Downtime Reminder for July 7

A quick reminder as we enter the Independence Day holiday weekend: REsearch will have scheduled downtime beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7. Please mark your calendars, and be sure you have completed your work in REsearch before this time. The data conversion process will take roughly five hours, and internal testing will commence immediately to ensure REsearch is available first thing in the morning.

Preparing for REsearch 4.4

This downtime will primarily allow us to restore Condos as a Property Type in REsearch. There will be other minor changes as well. If you’d like a more detailed preview of what’s coming in REsearch 4.4, we have scheduled live webinars where we will be happy to walk you through the changes. Sign up for one of these webinars today by clicking your preferred time below:

• 10 a.m. HST on Wednesday, July 7
• 2 p.m. HST on Wednesday, July 7

We’d also encourage you to review the listing tips we shared in our last announcement, as well as the helpful list of definitions provided in our online help to better understand the many types, subtypes, and ownership options available.

Please have a happy 4th of July!

Condo Type Fix on July 7

Condo Type Fix Update: Scheduled Downtime Beginning July 7 at 8 p.m.

Aloha!

We are focused on bringing back Condo as a Type. As such, considerable effort has gone into refining the Types, Subtypes and Ownership fields in order to streamline the options and ensure the integrity of the data output.

Downtime Notice

With these ongoing efforts, we’ve rescheduled the release date for these changes to Wednesday, July 7. The system will be taken offline at 8 p.m. Please mark your calendars, and be sure you have completed your work in REsearch before this time. The data conversion process will take roughly five hours, and internal testing will commence immediately to ensure REsearch is avaialable first thing in the morning.

Listing Tips

Prior to changing our system to support Condos as a type, we want to make sure that all properties are listed correctly. This will be critical for the data to be converted properly. Here is a simple overview of how listings should be entered.

Houses (Single Family Residential) should be:

Type: Residential
Subtype: SF-Detached, SF-Attached, Cabin, Manufactured Home, Ohana, or Partially Improved
Ownership: Fee Simple or Leasehold

Condos should be:

Type: Residential
Subtype: Garden, Low Rise, Mid Rise, High Rise, Penthouse
Ownership: CPR-Fee Simple CPR-Leasehold

There will be some anomalies, such as Stand Alone Units with no common walls attached that are considered Condos. These will need your attention after the conversion. For now, you can list these as “Residential/Lowrise/CPR-Fee Simple or CPR-Leasehold” so that they will be converted to be a “Condo” on July 7 and come up properly in Condo searches.

Also, some agents have listed their Condos as ‘Multi-Family.’ This is incorrect. Multi-Family refers to a whole building of units for sale, not individual units.

Eliminating ‘Other’

We’ve noticed that a number of Agents have used ‘OTHER’ for options. We originally included this as a catch-all, in case there was something that really didn’t fit any of the other categories. We’ve decided to drop this as an option as it has caused too much confusion. If you have anything listed as ‘OTHER,’ please change it to fit into a proper category. If you need help on this matter, please contact us.

Definitions In Review

We’d like to encourage you to check out the list of definitions provided in our online help. As it covers the many types, subtypes, and ownership options available, you may want to print it out as a quick reference guide. Many agents have found the definition list helpful in setting the most appropriate single subtype for your listing.

http://hisFAQ.HawaiiInformation.com/absolutehelp/?f=772

How You Can Help

We appreciate your support and effort to check your listings for the above issues. In addition, please forward this email to any agent that may have improperly listed their properties. The better the data we have going into a conversion, the better the data will be coming out of it.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 7. Once the system is restored, we will update you again on the next steps ahead for REsearch.

Mahalo,

Bob Schoenthal
Hawaii Information Service Product Manager

Condo Type to be Restored

In response to the extensive feedback from our members and users, condominiums will be restored as a “Type” versus the current “Ownership” format within REsearch by the end of June.

Although there is compelling rationale for the condominium “Ownership” model, we are responding to the significant overwhelming requests by our customers to revert to the condominium “Type” model. One of the things you should expect in an MLS is the opportunity, as an end-user, is to positively influence the direction of a service that was designed primarily to support your specific business needs and to service the needs of the greater real estate community as a whole.

