stratus mls mobile for blackberry and android phones - edu torontomls

Stratus MLS Mobile for BlackBerry and Android Phones

© Toronto Real Estate Board27 November 2012All rights reserved.

This training material is provided for educational purposes only. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy contained in this seminar hand-out material, the Toronto Real Estate Board will not be liable for the use or misuse of information, facts, clauses, details, or any other elements, or for deficiencies, defects, errors, or omissions in the content of this material.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording without permission in writing from the Toronto Real Estate Board.

Introduction

About This Workbook

Introduction: About This Workbook

Learning objectives

This user guide is designed for TREB Members who want to learn how to use Stratus MLS Mobile for BlackBerry, Android or Windows smartphones. After completing the material in this user guide, you will be able to:

• Access the Web address• Log in to access Stratus MLS Mobile • Perform searches in Stratus MLS Mobile• Work with search results in List or Map view• View a listing’s details• View additional photos• Contact the Listing Brokerage/Listing Salesperson• View a property’s location on a map• Email a listing• Obtain driving directions to a property.

Workbook conventions

The workbook uses the following conventions:

• The names of objects that require user action, such as tapping menu items, buttons, or links are in bold. Example: Tap New Listings.

• Labels such as names for dialogue boxes, toolbars, tabs or fields are capitalized. Example: The Print dialogue box appears.

• Throughout the workbook, you will see two types of icons in the left margin:

The light bulb signals a tip that will help make your tasks easier.

The note signals information that you should note.

Notes

2 MLS Mobile BlackBerry Android


Prerequisites

The procedures in this workbook reflect screens and functionality found on a BlackBerry with a touchscreen, Android or Windows smartphone.This interface is optimized for smartphones only. We are currently developing a version for tablets. It is expected that you are familiar with working in a Blackberry or Android environment.

Notes

MLS Mobile BlackBerry Android 3


Notes

4 MLS Mobile BlackBerry Android

Stratus MLS Mobile for BlackBerry & Android

Phones

What is Stratus MLS Mobile?

Stratus MLS Mobile for BlackBerry with touch screen, Android or Windows smartphones is a free password protected Web URL. It allows mobile browser-based access to TREB’s listings. This interface is optimized for smartphones only. We are currently developing a version for tablets.

How to access Stratus MLS Mobile

To access MLS Mobile, open the Browser on your BlackBerry or Android phone. In the Address field enter the web address, www.mobile.torontomls.net and tap Enter.

You have learned to open the mobile Web URL and you can now log in.

NOTE: Stratus MLS Mobile, like many mobile apps, may use geolocation to determine where you are. Make sure that you have this feature enabled under the Options settings of your browser.

Logging in

Stratus MLS Mobile uses the same security protocols as TorontoMLS. You need to log in using your authenticator.

To log in:

1. When the mobile Web URL opens, the Welcome! screen appears.

Notes

6 MLS MobileBlackBerry Android

Stratus MLS Mobile Log In

2. You log in to Stratus MLS Mobile the same way you log in to TorontoMLS: with your authenticator. Tap the Username field and type your seven-digit Member number.

3. Tap the PIN # field and type the four-digit PIN number associated with your authenticator.

Notes

MLS MobileBlackBerry Android 7

4. Tap the Authenticator Password field and type the six-digit password obtained from your authenticator.

5. Tap Log In. The Main Menu appears.

NOTE: To log out of Stratus MLS Mobile, return to the Menu and tap Log Out. Stratus MLS Mobile will also time out, logging you out of the application after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Main Menu

The Main Menu of MLS Mobile is divided into two sections. The first consists of My Listings and Help. The second is the Property Search Menu.

Notes


Main Menu

NOTE: If you access Help, you will have opened a new window. To close the Help window, tap the list of open windows icon (the icon with a number on it). From the open windows shown, close the Help window and return to the Main Menu.

In the second section of the menu, showing search options, the New Listings search is set by default to Available listings and the Entry Date to today’s date. This will give you listings entered into the system for the first time since midnight of the current day. You may change the Entry Date to yesterday and today.

