John Hall & Associates - Phoenix Real Estate Brokerage

The ARMLS listing database that is.  Nobody is going to be able to change/update/add/delete any listing information from July 25th to the 27th.  Freezing the database allows flexmls® Web to convert the last of the data from Tempo to their system.  Staples and OfficeMax have stocked up on notepads expecting a heavy run from real estate agents needing to write down listing edits so they don’t forget.  

On Monday the 28th, if all goes as planned, you will begin changing/updating/adding/deleting listing information in the new flexmls system.  As you may know, Tempo will never thaw out.  It will remain frozen and will no longer have updated listing information.  You will be able to access Tempo for about a month to give you a chance to get all your saved searches transferred over. 

We know you won’t panic on July 25th, but we’re worried about the thousands of ARMLS members that don’t read our blog.  They might be surprised to find their MLS shutting off this vital feature.  So help us spread the word and encourage others to sign-up for a flexmls class.

At this weeks office meeting in Tempe the question came up about when the new input forms/profile sheets were going to be available. Since input into the new system has changed, the forms are going to change with it. Here is a sneak peek of the 7 different forms - (from newARMLS.com)

Residential Profile Sheet - Class 1
Residential Rental Profile Sheet - Class 2
Lots & Land Profile Sheet - Class 3
Commercial & Industrial Buildings for Sale Profile Sheet - Class 4
Commercial & Industrial Buildings For Lease Profile Sheet - Class 5
Multiple Dwellings Profile Sheet - Class 6
Business Opportunity Profile Sheet - Class 7

The new hardcopy profile sheets for classes 1 and 2 should be available at your associations sometime next week. Zipforms is still working on developing their copies. You can not input listings to flexmls until July 28th.

After playing with flexmls for about a week, we need to re-emphasize the importance of signing up for some flexmls training sessions. Being that this is a new system with many more bells and whistles than Marketlinx, our fear is that you may get frustrated attempting to do some basic functions. That’s why it is our recommendation to attend training classes as soon as possible. Your login is suppose to go live next week, and so is the training done by LandAmerica.

After speaking with Cynthia Lujan, we learned that LandAmerica is teaching a 100-minute beginners class (similar to ARMLS) repeatedly all around the valley starting on June 30th. Not only will they have access to the same handouts ARMLS has, they have made some of their own. For example, here is their Saved Search Worksheet. Each of their trainers will also be providing support for the new system starting June 30th. ARMLS support will begin July 15th.

Follow the links for the schedules and online sign-up forms.

Flexmls training in Chandler

Flexmls training in Glendale

Flexmls training in Mesa

Flexmls training in Scottsdale

Flexmls training in Surprise

Flexmls training in West Phoenix

Cynthia and her training partner Kathie have set up a blog dedicated to answering questions that come up in the class. Check it out - Flexin’ with LandAmerica.

FlexMLS is the most popular topic at the John Hall & Associates’ Broker Meetings. I imagine real estate agents at other companies have questions too. We are going to be posting different tutorials as we get closer to the conversion date.

If you have specific questions about the switch, chances are they have already been addressed.

The title says it all. Here you go… flexmls Dashboard (LINK UPDATED 6/26/08)

THIS FLEXMLS TUTORIAL IS NOT FROM ARMLS - IT IS ONLY TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW EASY IT IS TO USE THE NEW SYSTEM. A NEWER VERSION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ARMLS MEMBERS. THE TECH SUPPORT PHONE NUMBERS ARE NOT ACCURATE.

We got the opportunity to send a few self-proclaimed computer-challenged real estate agents to a test training session of the new ARMLS provider, FlexMLS.  Here is what one of the agents posted on our intranet…

I went to a training class on the flexmls which is scheduled to go live for us July 28th.
I can actually say that the system IS NOT DIFFICULT. Everything is laid out on the dashboard and is easy to find. The mapping system is fantastic. You can even program the flexmls to search for listings on a set day or time for a particular client and you will get a copy of what is sent. This computer system does it automatically for you. Your client will send back to you one of three faces: He’ll click on the HAPPY FACE if he wants to see it, click on the bland face if it’s a so-so or maybe listing, and click on the frowning face if he has no interest in that property. (Now this is the kind of computer language I can understand!)

I asked to go to the training class because I don’t catch on to technology easily, and each office got to send a few agents to classes early. There is also a TABLE OF CONTENTS that can be clicked on at any time for whatever feature you are looking up. This is set up TEXT BOOK STYLE so those of us who started Real Estate before computers will have a familiar tool! This computer system will make Real Estate easier…Finally I can say this!

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Bass CRS, GRI
Broker Associate

There has been a pdf circulated by ARMLS and various title companies about the upcoming training.  Just in case you missed it.

Un-official countdown has begun:  101 days

Did you see the 17 page FlexMLS Product Overview? 

It’s a very well done overview of the new MLS provider.

A friend of ours at a local title company sent us this 8 minute video showcasing the FlexMLS system.  It’s a much faster load than the 30 minute video we linked to in our original post. 

As you know, the new system is scheduled to go live on July 28th.  We are currently talking with title companies to get some classes scheduled to train agents how to use the new system.  When we get the schedule finalized we’ll let you know. 

Earlier this week Jim spent a few hours at an ARMLS meeting. I’m sure they discussed lots of very important stuff, but the sound bite I heard was that FlexMLS, which was previously suppose to go live July 1st, is now planning on going live July 28th.

I bet they want to make sure they have enough time to train every single one of us how to use the new system.

Okay stop laughing. ;)

As you may have heard ARMLS’s current contract with MarketLinx is expiring and FlexMLSis going to be the new provider.  What does this mean for ARMLS members?  The good - it’s a user-friendly MLS sytem that can be customized to meet your requirements.  The bad - a new system to learn.  The ugly - well, I’ve seen it and it ain’t ugly - quite attractive really.  Check out this video to see what I’m talking about (Be patient it takes a little while to load a 30 minute video.)

FlexMLS is getting a warm welcome in Phoenix.  There has even been a unique blog site started by Greg Swan that is dedicated to providing feedback to the designers of the system.  Two of our own, Dru Bloomfield and Russell Shaw, are contributing authors. 

Look for the new system to be up and running by July 1st ‘08.  It won’t be long before ARMLS starts scheduling training classes for all 35,000 of us.  Stay tuned.