The database reorganization implemented by REsearch 4.3 was many years in the making and based upon legions of suggestions by you, our customers. It was designed to be the premier MLS of today and tomorrow. There are a number of profound changes taking place at the national MLS level, and an increasing reliance on data sharing and syndication among many real estate entities. The reclassification of condos was designed to align Research with the evolving and emerging industry standards dictated by the National Associations of Realtors (NAR) which include Real Estate Transaction Standard (RETS) and Realtors Property Resource (RPR) which you will undoubtedly be hearing more about in the future. Differentiating condominiums as a type of ownership was designed to address a number of issues from legal concerns to supporting more detailed property information and searches.

In Hawaii, condominiums or CPRs are utilized on a far more liberal basis than anywhere else in the country from commercial condominiums to land condominiums to residential condominiums to traditional condominiums and townhomes. The challenge we faced was trying to “solve’ the local condo definitions and look forward to the data demands we need to assuage on a national basis when we are required to share our property data across multiple systems.

What does this mean for you?

We will be making a couple of straightforward changes on the listing input form. First, we will be restoring “Condo” as a type, and will make sure only the appropriate sub-types appear under it. Secondly, we will review the various required fields to ensure that only appropriate fields will be required for condominium listings.

This will also make searching for properties easier as you will not be required to use sub-type fields in order to separate condominiums from residential listings. However, we will retain the sub-type option for agents that want to be able to specify building types and other options.

We are currently undergoing an extensive data conversion on listings, saved searches and prospects. Anything that we are able to identify as a condominium will be converted. This is a significant undertaking. We will also address the “Old/Prev” listings in the system by bringing condominiums back as a type, agents will no longer have to include “Old/Prev” in their searches.

Our goal is to have this modification in place on or before June 30. Beyond that, we will focus our attention on improving the listing input form, as well as various formats.

As we focus on “continuous improvement” as a business model, there are occasions where the quest for that improvement results in other unexpected challenges. To that end, we appreciate all of your time, energy and effort while we have and will continue to work through the inevitable nuances that a major revision of an internet-based software platform presents.

As always, we greatly appreciate your support and feedback as we work together to create the preeminent service available within our industry for the benefit of you and most importantly, your clients.

Mahalo,

Bob
Bob Schoenthal
Hawaii Information Service Product Manager
bob@hawaiiinformation.com
(800) 628-3121 x153
Cell: (808) 222-3757
Fax: (808) 536-6499

REsearch 4.3 Formats & Fixes

Aloha!

Since the release of REsearch 4.3, our entire team has been focused on stabilizing and improving the system, and we’ve prioritized the issues that have caused the most confusion or difficulty to our members. I’m happy to provide a brief report on the progress we’ve made to date, as well as share some of our next steps.

Favorite Formats Are Back

REsearch 4.3 brought a new “MLS Full” format, which was designed with the intent of including nearly all available information for a listing. However, many agents preferred the previous layout, which included a smaller set of fields but was formatted to require only one or two pages when printed. We heard you loud and clear, and we have now made the original format available to you as “MLS Mid.” In addition, we have made “MLS Mid” the default format for MLS links.

In addition, based on your feedback, we have also reverted the “Summary” format to the previous version.

Enhancement and Fixes

Along with the format changes, we also just pushed a number of other code changes to live. Below is a report of the tickets addressed in this week’s release. If you have questions about any of them, or any other outstanding issues, please feel free to contact me or customer support.

14300 – Enhancement
Reduced the brochure format length to fit on one page.

14320 – Bug
Fixed issue with withdrawn listings when the agent has changed office.

14362 – Bug
Fixed error in the terms acceptable section of the listing input form.

14368 – Data Discrepancy
Changed label on “Association Dues” to “Association Dues/year” on listing input form.

14374 – Question
Listing subtype was not being updated with new codes upon release.

14406 – Enhancement
Added the listing date field to the listing input form.

14419 – Bug
Changed label for history icon from ‘history for this parcel’ to ‘history for this MLS#.’