Notes


Searching in Stratus MLS Mobile

There is an extensive list of Pre-Defined searches in Stratus MLS Mobile:

• My Listings• Address• New Listings• Open House• Just Expired• Price Change & Extensions• A number of Residential searches• A number of Lease searches• A number of Commercial searches

We will explore the Residential Freehold Last Update search and the options associated with it. After you have learned these skills, they can be applied to the other searches.

Residential Freehold Last Update

To start a Residential Freehold Last Update search:

1. From the Main Menu screen, tap Residential Freehold Last Update. The map screen opens. The map will be centred on the same default location that you use on your computer when logged in to New Stratus.

Notes


Map screen opens with default Location

2. Tap Criteria. The search screen loads.

Notes


Search screen

The search screen is set, by default, to Residential Freehold, for Sale and the Last Update field to one day back. You are asked to set Area and any other desired fields.

3. Tap Area. The Area screen appears

Notes


Set Area screen

From the list of Areas, you may select the GTA or all of Ontario. To make another choice, swipe down the list to tap the area or areas of your choice. For our example we chose York.

4. Tap York, then tap Done. A screen of search fields appears. Swipe down the screen to see them all. A count of the number of found properties appears at the bottom of the screen.

5. Tap to select Municipality. The list of Municipalities appears.

Notes


List of Municipalities

6. In this example, we want to select Aurora and Newmarket. Tap Aurora and Newmarket, then tap Done. The Search screen appears.

NOTE: As you add criteria, the count at the bottom of the screen will not update. To find the number of listings and remain on the search screen, tap Criteria. Or tap, Map or List, at the bottom of the screen to find the number of listings and go to the Map View or List View screens.

7. Tap Maximum Price, from the list of Prices tap 500000, then tap Done.

Notes


You will now swipe the screen to move down the list of search fields. From these fields we chose the Last Update field. This is set, by default, to yesterday’s date.

8. Tap the Last Update field. You can now choose to change either the From date or the To date. We chose the From date.

Last Update screen

9. Tap the From date field and the Set Date screen appears.

Notes


Set Date

10. Three date wheels appear, for Month, Day and Year. Swipe down or up to change the desired date. We chose to change the day. When the desired date is both highlighted and centred, tap Set Date. Then tap Done. The Search screen appears.

Notes


Search screen with criteria set

11.We now want to submit the search, so we can tap Map, to view markers for each match on the map, or List. We chose List. Listing thumbnails for each match appears.

Notes


Search Results

Working with search results in a List view

List view has an advantage over Map view: Map view cannot display properties that are missing a geocode. Also, if a property is mis-located, it may not appear in the map results.

Notes


• After selecting your criteria, tap List at the bottom of the screen. A maximum of 200 search results appear.

The results of your search display in a vertical list sorted by price, from least expensive at the top to most expensive at the bottom. A thumbnail photo of the listing appears to the left.

To learn how to change the sort order of the search results, go to the next section. To learn how to view a listing’s details, go to .

Changing the sort order

To change the sort order of the results in a list:

1. At the bottom of the search results, tap Sort. The fields available for sorting appear.

Notes


Sort fields

2. Tap a field to sort by that field. A blue and white chevron appears beside the selected field. In this example we tapped Bedrooms to sort in ascending order.

3. If we were to tap a field a second time, the sort order would be changed to descending order.

NOTE: You can sort by one field at a time. Multi-level sort capability in not found in Stratus MLS Mobile.

4. Tap Done. The search results reappear sorted by the selected field.

To view a full listing:

1. Tap a listing in the list of search results. The full listing appears.

Notes


TIP: When working on some phones, you will need to scroll down to view the Listing Salesperson and Listing Brokerage information.

2. There are no next or previous buttons to navigate from one listing to another. To view another listing, tap Back at the top of the screen. After the search results reappear, select another listing to view.

Residential Freehold listing report

You have learned to view a property from List view. To learn about the options available while viewing a listing, go to the next section.

