The RPR system continues to add new features and enhancements based upon user feedback and RPR’s goal to expand its value proposition to all REALTOR® constituencies. Some of the most exciting features we’ve added recently include:
Mapping Enhancements
RPR mapping has been greatly enhanced over the past year. The foundation of the map
enhancements was the upgrade to Microsoft’s Silverlight Maps API. This new mapping platform
has allowed us to add a number of terrific features for REALTORS®, including:
- Geographic boundaries. Effortlessly turn subdivision, school district, town, city, and ZIP code boundaries on and off, as well as points of interest such as hospitals, schools, banks and retail locations. Geographic areas can be selected individually or in groups for search, using the menu at the top of the map.
- Draw your own search areas. Search by drawing your own custom area using the polygon search tool, or search around a single point using the radius search tool. In polygon mode, you can draw using as many points as you like. Even search multiple polygons at once. All custom search areas can be saved and recalled with ease.
- Flood zone data. Turn on and off FEMA flood map overlays. Flood overlays are available at every zoom level on the map, and are generated real-time from the latest available data.
Side-by-side comparison of historical listings
Select any available historical listing to display in a side-by-side comparison with the current property record. A new layer opens and shows, photo by photo and field by field, how listings for a property have changed over time. Along with the comparison, see all available photos from historical listings of a property. Easily switch between historical records with a quick change of a dropdown.
Schools data
Nearby schools information is now integrated into every property and neighborhood details page, linking to a School Details Page that includes student demographics, test scores, parent and teacher reviews, and school ratings. The School Details pages in turn link to listings that have been assigned to
them, and vice versa: Whenever there is school information provided in a listing, it will be linked to the correct school page.
New Comps and Refined Value functionality
Flexibility and accuracy are very important when dealing with comps. There are now three different ways to select and modify comparables: a) a list of the actual comps that were used to create the RVM or AVM, b) a list of other possible comps, generated by the system, and c) the ability to choose your
own comps, using addresses that you know. These three sources can be mixed and matched to produce a completely customized list for use in estimate refinement and Seller’s Reports.
Help Desk and Training
Click on the “Help” link on the top of any page to be directed to our new Help Desk, which is filled with more than 150 articles and videos about how to use RPR. Don’t see the answer to your question? The Help Desk is interactive—you can leave a comment or ask a question and it will be shared with RPR
representatives and other users. A separate area of the Help Desk is available to support MLS staff. There are also daily RPR training courses that can be accessed easily.
Realtors Valuation Model™ (RVM)
The RVM is an automated valuation that uses licensed listing data to help produce an estimate. RPR has been testing the RVM with a third party that benchmarks AVMs for major banks, servicers and federal government agencies, and we are quite pleased with the initial results. The RVM outperforms
all 20 of the leading AVMs in repetitive testing against samples of nearly 100,000 appraisals from different markets.
Broker Tools
The Broker Tool Sets (BTS) is currently in limited beta testing. BTS consists of four tools: Broker Branding elements on both the RPR display and reports; Affiliated Service Promotion which will allow a brokerage to promote its affiliated companies such a mortgage, title, home warranty, insurance, or concierge to its agents and consumers; the RPR Chart Service; and a management-access-only Data Tool for use on creating company-wide trend and forecasting reports for use with marketing strategies, business management and company sales analysis.
