Save a search, save to prospect, what's the difference? What does each one do? Aren't they the same thing? The answers: big, something completely different, and no.

Let's start with Save a Search. This is the one you want to do to save the search criteria for a prospect, or for any time you want easy access to specific search criteria. The search criteria is the list of fields that will give list the properties that match: status, area, bedrooms, bathrooms, features, etc. There's a Save Search option on the Quick Search screen, ProSearch screen, and even on the Search Results screen. Personally I like the one on the ProSearch screen the most (it's easiest), but any of them will get the job done.

Confusion can set in if you wait until the Search Results page to save your search criteria. On that screen are two options for saving: the Save icon (looks like the old fashioned floppy disk), and the Save to Prospect button.

Save to Prospect is an option that allows you to save a list of properties to a particular prospect. To use this, you have to have the prospect record already set up and saved. Check mark the listings you want, then click the Save to Prospect icon. Highlight the prospect's name, and click the Save button. The system will hold those listings in the # Properties column on the prospect's record.

So, the big difference between Save and Save to Prospect is what's being saved. The Save option saves the search criteria. Save to Prospect saves a list of properties to the prospect.

If you have any questions, please call us at 850-244-2411, or email susan@ecaor.com.

Susan Beck, MLS Director
Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS
Fort Walton Beach, FL

Participate in the Great Emerald Coast Open House Sunday, May 20! Encourage your sellers to allow you to make their homes available for viewing by the general public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Special Emerald Coast Open House signs are available for sale from the ECAR Realtor Store. Contact Michelle at 850-243-6145 to purchase signs. The public is being directed to http://emeraldcoastopenhouse.com/ to search for Open Houses on the third Sunday of each month.

Add your open houses to the web site by using the Open House feature on the Maintenance menu in MLS. Here’s how:

· Go to ECAR MLS

· Go to Search Menu

· Go to Inventory

· Choose “Active” and click Accept

· Find the listing you want included on the Open House website

· Click the Status link – This takes you to Maintenance

· Scroll to the bottom of the action list

· Click Open House

· Enter the date (March 18) and the times of your open house (ECAR recommends 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.). You can also add a note.

· Click Add New

· Another Open House block will appear with your previous entry above it. If you want to add another open house for that listing, enter the information. If not, close the tab/window and you’re done.

The Chipola Area Board (CABR) no longer shares the MLS database with the Realtor Association of Franklin and Gulf Counties (RAFGC). They have selected a different MLS system, NAVICA and have moved their inventory over to their new MLS.

ECAR has a data sharing agreement with both CABR and RAFGC, available through the Other MLS’s link on the Search menu. Through this agreement, we are able to link into their previously joined database to search their listings. At this time the Chipola area data is no longer in the RAFGC MLS.

CABR is working with NAVICA to restore the data sharing links to all of their reciprocal partners and for themselves to access our data, but as of yet there is no timeline for implementation. We will make a link available to their new MLS system as soon as we have the access.