Back

Notes


Viewing additional listing photos

1. To view additional photos of a listing, provided that they are available, tap Photos. The main property photo appears along with basic listing details (e.g. address, bedrooms, washrooms, etc.).

2. Swipe across the screen to move from one photo to another.

Photos view of a listing

TIP: The white dots at the bottom of the screen indicate the number of photos on the listing.

Photos

Dots indicating number ofPhotos

Notes


Emailing a listing

Let’s assume that you have selected a listing for emailing.

Emailing from listing details screen

To email a listing:

1. From the listing Detail screen, tap the email icon at the bottom of the screen. The email options screen appears.

The email icon

Notes


The email options screen

2. Tap the To field, to open the list of your Contacts that you have set up in New Stratus.

The To field

Notes


List of Contacts screen

3. To email to someone on the Contacts list, tap on their name.

4. To email to someone not on the Contacts list, tap on Addresses. The enter email address screen appears.

Enter New E-Mail Address screen

Addresses field

Notes


5. Tap the New E-Mail Address field and type in the desired email address. Tap Back. The email options screen opens.

The email options screen

6. Set the desired email options, then tap Send.

Another Search - Commercial

Let’s now look at another type of search. When we arrive at the search results on the listing Details screen, we will look at the Driving Directions option and phoning the Listing Salesperson or the Listing Brokerage. In this example we want to search for warehouses for lease in the 400 and 407 area.

To start the search:

1. On the Main Menu screen, swipe to move down the list of Menu options.

The Send button

Notes


Commercial section of Main Menu

2. Tap on the Commercial Available option. The search will open the map centred on the default location that you have set in New Stratus.

In Stratus MLS Mobile you can search by map. Let’s use the map to continue this search example.

Working with the search results in Map view

When viewing the results of a search in Map view, you will see coloured push-pins, which indicate the location of the found properties. A count of the number of displayed listings appears at the bottom of the screen. Not all properties will display on the map: if a property does not have a geocode, or if it is incorrectly located, it may not appear. These properties will appear in the List view, however, which does not search by geocode.

TIP: The colour of the push-pin displayed on the map is related to the property’s status. To see a legend explaining the colour code, tap the curled paper icon on the bottom right of the screen. A colour code of the push-pins

Notes


appears. You can also switch between map types (Road or Aerial) on this screen. To close the Legend, tap Done.

The Map screen

To view a property’s details:

1. The listings appear plotted on a street map. The price of the listing appears at the bottom of the push-pin.

2. Manipulate the map by zooming in or out and moving the map, if necessary. Zoom in or out by tapping on the plus or minus signs in the top right corner of the map. Or to zoom in, double tap on the map or spread your fingers across the screen. To zoom out, pinch your fingers across the screen.

The Legend icon

Notes


3. Tap a property’s push-pin. The address, along with some basic features of the property, will appear in a pop-up.

4. To close the pop-up, tap the map.

5. To view a detailed report of the selected property, tap the pop-up or the black and white chevron to the right of the pop-up. The listing appears.

You have learned how to manipulate the map to set a search. To learn how to continue this search using search criteria, go to the next section.

Setting the criteria - Commercial example

To continue the search using Criteria:

1. At the bottom of the map screen tap Criteria. The Commercial Available search screen appears.

Commercial Available Search Screen

Notes


2. Tap the Sale/Lease field. The Sale/Lease options screen opens.

Set the Sale/Lease options

3. Either, tap Lease and Sub-Lease, or tap Not, then tap Sale, then tap Done. In both cases you will have selected Lease and Sub-Lease.

NOTE: Swipe down the search screen. Notice that you are given many Commercial search fields. Included in the fields are the Type, Category and Use fields.

4. We will enter the Area, Toronto, the Municipality, Toronto W05, and the minimum Truck Level shipping doors of 4. The completed search screen appears.

NOTE: As you add criteria, the count at the bottom of the screen will not update. To find the number of listings and remain on the search screen, tap

Notes


Criteria. Or tap, Map or List, at the bottom of the screen to find the number of listings and go to the Map View or List View screens.

