I.  Purpose of the Network

II.  Updating Policies and Linking Requirements

III.  Pricing and Payment

IV.  Real Estate Website Vendors and Support

I. Purpose of the Network

The IRE was designed to assist e-PRO® certified real estate agents that maintain their own individual and dynamic website presence on the internet to associate through participation in a network with other real estate agents with similar website interests.

The benefits derived from such a network are (1) provide a system of implementing and maintaining a reciprocal link aspect to each individual real estate agent's related website, and (2) to provide a Graphic User Interface (GUI) for inclusion in each agent's website (if they so choose) to be able to search the network database to locate other participating agents geographically. (3) To provide each participating real estate agent with access to a network of e-PRO® certified real estate agents for the purpose of referring clients/customers among the membership.

1. Benefit - Reciprocal Linking

Maintaining a reciprocal linking section in your own website for the purpose of affiliating with other link minded real estate agents on a national level can be extremely time consuming and require a manpower intensive effort.  The task can and does significantly detract from our main purpose of "Selling Homes".  Through a collective economy of scale effort, we have created a single focal point to collect the "Addee(s)", "Deletion(s)" and "Change(s)" to the Master Agent List of participating agents for use by all and have eliminated much of the time wasted on accomplishing this task alone.

It is better to update your website once a month than to continually seek out new agents that want to swap links, collect their information and then task a web designer to implement the modifications to the links section of your website.  A centralized network can spread the cost among the registrants and accomplish the coordination task much more effectively than can be achieved by individuals alone.

2. Benefit - Graphic User Interface (GUI)

Most agents that maintain an individual website have a links page or section that contains a list of links of affiliates arranged in some logical order.  The GUI is a search box that can be added at the top of the Master Agent List of links on your website providing a capability to geographically search for an affiliated participating agent.  

The results of the search would mirror the state section of the Master Agent List of links on your website (in that it includes everyone on your Master Agent List in that geographic area) but would also provide a picture, amplifying text provided by the participating agent, their contact info, email and URL(s) for their websites.  

The GUI would extract the information from the database that is the basis of the IRE and, would make it appear as though the search results are coming from your website. The participating agent would only have to maintain a copy of the Master Agent List within the links section of their own website(s).  This will provide the appearance of a well organized affiliated links section on your own website without the requirement of maintaining your own database.

3. Benefit - Referring Clients/Customers

It is recognized that many agents that complete the e-PRO® certification program maintain website(s) that contain a tremendous amount of content and information about the geographic area(s) in which they operate.  The IRE provides a real estate agent with access to a single source to geographically locate other e-PRO® agents that also maintain content rich website(s) without having to search the internet. Agents with similar website initiatives and goals generally have a need to associate with other agents with similar website capabilities for referring clients/customers as they have often been contacted by these clients/customers from the internet.  The IRE satisfies this need by organizing like minded real estate agents through the establishment of a reciprocal link network.

II. Updating Policies and Link Requirements

Updating your IRE Master Agent List couldn't be easier. To clarify the process even more, below we have provided real estate agents with details as to the different periods of updates during the month.

1. Updating Policies

IRE Update Period (IRE-UP)

The IRE shall collect registration requests through the 28th day of each calendar month.   On the 29th day, IRE shall process all registration requests.   When the processing is complete, IRE shall send a broadcast email to the participating agents in the network stating that the monthly update to the Master Agent List is complete and request that the receiving agent update the Master Agent List on their website(s).

The IRE-UP period is between the 28th of the preceding month through the 5th calendar day of the following month.

Agent Update Period (A-UP)

Upon receiving a monthly IRE broadcast email to all IRE participating agents notifying them that the IRE Master Agent List has been updated, each participating agent is to update the Master Agent List on their website(s) by copying the HTML then pasting the HTML into the appropriate section of their website(s).   This update is to be accomplished during the A-UP.

The A-UP is between the 1st  -  28th of each calendar month.

