Here in Western Washington State we are getting ready for many different changes in our world of Real Estate. Our NWMLS system is getting ready to change the way we interact with all the many listings that we share. We are moving from Rapattoni to Matrix. Many of us have attended classes to learn the new system, however the frustrating thing is that Matrix isn’t even finished yet. We are supposed to transfer to this new system in May, but as I go into what is available to use now I can’t help wondering if it will be ready in time.
I have many concerns with the new system as I work with it. While it is faster than the old system, it is not very user friendly, and I find myself feeling frustrated when I can’t set up the searches I want to set up for certain clients. The options are just not there. My concern is that even when Matrix is finished I will not be able to do those searches that I want to do. The other major concern is the way contacts are handled. The system we use presently is big enough and complex enough that I can sort contacts any way I prefer, and set up alerts and tasks for them. The new system doesn’t seem to do much of anything, but then again, it isn’t finished yet.
On top of these system changes our state has decided to change the laws concerning real estate professionals. These changes have most to do with how the people who are licensed to handle real estate transactions are supervised. It means changes in titles for one thing, and changes in accountability. All of us will be brokers of one kind or another. Right now most of us are real estate salespersons working for brokers. Then there will be managing brokers and designated brokers, each with their own areas of responsibility. You can read the actual rules HERE. We are beginning to find out more about the rule changes and classes have started (we all must take the classes) for the transition between now and July when the new rules and laws will be implemented. I am looking forward to some confusion as the transition takes place.
On a personal note the reason I have not been posting since last September is that my husband was attacked by a very aggressive cancer. The cancer was discovered in April of 2009. He and his doctors fought it as best they could with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, but the cancer defeated them. My husband was in Hospice home care for the last two months of his life, and I was his full time caretaker. He died on February 13, 2010. This is the biggest change in my life. It has taken me a couple of months to begin picking up the pieces of my life again, including this blog. It is my intention to start blogging more regularly again, and we’ll see how well I do over the next few weeks.
Tags: brokers, changes, laws, Matrix, NWMLS, real estate, rules
