MLS sharing

[Lee SW IL]

Our MLS prohibits sharing anyone that wants to use the MLS must be a member, there is an exception for secretarys, receptionist, etc. I am sure most MLS systems are this way.

We currently have a login and password. However as long as your given access to the login and password you can log on.

Appraisal companies with several appraisers only join as 1 appraiser and share the login/password. Thus in violation of the bylaws of the association.

My question is, Could the MLS have audit the appraisal office to search for illegal sharing? My thinking is that the auditor could pull some files, that show the MLS was used as a data source and the appraiser that completed the report. Or would this be covered under GBL Privacy act?

 

[Bill_FL]

Not sure. One way around that is how they check on agents in offices. They charge the broker for any one listed as an agent, by the state, at that office that is not a member of MLS. The charge to the broker is more than the cost to join and pay MLS dues. Yous should just do the same thing with appraisers.

 

[Lee SW IL]

They do the same thing here for agents.

But since appraisers can be independent they are not required to have their license with any one office, unlike agents.

 

[Wally Jones]

Florida MLS providers check the license number of appraisers and those who do not pay do not play. This applies to trainees as well. If a trainee does not pay, they can suspend access of the supervisory appraiser. Each MLS user has a secure key with a log in number which changes every 60 seconds.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

One user, one login ID, one password. Two users using the same login ID and password at the same time is caught immediately. The violation is an automatic revocation of use for the person with the account.

 

[xmrdfghap]

My question is, Could the MLS have audit the appraisal office to search for illegal sharing? My thinking is that the auditor could pull some files, that show the MLS was used as a data source and the appraiser that completed the report. Or would this be covered under GBL Privacy act?

First of all, absent a court order or prior agreement no one looks at my files. Secondly, if I supply the MLS access and any data needed is accessed by me (regardless of the signature on the report) with reports printed (CMA's Details, etc) and available to which ever appraiser does the report. The reports may be done by another appraiser, but they are done for my company at my request. I supply the software (Clickforms, Street Atlas, Adobe) and the data. How is that a violation?

As far as logging on from more than one computer? I do it all the time. I am sitting in front of three computers most of the time. If I am in clickforms on one, and I need to access MLS or another data base or website then I use another one. As an example, I need to do research in a community with no MLS. Most sales are listed in either Tulsa or OKC MLS services. I am a member of both. I am on satelite for my internet access. I can have one computer access OKC. I can have another computer accessing Tulsa. I have the report being generated on a third and might be accessing FEMA or the Census sites. Forgetting I am on Tulsa on one of the other computers, if a customer calls and asks for sales histories in an area for a seaparte job, I might very well log on to Tulsa from the computer I am on and do a quick address check. Again, where is the violation?

 

[Chris Bradford]

One user, one login ID, one password. Two users using the same login ID and password at the same time is caught immediately. The violation is an automatic revocation of use for the person with the account.

Hope I never forget to log-off at my office before I go home and try to log-on.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Hope I never forget to log-off at my office before I go home and try to log-on.

The MLS here has a timer. You can't be logged in and idle for more than 119 minutes. If you drive home in less than 2 hours and don't log out of the first one, you get to do a lot of unnecessary work for your memory lapse when logging in on the second one.

After more than one instance, you will look like a dolt trying to convince the MLS people that you really are that careless and can't abide by the rules.

 

[Laura Harper]

We pay an office fee and then a monthly charge for each user. It is impossible for two people to attempt to log in under the same username and password at the same time. If one person logs in and another attempts to you get an error message that the ID is already logged into the server. This has happened to me on several occasions when I am running between upstairs laptop and basement office desktop.

 

[Couch Potato]

Here in Central Florida the MLS went to an RSA token system for passwords; the password for each user changes every 60 seconds. The new member classes were packed when the system was implemented.