14421 – Bug
Removed auto-populating function from equity field.

14434 – Bug
Fixed missing co-listor percentage and prospect box on printouts.

14451 – Bug
Fixed issue with zoning field on listing input form that prevented saving.

14463 – Bug
Fixed a script error when creating a PDF from market statistics.

14468 – Bug
Fixed miscalculation in the owner occupied field.

14473 – Bug
Fixed error preventing some listings from being released properly.

14477 – Bug
Restored condo maintenance fee to Customer format.

14478 – Bug
Removed duplicate washer/dryer type from MLS Full format.

14481 – Bug
Removed Baths field from land searches.

What’s Next

Our hardworking programmers are continuing to work their way through additional issues, and we are grateful to our members for identifying and reporting them as they come up.

Among our priorities going forward is a focus on making the system ‘user friendly.’ Primarily, we are working on making it possible to conduct most property searches with just a few clicks, rather than a dozen. We have already identified a couple of paths toward this goal, and will continue to develop ways to make things easier for you. We look forward to collaborating with our users to achieve this goal.

We will also turn our attention toward a full review of Exhibit A. We have the support of several groups in reviewing the current slate of ‘required fields,’ clarifying the definitions of all fields, and looking at what can be added, moved, or removed altogether. Ultimately, the result of this research and work will come in a significant future release, but only after we are confident that it meets everyone’s needs, now, and in the future.

We invite your feedback on any aspect of REsearch, and will take every suggestion into consideration. You can contact me or our support team, and we’d even be happy to provide you with a ticket number with which you can follow up.

Mahalo,

Bob
REsearch Product Manager
bob@useresearch.com

REsearch 4.3 Update

Condo Listing Tips & Online Training

We are continuing to refine and address issues stemming from our REsearch 4.3 upgrade, and appreciate the extensive feedback we’ve received from our valued members. I wanted to take another opportunity to provide on update on the release, and specifically addressing one common cause of confusion we’ve identified relating to listing and searching for condos.

I’d also like to encourage you to sign up for our free, live, online training webinars, which can help you become more comfortable with REsearch 4.3. In addition to focused, topical sessions, our trainers have put together an “What’s New in 4.3” overview that you may find especially helpful. Our Customer Service Team has meanwhile prepared several video tutorials that you can watch any time, at your leisure. Details are below.

For an update on the top identified REsearch 4.3 issues and our efforts to resolve them, please check this Bulletins blog post.

Listing and Searching for Condos

With the database restructure underlying the REsearch 4.3 release, we have made ‘Condo’ reflect its legal definition as an ‘Ownership’ designation rather than a property type or subtype. This is one of the more significant changes, and one that we acknowledge has caused some confusion and mis-entered listings.

We are currently evaluating ways to improve this aspect of REsearch 4.3, and hope to significantly simplify the user experience in the very near future. In the mean time, here are some notes that may help you navigate the new system.

Entering Condo Listings

Condos (including condo, res-condo, and land-condo) should be listed with an ‘Ownership’ type of ‘CPR-Fee Simple‘ or ‘CPR-Leasehold.’ Basically, the CPR (“Condominium Property Regime”) designation indicates the subdivided or mixed ownership of a condo property.

Searching for Condo Listings

Because listings are still being updated following the conversion, not all condos will be returned using the new CPR designations when searching. To accommodate this transition, we’ve set the property subtype of condo listings that have not been updated to ‘Condo (Prev).’ Therefore, to find properties that were listed as ‘Condo’ before the conversion and not yet updated by agents, include ‘Condo (Prev)’ in your search.

Note that ‘Condo (Prev)’ is not a subtype option in the data entry screen, ensuring that properties will have the correct type, subtype, and ownership information going forward.

‘My Searches’ Option

In order to make it easier to find condos within REsearch, we are also deploying a simple condo search option under ‘My Searches’ for all users. Rather than requiring search queries with a multitude of options to catch the various applicable fields, this simple saved search will automatically toggle the most common fields in order to find all condominium listings. This is a temporary, quick fix, and you can delete the search from ‘My Searches’ at any time.

