Monthly Newsletter

September 2024

A Note of Gratitude to Our Members

We want to express our sincere appreciation to every member of the SCWMLS for your adaptability and cooperation during the NAR Settlement policy change implementation. Your commitment to staying informed and abiding by the new requirements has been outstanding and has made this process as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Thank you for your continued dedication.

SCWMLS Names New CEO

Tom Weber, SCWMLS President, and Ben Oblizajek, RASCW President, recently announced that Lisa Marshall has been selected as the new CEO of the Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin and the South Central Wisconsin MLS. Marshall joins us from the Central Wisconsin Board of REALTORS® headquartered in Wausau, WI.

Upon sharing the news, Tom Weber, President of the SCWMLS, said, “Lisa is an innovator, particularly in technology adoption and operations, skills which will help our MLS grow and meet evolving consumer demands, and that’s exciting.”

Lisa will begin her new duties as CEO on September 30, 2024. RASCW and SCWMLS members should watch for an invitation to an open house reception to meet Lisa in the near future.

We look forward to this exciting new chapter and encourage everyone to extend a warm welcome to Lisa.

To learn more, please read the full Press Release.

Lisa Marshall

New CEO

REALTORS® Association of South Central Wisconsin and South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service

NAR Settlement: MLS Policy Updates & Information

Directives for Seller Concessions in the MLS

Many questions we are receiving relate to communicating seller concessions within the MLS. Concessions are allowed and they remain a valuable marketing tool. Please follow these directives to maximize transparency and correctly communicate seller concessions within the SCWMLS:

Concessions communicated via the MLS are not a replacement for communicating offers of compensation.
Do not include concessions that are limited to or conditioned on payment to a cooperating/buyer broker in the MLS.
Enter concessions in the public or private MLS remarks fields. For transparency, we recommend including concessions within the public remarks.
The remarks should specify what the concession is for (i.e. roof repair, carpet allowance, closing costs).
When entering a concession amount, it must be entered as a dollar amount. Percentages are not allowed.
When marking a listing as Sold, the concessions field should be used to reflect seller-offered concessions, as long as they were not conditioned on payment to the buyer's firm (even if some or all of the money was ultimately used for that purpose).

As SCWMLS is responsible for ensuring compliance with the NAR settlement, we reserve the right to add further direction on concessions, including “zero-tolerance” policy adjustments for misuse or creative interpretations.

For FAQs and additional information visit the NAR Settlement News & Updates page.

SCWMLS Product Hot Tips

La Crosse Area Supra Access Simplified

We are pleased to announce the SCWMLS and the Greater La Crosse Area MLS recently approved an automatic reciprocal arrangement which allows members of both MLSs automatic access to Supra keyboxes in each other’s market. Agents no longer need to request reciprocal access to show properties listed via the Greater La Crosse Area MLS. We also have an automatic reciprocal arrangement with Central WI MLS. As is the case in our MLS, an approved showing request is required before opening a Supra keybox from any other MLS.

For more information on accessing properties in cooperating areas throughout Wisconsin, click the link below.

Supra - SCWMLS

Using the Collab Center Share Function

Allows Clients to Effectively Share Prospective Properties

We recently shared best practices on setting up and editing criteria for a property search in Paragon's Collaboration Center (click here to read). The Collaboration Center also provides your clients the ability to share properties they found with you when conducting their own searches.

It's important to educate clients on best practices to ensure a smooth, efficient sharing process. While it's easy to reflexively copy and paste a URL address from the browser address bar and send it off in an email, that approach does not work from the Collaboration Center. It results in a URL that cannot be accessed.

Clients should always use the share function within the Collaboration Center to send a clickable link quickly and effectively.

Here is the step-by-step process for sharing from the property detail view and the map view.

Paragon Field Updates

The following field changes have been made within the MLS database.

The Barrier Free feature category is now called Accessibility Features.
Accessibility Features now specify minimum door opening & minimum hallway width.
Only select if all doors/halls in the home meet the minimum width(s). Please remove the features from current listings if they no longer apply.
Other Room picklist includes the following new rooms: Indoor Pool Room, Indoor Hot Tub Room, Covered Porch, Deck, and Patio
Spaces that are not rooms were added so you can highlight their dimensions. Please do not include these spaces in total sqft calculations.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - new Exterior Feature in Single Family
Do not include detached living space in the finished square footage totals (can note in the remarks). See updated Square Footage Guide for more information.
Walkout Lower Level Possible is a new Miscellaneous feature in Lots & Acreage
Building Plan w/Lot is a new Type feature in Multi Family
Whole House Backup Generator is a new Exterior Feature in SF & CD
Engineered Wood is a new Exterior feature in Bus/Comm

Accessibility Features in the MLS

Finding the perfect home for those with specific accessibility needs can be difficult. Whether seeking a step-free entry, wide doorways, or grab bars in the bathroom, there are ways to make finding accessible properties in the MLS easier.

Highlighting Accessible Features

When listing a property with accessibility features, please consider completing and uploading the WRA’s Basic (2 pgs.) or Standard (5 pgs.) Accessibility Features Report to the MLS. These reports provide information that is helpful to buyers who may have disabilities or are planning to age in place.

Additionally, please utilize the Accessibility Features category in the MLS to highlight these features and make them easily searchable for buyers. Doing so helps ensure that accessible listings stand out to those who need these features most.

Paragon Popups: Expiring Notifications

Automatic search notifications in Paragon have an expiration date, typically one year after you create the notification. Twenty (20) days before the date a notification is due to expire, you will get a popup that notifies you that you have a search or searches that are going to be expiring soon when you log in to Paragon.

In the popup window you have two choices:

Click the Extend link – this will extend the expiration date an extra year.
Click the slider under Notifications to turn off the notification.

If you do nothing, the notifications will turn off on the Expire Date.

SCWMLS TOOLS & RESOURCES

CubiCasa: Member Spotlight

This month, we're thrilled to feature Julie Alibrando, a valued member of SCWMLS, for her glowing testimonial on the impact CubiCasa floor plans have had on her business.

Thank you Julie for sharing firsthand how these detailed floor plans have benefitted your property listings and clients.

Want to see how CubiCasa can benefit you too?

Learn more today!