The date to be used to determine the registration date for A-UP purposes is 5th day of the calendar month when you were first added to the Master Agent List.

2. Linking Requirements

Requirements to participate in the IRE Agents Network.

1. You must at the time of registration, have and continue to maintain a license as a real estate agent/salesperson/broker in good standing in the jurisdiction in which you practice as long as you participate in the IRE.

2. You must at the time of registration, be a member and maintain your membership in good standing with the National Association of Realtors® as long as you participate in the Internet Real Estate Agent Network (IRE).

3. You must have completed the National Association of Realtors® e-PRO® certification course and have received your certificate as an internet professional, e-PRO®.

4. You agree to incorporate at your own expense, the Master Agent List into a links page in each of your own websites that you submit for inclusion in the real estate agent’s IRE.

5. You agree and are REQUIRED to copy the HTML for the Master Agent List and shall re-post it MONTHLY into each of your own websites that you submit for inclusion in the real estate agent's IRE.

6. You agree to review the Master Agent List and real estate agent database and send an email (CheckLink@RLNagents.com) to the IRE noting any corrections, additions or deletions found in either the Master Agent List or the real estate agent database.

7. You agree to abide by the IRE Agent Network enforcement policy for noncompliance of reciprocity or failure to update the Master Agent List on a monthly basis that states that upon notification from IRE of noncompliance and/or failure to update the Master Agent List on a monthly basis, you will receive an email from the IRE requesting corrective action within 30 days.  If you fail to take corrective action within 30 days, you will receive an email from the IRE requesting corrective action within 10 days.  If you fail to take corrective action within the 10 day period, you understand and agree that you will be deleted from the IRE without further notice and will have to re-register should you desire to again be included in the IRE.

The IRE’s Responsibilities.

1. The IRE shall maintain the website, “IREagents.com”.

2. The IRE shall provide the manpower necessary to process the IRE registration requests.

3. The IRE shall provide the HTML for the Master Agent List through the website, “IREagents.com” for duplication by each agent and subsequent incorporation in each agent’s website(s). The HTML shall be complete as to include the language to open each reciprocal link in an  “_blank”  window.

4. The IRE shall process all Check Link requests when IRE agents report a reciprocity compliance and/or failure to update the Master Agent List on a monthly basis violation. The IRE shall check for the missing link and issue an email to the offending agent requesting that corrective action be taken within 30 days. The IRE shall follow-up on the initial email for compliance at the end of the 30-day period.  If corrective action was not accomplished within the 30 day period, the IRE shall issue a second and final email to the offending agent requesting compliance within 10 days.  Failure to comply within the 10 day period shall result in the offending agent’s website(s) being deleted from the IRE on the next monthly update to the Master Agent List.

This process will ensure that no agent registers with the IRE, receives the benefit of affiliation by every other IRE agent adding his/her URL to the other agent websites and then fails to reciprocate by not incorporating the IRE agents’ URL(s) into his/her own website(s).  The end result should be that every agent has his/her URL(s) on every other IRE agent’s website(s).

5. The IRE shall maintain a database of agents categorized by state, territory, region, or country as IRE deems appropriate containing the agent’s picture, name, designations, contact information, short explanatory narrative, website URL(s) and email (information provided by the agent).

6. The IRE shall make available to the agents desiring this feature, a Graphic User Interface (GUI) for inclusion in the agent’s website(s). This GUI will allow access to the IRE database from the agent’s website(s) for the purpose of conducting searches for IRE agents by state.  The search results will not have any branding from IRE of any kind, will include all of the agent information as outlined in Number (5) above and will appear to be coming solely from the agent’s website.  The IRE shall update the agent database on a monthly basis to coincide with the monthly update of the Master Agent List.