Want even more background on this change? We’ve posted a detailed explanation on our Bulletins blog. It includes some examples that may help better understand how the new type, subtype, and ownership fields work.

Video Help

Our customer service department has created several special video tutorials to cover the key changes in REsearch 4.3. Click the links below to view them online at any time:

• Listing Input Form
• Update Listings
• Rentals
• Saved Searches, Prospects, and Custom Formats
• Format Changes
• PDF Checked
• Social Networking

Online Training Schedule

Our trainers continue to offer a series of live webinars to cover REsearch and REsearch 4.3, updating the regular array of training to reflect key changes in the system. Below are all the classes scheduled to date (“What’s New with 4.3” overview sessions are highlighted in red), but depending on demand, we may add additional webinars. For the latest schedule, log into REsearch, click on “REtools,” and then on “Training.”

May 3-7, 2010

What’s New with 4.3
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/368501314

How to Enter & Manage Your Listings
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/428528866

Update & CMA
Friday, May 7, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/551788459

The Calendar
Friday, May 7, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/969273802

May 10-14, 2010

What’s New with 4.3
Monday, May 10, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/462290026

Basics to Searching
Monday, May 10, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/302437058

Basics to Formats
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/732339130

Contract Forms & Downloading the Roster
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/899350610

Advanced Search Techniques
Friday, May 14, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/249296411

Customizing
Friday, April 14, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/749618914

May 17-21, 2010

Orientation
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/304303603

The Basics
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/584911074

Basics to Searching
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/394026619

What’s New with 4.3
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/884574819

How to Enter & Manage Your Listings
Friday, May 21, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/326820235

Downloading
Friday, May 21, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/720206882

May 24-28, 2010

What’s New with 4.3
Monday, May 24, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/704504491

Prospecting & Contacts
Monday, May 24, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/700547866

Farming & Labels
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/883761026

Updates & CMA
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/457034163

Basics to Formats
Friday, May 28, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/627487930

Contract Forms & Downloading the Roster
Friday, May 28, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/902577355

Instructions on how to register for online classes:

• To register, please click on the applicable link located below the class. The link will then take you to the registration site.
• Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name).
• Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process. Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day.
• If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at 800-628-3121 , press # and then 457.

Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail me your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts! Mahalo.

System Requirements for Online Classes

• PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7
• Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

System requirements apply only to the GoToMeeting webinar service, not to the REsearch system.

Note: We are also offering special training classes for larger offices. If your office has 20 or more agents, please contact us if you’d like to schedule your own “What’s New in 4.3” training session. We would require a class roster of at least 20 people, and — if an in-office session is requested — an available, computer- and Internet-equipped training room.

Questions? Comments? Please feel free to contact us via
support@hawaiiinformation.com or call (808) 599-4224 or (800) 628-3121.

Condos in REsearch 4.3

I wanted to take a moment to explain ‘Condos’ in the 4.3 system in greater detail. It’s a significant change, and we are aware that it is causing some confusion and incorrect entries (some condo listings are being incorrectly entered and thus getting mixed in with unrelated properties).

We are intensely looking into ways to improve and simplify the user experience. In the meantime, however, I’d like to provide some background and helpful information on navigating the new setup.

What Happened?

With the database restructuring, we have made ‘Condo’ reflect its legal definition as a type of ‘Ownership’ rather than a ‘Property’ type. This also allowed us to provide for much more specific searches. To do this, we now have three fields that define a property: Type, Subtype, and Ownership.

Why?

When we started the ambitious task of restructuring our database, we used the opportunity to not only add fields, but also look at existing fields and compare them with those used throughout the real estate industry. We quickly realized that there was a broad movement toward correcting how MLS systems classify ‘Condo’ properties. After consulting with several leaders on both the MLS and the legal side, the consensus (and legal definition) clearly called for ‘Condo’ to be used as a type of ‘Ownership’ and not a ‘Property’ type. Our database reorganization project was the perfect time to make the correction.

How?

