News & Past Hot Tips

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:

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.

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.

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

• 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

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

The rebranding of Homesnap Pro to Homes Pro will be completed on October 8th. Your login credentials for Homesnap Pro will work with Homes Pro.

You can download the new Homes Pro Mobile app from your Apple or Google Play Store now.

If you have login issues on Homes Pro, please reach out to support@homes.com or (800) 431-5509.

Please click below for more detailed information.

Are you tired of reading about the rules? Then check out our fun new video that explains entering new listings (in under 2 minutes!):

As a listing agent, you can grant a one-time access code to anyone needing access to your listing.   There are no MLS restrictions as to who can be given a one-time code.

To Grant Access from your eKey:

1. Tap My Keyboxes
2. Select the keybox from the list – If the keybox is not listed, tap Add Keybox, enter the Shackle Code for the keybox, and connect to the keybox. Click here for instructions on assigning a keybox to a listing if you are not at the keybox.
3. Select Grant Managed Access
4. Enter the cell number of the person needing access
5. Set the desired access date and time. Note: You can limit the duration of the showing per instruction, but the window granted must be at least 2 hours.
6. The person you have granted access to will receive a text message inviting them to download, and set up a non-member version of the eKey.  If they ask you for assistance, please send them the PDF or Video below.

VIDEO   PDF    For the person granted one-time access

The correct location to place property key(s) is in the compartment in the front of the keybox, where the green sticker with bright yellow keys is attached. Do not place keys in the back of the key compartment where you will see an image with a strikethrough key.

Only key(s) should be included.   Please do not include key rings, as they can cause the key container to jam.

There have been reports of parties contacting agents with a reason they need the agent to share a Google verification code with them. An example in our marketplace is a scammer claiming to be a cash buyer, forwarding a link to their proof of funds letter, and asking the agent to provide a verification code in order to access it. Click here to read the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer alert about this scam and what to do if you are targeted.

The MLS Committee and Board of Directors recently voted to begin collecting whether or not there is a financing contingency at the time the offer is accepted. Currently, when moving a listing to Sold status, you are required to enter the type of financing at closing. Beginning September 5, you will be prompted with this new question when moving a property to Sold Status:  Cash offer at acceptance? This new question will be required. Hopefully this new data point will be helpful when analyzing sold data.

The MLS has received several reports of a scam in which an agent is contacted to list a property by someone posing as the property owner. The scammer will typically handle all communication remotely and request the property be listed for less than its value in order to generate immediate interest. The WRA has published a helpful article explaining this scam and how to avoid it. You can read more about it here.

All agents have the ability to enter listing data directly into Paragon (Listings –> Add Listing) and save it as a partial. This option streamlines the add listing process by allowing agents to directly key in listing data as opposed to filling out paper profile sheets. Partial listings can then be reviewed and saved as live listings by users with office administrative access.

When entering a partial listing, an agent should make note of the partial listing number that is assigned so they can pass it on to their office listing administrator (along with any documentation required by their office). If the listing should be entered in a status other than Active, that should also be noted. Administrators can then pull up the partial listing to complete under Listings -> Maintain Partials.

A Few Tips:

• Save time by using Tax Autofill to pull in data from public records.
• Some fields have a magnifying glass icon, which will display the available selection options for that field. Other fields have a question mark icon, which will provide an explanation of how to complete the field.
• Select “Save as Partial” several times along the way to save your work.
• Photos and documents can be added via the links to the left of the data entry fields.
• Before handing off to your administrator, click “Save Listing” to trigger input rules to make sure you have not missed any required information. Click the red triangle to jump to the field that contains missing information. Status will be entered by your administrator.

Have you searched for your listing on Google and got results with out of date info? When you make a change on a listing, such as a price change, it will not immediately show in the search results when doing a Google search. Google constantly indexes new information, but it could take anywhere from hours to weeks to even months for changes to show up in their search results. So if you find outdated information directly via a Google search, it does not mean the actual website Google is referencing has not been updated. Click here for a more detailed article.

The security of clients’ properties is a top priority for all of us. If an agent accesses a keybox without a confirmed appointment, even if it is a vacant home, the agent and their broker may be assessed a fine of $500 each. These fines double, and Supra eKEY access may be suspended for a second offense. These penalties are guidelines, and may be more severe depending on the circumstances. A seller can also bring trespass charges against any agent without a confirmed appointment. Before accessing a property, please double check the address & ensure you have permission.

Before leaving for a showing, especially for a property in an area with spotty cell phone coverage, double check that your Supra eKEY has updated for the day. To check this, look for the Update icon on the bottom of the main eKEY screen. If there is a red X over the Update icon, click to do a manual update. If there is no red X, you are good to go. Once your eKEY is updated for the day, it does not need access to cell service or the internet to retrieve a key or open a keybox shackle.

It is against MLS rules and copyright law to use another agent’s photos without permission. If an agent submits photos with the knowledge that they do not have the right to use them, a fine of $25 per photo may be assessed in addition to any legal remedies available to the copyright owner of the photos.