3. Monitoring Monthly Updates to the Network.

The IRE provides reciprocal linking compliance enforcement with a financial cost for noncompliance (i.e. you will be dropped from the IRE after receiving several notices of noncompliance) as a motivator for each agent to be attentive on a monthly basis. Once dropped, an agent that would want to re-register would have to pay their registration fee again. However, the IRE is premised upon the belief that every agent in the network is very serious about networking with the other agents in IRE. The IRE is looking to encompass only those agents that are serious about maintaining reciprocity on a monthly basis.

III. Pricing and Payment

Services

IREAgents.com offers two services to its members, each designed to simplify the reciprocal linking process and lessen the administrative time required for maintenance of the Master Agent List by the member agent.

1. Master Agent List Hosting Membership - The IRE shall provide the manpower and equipment for the IRE website maintenance, a level of reciprocity enforcement, monthly updates to the Master Agent List, the Agent database, and hosting for the IREagents.com website.  The coordinators of the IRE require financial support from each agent at a rate of $7.50 per month per agent paid annually ($90.00 per year) to cover the cost of operating the IRE.

2. Master Agent List Maintenance - Whether you are a web savvy agent that can develop in C+ or an agent that is simply too busy to worry about learning HTML; the List Maintenance service is available to you. On the first of every month, our web design team will update the Master Agent List on your website, with the latest changes. Upon sign up of this service, IRE's staff will also submit the page where the Master Agent List resides on your website to the search engines for indexing. This support is offered to each agent at a rate of $12.50 per month, per website paid annually ($150.00 per year, per website). This service can only be offered in conjunction with the Master Agent List Hosting Membership.

2. Payment.

You may now also make a payment using your Visa, AMEX or Mastercard.

IREAgents.com and The Rrien Group, Ltd. can no longer accept personal checks or money orders.