Completed Search screen

NOTE: The count message reads, “31 of 32 could be mapped”. Listings with no geocode or that are incorrectly located will not appear on the map. They will, however, appear in the List View.

5. Tap List to see the search results.

You have learned how to set up a search for Commercial Leases. We will now work with some additional options on a listing.

Working with options on a listing

1. To view the details of a listing from the List View, tap on the thumbnail of the desired listing. The listing details screen appears.

Count message

Notes


Listing Details view

2. Tap on the icon that looks like a an open book to open listing attachments.

3. Tap on the icon that looks like a car, to open the Driving Directions.

Attachments Icon

Driving Directions

Notes


Driving Directions

When the Driving Directions screen opens, there are two markers on the map. The green marker is, by default, your current location. The red marker is the destination point, which is the address of the listing.

NOTE: You will have opened a new window to access Driving Directions. A warning message appears. To return to Stratus MLS you will need to switch windows using your browser.

4. Tap the B icon to take you to the Bing Search Engine.

5. Tap the minus sign icon to allow you to zoom out.

6. Tap the Compass icon. This will centre the map on your current location.

Bing Search Engine

Zoom Out (minus sign)

Compass Icon

Map Layers Icon

Notes


7. Tap the Map Layers icon. The Map Layers screen opens.

Set Map Layers screen

When the Map Layers screen opens, you have four options to work with the map. When you tap on directions you will be able to put in an address for the destination. The starting point will be your current location.

When using Driving Directions, you will be asked for permission to access your current location. To ensure that you have given permission for your Browser to access your geolocation, go to the Browser’s Options. Enable Geolocation and tap Save.

Notes


NOTE: To use Driving Directions, type in the full address, street number, street name and abbreviation, the Municipality and the abbreviation for the province.

Tapping map style will change the style to Aerial, Bird’s Eye or Road view. Tap done when finished with these options.

Contacting the Listing Salesperson

The telephone icon is used to contact the Listing Salesperson.

To call the Listing Salesperson:

1. Tap the Telephone icon on the listing Details screen.

2. A confirmation screen will display. Tap Call, the dialling sequence of the phone initializes and the call is placed to the Listing Salesperson.

3. When the call is finished, hang up. Stratus MLS Mobile returns to the screen.

You have learned to contact the Listing Salesperson. To learn how to contact the Listing Brokerage, go to the next section.

Contacting the Listing Brokerage

The Telephone icon is programmed to call the Listing Salesperson. What if you want to book an appointment to view the property? MLS® Rule 505 states that appointments to view a property need to be made through the Listing Brokerage. Instead of using the Telephone icon, which calls the Listing Salesperson, tap the name of the Listing Brokerage at the bottom of the listing. The hyperlink will provide you with contact information including telephone and fax numbers.

Notes


To call the Listing Brokerage:

1. View a listing’s details (tap Details, if necessary). The Details view of the listing appears.

2. Swipe down to the bottom of the listing.

3. Tap the Listing Brokerage’s name. A new window of contact information appears.

Listing details (bottom)

Notes


4. The window displays the Listing Brokerage’s mailing address, telephone number, fax number, website address, and email address, if available. In this example, we want to phone the Listing Brokerage. Tap the phone number. A pop-up confirmation appears.

5. Tap Call. Your phone’s dialling sequence begins. Proceed with the call.

6. When are you done with the telephone call, tap the Close icon, the “X”, in the top left of the screen. The telephone app closes and the Listing Details screen re-appears.

7. Tap Back to return to the List View screen.

You have learned to call the Listing Brokerage.

Summary

After completing the material in this chapter, you should be able to:

• Access the web site• Log in to Stratus MLS Mobile• Perform searches in Stratus MLS Mobile• Work with search results in List view• Use the map to set your search• View a listing’s details• View additional photos• Contact the Listing Brokerage/Listing Salesperson• View a property’s location on a map• Email a listing• Obtain driving directions to a property.

Notes


Notes


stratus mls mobile for blackberry and android phones - edu torontomls

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