After significant deliberation and planning, we developed a three-choice solution that would allow the greatest flexibility in listing and searching for properties, and specifically allow users to be even more specific and precise as to the kind of property or building they were looking for. The classification system works as follows:

1. Type: This is the overview of the property. Is this property something you are going to live in? Is it land to build upon, or an investment property, or to be used for business?
2. Subtype: This further classifies the property into specific building or land types. A house, a tall building, a low rise, etc.
3. Ownership: What do I own when I purchase this property? Do I own the property outright? Am I leasing the property? Do I own the unit and an association owns the building and land? As mentioned earlier, ‘Condo’ is a type of ownership, indicated with ‘CPR-Fee Simple’ or ‘CPR-Leasehold.’

Searches

Here are some examples searches.

I want to live in a house I own.

• Type = Residential
• Subtype = SF Detached
• Ownership = Fee Simple

I want to live in a Res-Condo style of home.

• Type = Residential
• Subtype = SF Detached
• Ownership = CPR-Fee Simple

I just want to find condos.

• Type = Residential
• Subtype = High Rise, Low Rise, Mid Rise, Penthouse, Garden
• Ownership = CPR-Fee Simple

You may notice that you are still not getting all ‘Condos’ in your search. With a data conversion of this size, we unfortunately couldn’t automate 100 percent of the changes, and we did require agents to check and update their listings. Among the fields that need to be updated was the ‘Subtype’ field. Until all listings are updated, ‘Condo’ searches based only on the ‘Ownership’ field will be incomplete.

To ensure properties can still be found during the transition, we converted the old property types into Subtype field entries. For example, in the Subtype drop down, you will notice items such as ‘Condo (Prev)’. You will want to use this selection in order to find any listing that has not been updated by the listing agent (properties that were listed as a ‘Condo’ pre-conversion).

You will notice that these choices are not included on the Data Entry screen, so from this point forward, we will get the correct Subtypes inputted.

Growing Pains

I know how hard change can be, and a change of this magnitude can definitely be overwhelming. The system is certainly more complex, with the number of fields and choices we’ve added, the changes to existing fields, and the overall move from a ‘flat database’ to a ‘relational database’ structure (e.g., being able to list details only on one building versus being able to list multiple buildings, each with their own details).

With this complexity, however, will come better data, and greater accuracy. Basically, we’ll have much clearer views of properties, which will lay the groundwork for some powerful reporting modules planned for the future.

What’s Next?

I know this update has taken us away from the ideal ‘One-Click Property Search’ setup. And we are absolutely taking a hard look at REsearch to find ways to increase usability. It is a huge challenge to create a robust, powerful system like REsearch, yet keep it fast and easy to use. However, it is a challenge we’re committed to meeting.

We are here to help with any problems you may have with the current system, and I am always open to feedback on how to improve the system and make it easier to use. If you require assistance, please contact Customer Support at support@hawaiiinformation.com or (808) 599-4224. If you have suggestions or feedback on REsearch 4.3, please e-mail me at bob@useresearch.com.

Mahalo,

Bob Schoenthal
Product Manager

HAR Forms and Other Updates

The following Hawaii Association of Realtors (HAR) forms have been revised and updated within REsearch:

1. Seller’s Real Property Disclosure Statement (RR109): Complete revision.
2. Early Occupancy Agreement (RR202): Complete revision and name change. Used to be “Agreement to Occupy Prior to Close of Escrow.”
3. Purchase Contract (RR201): Change made only on page 2 under Section C. Addenda & Offer. Changed name of “Agreement to Occupy Prior to Close of Escrow” to “Early Occupancy Agreement.”

In addition, the list of top REsearch 4.3 issues has been updated to reflect the following:

1. No new listings on REVO or ‘Get Listing Update’ searches (#14372, #14399, #14401). Fixed.
2. Listings showing “(OLD)” next to them (#14375). Fixed.
3. Listing Date field missing from Listing Details form (#14406). Fixed.
4. Errors when running “TMK” and “MLS Full” formats together (#14402, #14410). Fixed.
5. Problems with the “MLS Full” display formats (#14424). Photos and maps removed. Additional improvements planned.

If you have any questions or comments regarding these or any other issues, please contact Customer Support at (808) 599-4224 or support@hawaiiinformation.com.