IV. Real Estate Website Vendors and Support

The IREagents.com design team has taken great care to ensure that our coding works for everyone. What version of the HTML is right for me? To accommodate the numerous website hosting vendors used by real estate agents, we have created either special versions of HTML or instructions on how to implement the generic version of HTML based on the type of website service you employ. Our HTML was written in plain HTML 4 and will work with all standard software website editors (Dreamweaver®, FrontPage®, etc.). All visitors to the links page of your website(s) containing the Master Agent List, will be able to view the list. The Master Agent List HTML is compatible with PC and Mac using the browsers: IE4+, Netscape 4+ and Opera 5+ Custom Website User These instructions are basic in nature due to the process each web designer or individual may use when updating their websites. Open the page on your website, utilizing a program such as FrontPage®, Dreamweaver®, etc. Due to the length of our HTML, the page you select should be solely dedicated to the Master Agent List. Next, access the IRE website and visit the Master Agent List located on the lower right of the home page. Visit the "Standard Users" text box. Right click in the text area and click on "Select All". Then right click on the highlight text and click on "Copy". Then return to your website that you have created and paste the HTML you just copied into the source code view of the page (accessing the source code in each editor differs, please contact your software vendor for instructions if required). Save your changes. Publish or "Push up" your changes. You have just completed the entire process. Please note if you are updating the HTML from a previous month, be sure to delete the previous HTML entry completely before pasting the current HTML into your webpage.  If you have any questions or need help making changes please contact your web designer or software vendor.   If you still need additional help, please contact us and the IRE staff will attempt to assist you. Support at: 410-439-1994 Or email us at: support@rlnagents.com The IREagents.com design team is available between 9am and 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. For most users, the "Standard Users" version of the HTML will work just fine. However, some agents may employ web site vendors that use proprietary web site editors that may have some issues with HTML code directly pasted into the system.   Return to Top Template Website User To address these issues we have had the opportunity to work with several website vendors.  Please review the material below if you use one of these website vendors:    Advanced Access,  Homes.com, and  iHouse 2000. Please Note: The following list of instructions was composed from our coordination effort with each individual vendor.  Should the following steps not deliver the desired results, we are not responsible for any resulting difficulties when attempting to implement any of these steps .  If you experience any difficulties, please contact your vendor website provider as your first step to resolving any problems. Advanced Access These instructions are based upon our interaction with their website editor and the assistance of the Advanced Access Customer Support Team. These directions have been tailored for agents that use the Virtual Office Manager. We can assist you with other packages on an individual case-by-case basis. On the main page of your website, go to the bottom where you log into your site editor that has the icon similar to the one below: Enter your password (provided by Advanced Access) and the "Login" button. Click on "Page Manager" Click "Page Editor " Click "Add New Page". Under the "Page Info" section, enter the name you wish to reference your Master Agent List by. Next switch your editor view to "Source" and paste the HTML, obtained from you Members Account found in the "IRE Master Agent List Code", in the appropriate location; click "Save and Exit". Now click on the "Preview" link for your new web page to ensure your webpage is displaying properly. Next, click on "Page Manager" again. Click on "Home Page" Once here find a desirable location to add a text link. Enter the text for the link, for example; "IRE Master Agent List of ePro Agents". Highlight your text and click on the hyper link icon in your page editor. A new window will pop up labeled "Link Manager". Under "HyperLink Options", go to "Website" and use the drop list to find the page you just created. Once you select it click on "Insert/Modify Link". Congratulation, you have just added a new page to your website, inserted the HTML and created a link on your home page to the Master Agent List. For future updates, you will need only to delete the HTML from the previous month and replace it with the current month's list code. Please note if this is your first time adding the Master Agent List, then there is one more thing you need to do; visit the Member's section of IREAgents.com and login to the "IRE Website Profile" and update the "Location of MAL" field for your website(s) by entering the full URL of where Master Agent List is located, click "Save and Exit" and you are finished. If you have any questions, need help making changes, or need Advanced Access to walk you through the control panel over the phone, please contact: Member Services at 1-888-902-4653 Or refer to their help site: http://www.advancedaccess.com The IREagents.com design team is available between 9am and 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. Homes.com These instructions have been provided directly by Homes.com. They direct you to use their tutorial and to read additional information that will assist you. In order to access the control panel of your web site, type www.yoursite.com/admin into your browser's address bar. Next, hit the "Enter" key on your keyboard; you should be taken to a log-in screen that asks for your password. Initially, we give you the password "top producer" (must be in lower case), which you will be able to change when you get into your control panel. Just type that in the blank and click on the "Start" button on your screen. Next, you should be taken to the Control Panel screen - you will see all of the web site controls on the left hand side of the screen divided into two sections, "Go to" and "Edit." The "Go to" buttons will allow you to see different items, such as your web site activity, the help manual, or the main page of the site, etc. The "Edit" buttons will allow you to make changes to your main page, contact information, listings, partners, articles, links, and password. In the middle of the Control Panel screen, you will find a link for our on-line tutorials that will guide you through various functions of the web site, such as uploading photos or adding listings. If you have any questions, need help making changes, or need Homes.com to walk you through the control panel over the phone, please contact: Member Services at 1-800-889-3726 Or refer to their help site: http://support.homes.com The IREagents.com design team is available between 9am and 6pm EST, Monday through Friday. iHouse 2000 iHouse 2000 users have limitations on how to manage their websites. Currently the iHouse 2000 webpage editor only allows it users to add 100 lines (including the state headings and hard rulers) of HTML or content per page. This means that the Master Agent List will need to be divided into two or more pages depending on the length of the page. Directions on how to implement the HTML into iHouse 2000 user's websites would be very tedious in content and could leave room for misinterpretation. So even though this is not a difficult task, we recommend that you please contact our staff at: support@rlnagents.com. If you were unable to find your real estate website vendor on the list above and you are experiencing problems, please contact our staff at: support@rlnagents.com. We do provide a service called "List Maintenance", where we can manage your list for you. However, for those who edit their websites themselves.  Please refer to the information for each vendor provided above. Thank you.