Client Portal Workshops

Please join us and your local association for an in-person, hands-on introduction to the Client Portal!

We’re excited to be bringing you these workshops to help you get acquainted with this beautiful new agent tool!

We built the Client Portal to help you better engage with your clients, giving them a personalized place to browse listings and giving you deeper insights into their preferences.

Please join us for a quick, friendly introduction to the latest addition to your toolbox!

• How do I set up portals for my clients?
• How does the Client Portal work alongside Prospects?
• What can my clients do with their personalized portal?
• How can the portal help me know how engaged my clients are?

Bring your laptop (if you have one) and we will walk you through getting started. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. By the end of the workshop, you will have set up your first Client Portal, and have all your questions answered!

These workshops will be led by Raun Ohama, who has provided great technical support for members since 2012.

These workshops will also be kept small to ensure that everyone gets personalized attention. Space is therefore limited, so reserve your seat now!

Hilo Sessions

These workshops will be graciously hosted by Hawaii Island REALTORS® at 1321 Kinoole Street Hilo, HI 96720. Available times on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 are:

• Session #1: 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
• Session #2: 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
• Session #3: 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
• Session #4: 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Kauai Sessions

These workshops will be graciously hosted by the Kauai Board of REALTORS® at 4359 Kukui Grove St., Suite 103 Lihue, HI 96766. Available times on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 are:

• Session #1: 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.
• Session #2: 11:00 to 11:45 a.m.
• Session #3: 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
• Session #4: 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Kona Sessions

These workshops will be graciously hosted by the West Hawaii Association of REALTORS® at 75-5995 Kuakini Highway Suite #221 Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Available times on Monday, February 11, 2019 are:

• Session #1: 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.
• Session #2: 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
• Session #3: 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
• Session #4: 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.

To RSVP, just send an email support@hiinfo.com or call (800) 628-3121, extension 1! We’ll be sure to confirm your seat.

Listing Photo Licensing & Ownership Reminder

This is a periodic reminder to members that photo ownership and licensing are important considerations when listing a property in the MLS.

Too busy to read? We recommend that you watch this video from the National Association of REALTORS® covering “Copyright Best Practices for Listing Photos.”

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Here’s a resolution that’s easy to keep: make sure that you own or properly license the photos used in your listings.

Copying photos from other listings, or taking them from the web, could lead to copyright claims and payment demands from the entities that own them. There were a few disputes last year, and while they were resolved amicably, you can avoid the hassle by taking extra care at the outset!

To ensure that you’re in the clear, you can hire a professional photographer. In fact, photographers that specialize in real estate will be more likely to understand your needs, as well as the practical and legal aspects of photo ownership, licensing, and use in the MLS and elsewhere. And if you engage a photographer that is new to the industry, NAR even provides sample agreements that you can use with them.

(Taking your own original photos, of course, is another way to ensure ownership and copyright is clear.)

It’s important to note that these issues extend beyond listing photos in the MLS. They apply to photos used on agent and broker websites, in promotional materials, and elsewhere. A simple rule of thumb? “If you don’t know where the photo came from, don’t use it.”

Licensing and Copyright in the MLS Rules:

As subscribers to the MLS and users of the REsearch system, you are bound by the MLS Rules and Regulations. Article VII covers licensing and copyright, indemnifying HIS from claims of copyright infringement. This section also includes sample language that you can use when engaging a photographer to take listing photos.

Our rules document was last reviewed and updated by the HIS Board of Directors in October 2018, and is worth reviewing periodically:

http://hawaiiinformation.com/REsearch/IDX/mlshawaii/forms/MLSRules.pdf

Additional Reading:

• Who Owns Your Property Photos? (NAR)
• Focus on Listing Photo Copyright (REALTOR® AE Magazine)
• Copyright Essentials (Getty Images)
• Take Your Own Photos and Avoid Legal Action (TREND)

We hope this periodic reminder helps you steer clear of the potential pitfalls of listing photo ownership and licensing. If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!