CRMLS 1004 MC

User ManualInstructions, Helpful Tips, and

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

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© 2010 California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. 12/10

Introduction

Thank you for downloading and using the CRMLS 1004 MC Solution. The CRMLS 1004 MC Solution is a Microsoft Excel template that is designed to provide an automated and integrated method for obtaining information needed to complete 1004 MC addendums for standard residential real estate appraisals. This User Manual will walk you through exporting comps from the CRMLS Matrix Platform, using the CRMLS 1004 MC template, and briefly covers some basics about the results that the CRMLS 1004 MC template generates.

Getting StartedThe CRMLS 1004 MC Solution is a Microsoft Excel template. Each time you need to complete a 1004 MC addendum for a subject property, you will create a new Microsoft Excel spreadsheet based on the CRMLS 1004 MC template.

In order to protect data integrity and to make working with the template user-friendly, the CRMLS 1004 MC template utilizes macros in Microsoft Excel. In order to use the CRMLS 1004 MC template, you must enable macros in Microsoft Excel.

Note:Depending on your computer’s security settings, you may see a warning about macro security each time you create a new Microsoft Excel spreadsheet based on the CRMLS 1004 MC template.

For Microsoft Excel 2007 or later users: When Microsoft released Excel 2007, they introduced a special .xlsm file format for “macro-enabled” Excel spreadsheets. Each time you save a new spreadsheet based on the CRMLS 1004 MC template, you will need to change the file format from the default .xlsx file format to the Microsoft Excel macro-enabled .xlsm file format.

Note:If you will be forwarding the CRMLS 1004 MC results to someone that has an older version of Microsoft Excel, you will need to change the file format from .xlsx to the Microsoft Excel 1997-2003 .xls file format.

Introduction 1

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Setting Up Your Template

Make sure that you have downloaded the CRMLS 1004 MC template, then follow the steps below to customize the template with your contact information.

1. Double click the CRMLS 1004 MC template to open it in Microsoft Excel.

Note:If you see a warning about macro security, follow the prompts to enable macros for the CRMLS 1004 MC template in Microsoft Excel. For more information on enabling macros, refer to the Microsoft Excel documentation.

2. Enter your contact information in the available fields in the Appraiser Info section of the dashboard.

Setting Up Your Template

3. Click the Date of Value field in the Property Information section of the dashboard. This will place your cursor in this field every time you generate a new Microsoft Excel spreadsheet based on the CRMLS 1004 MC template.

4. Save the template by selecting the Save As option in Microsoft Excel.

5. In the Save As dialog box, change option in the Save as type pop-up menu to Excel Macro-Enabled Template (*.xltm).

Note:If you’re an older version of Microsoft Excel, change the option in the Save as type pop-up menu to Excel 97-2003 Template (*.xlt).

6. Click Save.

Now your ready to start using the CRMLS 1004 MC template.

Next Steps:

• See “Exporting Comps” on page 4 to search for comps and export them from the CRMLS Matrix Platform.

• See “Creating a 1004 MC Report” on page 10 to create a new 1004 MC report.

Setting Up Your Template 3

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Exporting Comps

Follow the steps below to export comps from the CRMLS Matrix Platform.

1. Open your web browser and go to http://www.crmls.org.

2. Click the CRMLS Matrix button.

Exporting Comps

3. Enter your SCOUT Login information and click Login.

You see the CRMLS Matrix Home screen.

Exporting Comps 5

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4. Click the Search tab.

5. Click the Residential Detail link.

Exporting Comps

6. Enter your search criteria, then click the Results button.

Tip:If you need help entering search criteria, click the ? icon next to the field you need help with.

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7. Click the checkbox next to each listing you want to export.

To quickly select all listings on all pages, click the Check all link.

8. Click Export.

Exporting Comps

9. Select 1004MC as the Export File format, then click Export.

10.Follow the prompts on the screen to save the exported file to your computer.

Now you’re ready to create a new 1004 MC report. See “Creating a 1004 MC Report” on page 10.

Exporting Comps 9

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Creating a 1004 MC Report

After you have exported your comps from the CRMLS Matrix Platform follow the steps below to create a new 1004 MC report using the CRMLS 1004 MC template.

