and total square footage fields for a new listing, only include space that is finished. To be considered finished, the following components are needed:

1. ​Heat source
2. Finished walls
3. Finished ceiling
4. Finished flooring  

​If one component is missing, the space can still be counted as finished, but the missing component must be disclosed in the public remarks. If two or more components are missing, the space cannot be counted as finished. The room dimensions section should only include finished rooms. More detail can be found within this helpful guide.

Lower Level Bedrooms ​

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Lower level rooms must meet safety guidelines in order to be labeled as a bedroom in the MLS. Requirements from the Department of Safety & Professional Services can be found here. You are encouraged to consult with appropriate third parties and check local ordinances to ensure all necessary requirements are met. A photo of the egress window must be added (within 7 days of the list date) for all lower level bedrooms.

If a room meets safety guidelines but has something atypical about it (ex: no closet), it may be counted as a bedroom in the MLS. Please use the remarks to disclose what makes it atypical so that showing agents and potential buyers are informed before a showing.

Talk to Your Sellers About Your Compensation

Legal News from the WRA

In the current climate, it is important for licensees to be prepared to have conversations with clients and customers about the antitrust lawsuits, and perhaps more importantly, about how commissions are established and how they are paid.

Listing agents should discuss the amount of compensation the seller will pay to the listing firm. It should be clear that the amount of compensation is negotiable. A firm may require that its agents request a minimum amount of commission for providing services to the seller. If the seller will not pay the minimum amount, the seller may need to work with a different firm.

Listing agents should also talk about the various options for paying the buyer’s firm. It should be clear that the amount of compensation offered to buyers’ firms also is negotiable. The seller should understand there are options to pay $0 to the buyer’s firm, offer a dollar amount or percentage, or, if the buyer’s firm has buyer agency with the buyer, allow requests from the buyer for the seller to pay the buyer’s firm as part of the buyer’s offer.

Buyers’ agents should discuss the amount of compensation to be paid by the buyer to the buyer’s firm. The buyer should be aware that the amount of compensation is negotiable. It should be clear that the buyer is responsible for paying the buyer agency commission but what the buyer owes may be reduced or eliminated by what the listing firm is offering to pay the buyer’s firm and by any amount the seller agrees to pay.



It should always be emphasized that there is no standard commission rate, and that sellers and buyers have choices when it comes to paying commissions.

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 Overview Classes: We offer weekly live classes 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 on Friday January 26th at 9:00am. 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