REsearch 4.3 Issues

Following the release of REsearch 4.3 on Monday, we have been receiving a great deal of valuable feedback and bug reports. Even with our extensive testing and expanded beta trials, problems are unavoidable with an upgrade of this scale. We apologize for any inconvenience or frustration you may have experienced with this transition. And we’d like to take this opportunity to update you on the most pressing issues we’re working to address.

Top REsearch 4.3 Issues

Updated 5/3/2010 at 1:45 p.m. HST

MLS Totals not showing correct or expected values.
Ticket #14369
Fields such as “Baths Total” and “Bedrooms Total” could be showing a “0” value. These fields should be totaled for a property from individual “Building” information, but are being miscalculated. Information is not being lost — if you look at the full format in the “Building” section, it will display the correct values for beds and baths. This is currently a top issue, and we are working to correct it as soon as possible.

Menu appears when printing listings.
Ticket #14381
When printing a listing using the “blue triangle” menu item, the menu can remain displayed on the screen and, when printed, obscure some listing information. This is an intermittent issue that seems to affect only certain users. While we continue to investigate this issue, the problem can be avoided by using the green “Actions” button to print (and perform other actions) instead.

Public/Private remarks not fully displaying.
Ticket #14404
Public and private remarks entered in the new data entry screen are cut off when printed or emailed. We are currently investigating the cause of this issue.

Problems with the “MLS Full” display formats.
Tickets #14391, #14409, #14424
We reworked a number of formats, but may have missed the mark on a few of them. In particular, the new “MLS Full” format has turned out to be problematic. Issues include the amount of white space, the size of images, and the number of pages that are printed. The objective was to provide a format that included all the information about a given property, but many members have made it clear they prefer a more compact format that includes only the basic information. As a result, we are working on bringing back the previous “MLS Full” format (although we will rename it the “MLS Mid” format). And it will be made the default for “Links” for the foreseeable future. Once this is complete, we will then revisit the new “MLS Full” format, and rework it based on the feedback we have received. We encourage you to continue to send us your suggestions as to what you expect out of a basic display format (i.e. one-page printing, no images or map, small headers, etc.). Status: Improved. Photos and maps removed. Further improvements planned.

No new listings on REVO or ‘Get Listing Update’ searches.
Tickets #14372, #14399, #14401
A change in the way Days On Market was calculated inadvertently caused some new listings to not display on the REVO page as well as in the ‘Get Listing Update’ search. Status: Fixed.

Display issues when “MLS Full” and “TMK Full” formats are run together.
Tickets #14402, #14410
Status: Fixed.

Listing Date field missing from Listing Details form.
Ticket #14406
The “Listing Date” field in the “Listing Details” was obscured or not displaying for some users. Status: Fixed.

Listings showing “(OLD)” next to them.
Ticket #14375
During the data conversion, we couldn’t always automatically assign a Subtype to a property, such as when distinguishing between a Res Condo versus a Condo in a multi-unit building. But we wanted to make sure it was possible to search for and find these properties using the previous classifications, even if the listing agent hadn’t updated their listings with a Subtype. Hence the “Res (OLD)” and “Condo (OLD)” labels. However, this has caused some confusion as some may interpret the label as suggesting the property itself is old. We will therefore replace “(OLD)” with “(Prev)” to indicate that a property was previously listed as this type. Status: Fixed.

Additional Troubleshooting

Our Customer Service team has also identified a couple of common problems experienced by some of our users.

REsearch screen does not load properly upon logging in.
The REsearch 4.3 upgrade did involve moving some elements to different servers, and some computers and ISPs may still be pointing at the old locations. If you’re having trouble loading REsearch when it previously worked as expected, you may need to flush your DNS cache. Instructions on how to do so can be found here.

Links in prospect emails are generating script errors.
If links in emails sent from REsearch are opened in web browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer (such as Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari), the rendered page may generate a script error and not display correctly. This is an issue introduced with REsearch 4.3 and we are continuing to investigate. In the mean time, use Microsoft Internet Explorer for best results.

Confusion over field names, acronyms, and definitions.