1. Open Microsoft Excel and choose the option to create a new workbook.

2. Select My Templates.

3. Choose the CRMLS 1004 MC template you saved in “Setting Up Your Template” on page 2 and click OK.

You see the CRMLS 1004 MC template dashboard.

4. Enter the date that you ran the 1004 MC export fromt he CRMLS Matrix Platform in the Date of Value field.

Creating a 1004 MC Report

5. Continue entering the rest of the Property Info fields.

6. Click the Work with Data link to jump to the Data tab.

7. Click Get New Data.

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8. Navigate the folder you saved the 1004 MC file you exported from the CRMLS Matrix Platform, select the file, and click Open.

Your data is imported.

9. Review the data carefully.

Note:Keep in mind that the data exported from the CRMLS Matrix Platform is only as good as the users who enter it. Lot sizes, Years Built, and other figures may be missing or may have a value that seems out of range. If a data element seems out of range, it’s up to you to research it and make the appropriate changes. If a data element needs updating, edit the data directly on the sheet in the Data tab. Use your expertise as a Real Estate Appraiser to ensure that each property in your data set is appropriate to use in comparison to your subject property.

10.When you finish examining and/or editing your data, click the dashboard link to jump back to the dashboard.

Creating a 1004 MC Report

You see the results of the Inventory Analysis displayed on the Dashboard.

11. Click the Go to 1004MC Form link to go to the 1004MC Form, to see a mock 1004 MC form with all of the data entered for you.

12.Save your new file using the Save As command in Microsoft Excel.

13. If you would like to copy the results of your Inventory Analysis to paste into your Appraisal Reporting software, click Copy Results to Clipboard.

14. If you would like to generate a printer friendly version of your work product report, click Generate Work Product Report.

Creating a 1004 MC Report 13

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FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

So, what do these results really mean? And how are they calculated?

The 1004 MC is designed to give a high level view about what is generally going on in the market surrounding a subject property. In order to do this, the program looks at all the homes that have been listed and/or sold at any time within the past year, and within the search criteria for your subject property, (these are all the properties in your 1004 MC Export).

Next, some basic statistical information is used to make some broad generalizations about the overall market conditions. Again, from a high level.

Basically, the program looks at each of the properties from two points of view; first, as Listings, and then again as Sales. In order to come up with the analysis, the 1004 MC breaks the past year up into three unequal periods. The first period is the oldest 6 months. The second period is the 3 months following the first period. Finally, the third period is the most recent 3 months.

In each time frame and from each point of view, the program looks at each and every property to see if it “counts”. Generally, in order to determine if a property counts, the system establishes an “activity period” for each property. The activity period always begins on the Listing Date. The ending date of the activity period is determined by the status of the property at the time you run the 1004 MC Export.

For example, the ending date of the activity period for an Active property would be the Date of Value. For a property that is pending, its activity period would end on the date it went pending.

Note:A property may go through any number of status changes over the time it is in the MLS. Some of these statuses may take the property “off the market” for some period of time, BUT THE PROGRAM CAN ONLY CONSIDER THE DATA IN THE EXPORT! So, for the purposes of the 1004 MC analysis, a property is considered “on the market” from the Listing Date until the date it achieves a status that takes it off the market, if it is listed in such a status in the 1004 MC export.

What is the Median Comp Sale-to-List Price Ratio?

This is one of the most misunderstood statistics on the 1004 MC. To put is simply, this is the median of the ratios, and not the ratio of the medians.

What this means is that the program calculates the ratio of the Sale Price to the List Price for each and every property that sold in your data set. It then calculates the median of those ratios.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Probable Trends and how do I read the multi-colored percentages on the Dashboard?

Recall earlier that the last year is broken up into three periods, (a six month period and two 3 month periods). The first “Span” is the comparison of the middle 3-month period to the first 6-month period. The second span compares the most recent three months to the middle three months. And the Overall Span compares the most recent 3 months to the oldest 6 months. A color-coded guide is included above the trends as a reminder of the three ranges. Results lower than 90% are considered “decreasing” and are colored red. Between 90% and 110% is considered “stable” and is colored yellow. Increasing is anything above 110% and is colored green.

Thank you again for using the CRMLS 1004 MC Solution.

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