REsearch offers a feature called “Hover Help,” which provides a brief description of a search or data field when you hover your mouse pointer over it. Your pointer will change to a question mark and the description or definition will appear in a small box.

REsearch 4.3 Videos & Release Schedule

The final week is upon us for the release of REsearch 4.3 on Monday, April 26th. As the day draws closer, we want to make sure everyone is prepared for this change. In this update, we have information on some video tutorials, training sessions, and a more detailed release schedule.

Video Help

Our customer service department has done a great job putting together special video tutorialsto cover the key changes coming in REsearch 4.3:

• Listing Input Form
• Update Listings
• Rentals
• Saved Searches, Prospects, and Custom Formats
• Format Changes
• PDF Checked
• Social Networking

Online Training & Special Training Sessions

Our trainers have scheduled a series of live webinars to cover REsearch 4.3. You can find the list of classes we announced last week on our blog, but depending on demand, we will likely add additional webinars in the days ahead. For the latest schedule, log into REsearch, click on “REtools,” and then on “Training.”

We will also be offering special training classes for larger offices. If your office has 20 or more agents, please contact us if you’d like to schedule your own “What’s New in 4.3” training session. We would require a class roster of at least 20 people, and — if an in-office session is requested — an available, computer- and Internet-equipped training room.

If you want to catch up on all past announcements regarding REsearch 4.3, just follow this link to our Bulletins blog.

Release Schedule

REsearch 4.3 will go live on Monday, April 26th 2010. However, the transition will require us to put REsearch into “read-only mode” over the weekend. This means that from 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 24th through the evening of Sunday, April 25th, you will not be able to modify or enter new listings, prospects, contacts, or saved searches.

You will still be able to login and view existing listings, but if you expect to add or modify listings at the end of the month, we encourage you to do so by Friday, April 23rd. Otherwise, you can wait until REsearch 4.3 is live, and you can add or modify listings using the new data entry forms.

Mahalo!

As always, we would like to thank you for your support and feedback as we continue to build better tools to help you grow your business.

Bob Schoenthal
Hawaii Information Service Product Manager
bob@hawaiiinformation.com
(800) 628-3121 x153
Cell: (808) 222-3757
Fax: (808) 536-6499

REsearch 4.3 Online Training

Learn about the changes coming April 26!

REsearch 4.3 is coming on Monday, April 26. While the beta site has been available for weeks, we know many users could benefit from a guided tour of the changes coming with the new version. Our hardworking trainers have scheduled a set of webinars where you can get a detailed look at REsearch 4.3, and get your questions answered.

To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below. Space is limited, so please RSVP soon! If you are going to participate/watch online classes as a group, only one person needs to sign up. As REsearch 4.3 introductory classes fill up, we may continue to add more. You can get the latest list of classes by logging into REsearch, clicking on “REtools,” and then the “Training” link.

Also, stay tuned for information on upcoming recorded video tutorials covering specific REsearch 4.3 changes.

April 19-23, 2010

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Monday, April 19, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/929413434

New Member Orientation: Monday, April 19, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/997371315

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/541531467

How to Enter & Manage Your Listings: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/745355258

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Friday, April 23, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/719663667

Basics to Searching: Friday, April 23, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/847213411

April 26-30, 2010

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Monday, April 26, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/703105707

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/608137747

The Basics: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/351898475

How to Enter & Manage Your Listings: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/384145842

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/610698723

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/822576202

Basics to Searching: Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/555651882

Basics to Searching: Friday, April 30, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/379880251

What’s New With REsearch 4.3: Friday, April 30, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/420099907

Instructions on how to register for online classes:

1. To register, please click onto the applicable link located below the class. The link will then take you to the registration site.
2. Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name).
3. Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process. Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day.
4. If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at 800-628-3121 , press # and then 457.
5. Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail me your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts! Mahalo.

System Requirements for Online Classes

• PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7
• Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

System requirements apply only to the GoToMeeting webinar service, not to the REsearch system.

Questions? Comments? Please feel free to contact us via support@hawaiiinformation.com or call (808) 599-4224 or (800) 628-3121.