You may be happy to hear that the recent forum software update allowed me to make a few changes to the forum permissions just now.

Assuming that I have set it up correctly, anyone signing up from this point on will require 30 posts before use the signature file and post in the shout box. The time required between searches will also be a little bit longer than that enjoyed by experienced members.

New users will have additional restrictions in the BPO, REO forum. New Users will require 30 posts before they can start a topic, and use UBB code to place links in their posts. They will also have to wait 5 minutes after making a post before they can post again.(Except for in the Introduce Yourself Forum where the time between posts is 15 minutes).

After new users have 30 posts under their belt they will enjoy full privileges.

If any Moderators or Veteran Members thing some of the other forums could also benefit from tighter restrictions for New Users - feel free to discuss it here.

This should help cut down on the spammers.

When does this start? I thought it had already started, yet I've seen numerous posts from new members asking for company names, contact names and numbers, etc.

I believe newbies can post to an open thread, they just can't start a new one and they can't put links to websites either (that's for the spammers), until they have contributed 30 posts.

That is correct - in the BPO forum new members can't start a new thread but they can still post in existing threads.

Also, these new restrictions are not retroactive so those who were "new" before the restrictions were put in place are not restricted.

I have made an additional change to help discourage those intent on breaking the forum rules by posting single sentence type posts just to get their post count up. Now in all forums new members - those with under 30 posts - will have to wait 15 minutes between creating new threads.

Also, in most forums new members will not be able to post links.

Thanks Doug! That will cut down on the moderators job of policing those who are post padding & spamming. I've had several cases of this in the past week & it takes time to address each post to correct/delete.

That'll show 'em who's boss, Doug

I understand the reason for BPO/REO forum posting restrictions for new members, but for someone like me who has followed this forum for years, and the REO/BPO forum off and on for over a year, this is kind of frustrating.

I see members post about how proud they are, basically sharing their excitement with others, about their first REO, or a hard BPO they did good on and got the listing.

I finally signed up so I could introduce myself, and give some history on my BPO / REO past.

Is there any way to make an exception and put someone who asks on "probation" so they can post?

Or maybe give them a chance to post one topic as to allow them to introduce them self???

Just feels weird jumping in on other threads without introducing myself.

Just a thought.

I'm not out to abuse rules, and I've seen many people do it in many different ways while "trolling".

I finally signed up because I fee I am ready to contribute.

Just one introduction post?

Sorry, the software does not allow for that. You can always post info about yourself in the "Introduce Yourself" forum - that is what it is there for. You could also put information about yourself in your Profile - that is what it is there for as well.

I find this thread very interesting as a "newbie" to the forum and not to REO. I tend to be pretty wordy and have always been willing to share information with those you are truely interested. In these hard times for "retail" agents, I believe it is a good policy to have checks and balances in place. Being a REO Agent is not something that should be taken as becoming a part of the most recent "fad". Those of us serious about the business are serious about our systems, our operating budgets and protocol as well as protecting the integrity of our profession and service to our clients. It takes a lot of "trust" for the clients to place their assets in our hands. So far, I'm finding this forum interesting and hope to become a good contributor and mentor as well as pick up some "GREAT" tips to help me improve my performance to my clients.

Don't feel weird just "jumping in" ... all of were newbies once and thats what most of us did. Even better if you have something to contribute! hope to you see in in BPO/REO....

thanks concepts05, i just read your reply to Broski, I'm a "new" to this forum but not to RE, I'm anxious to learn more in detail about REOs/BPOs, I felt awkward too just "jumping in" on active threads but your reply made me feel better. Looking forward to learning from the "master veterans" in REOs/BPOs. Thanks, much appreciated.

Is there really such a thing as a "master veteran" in Real Estate ? We practice Real Estate in order to get good at it; but this whole business comprises every aspect of the human experience; the good and the bad, and the ugly. Right about the time we approach being really good; it's time to retire.

Anyway, Welcome Aboard Agent009; and despite my Tag Name here, I'm from Milwaukee, a Northern Suburb of Chicago.

I too am from MKE

I'm new - have maybe a dozen posts. What am i doing wrong that i can't quote (and get a box - I get [quote]...[/quote]) and I can't bold, or things like that . . . ?

And where do I find out what I'm doing wrong? I thought it might have something to do with the new restrictions on new members. - ? -

You need to use the Full Reply form and not the Quick Reply form to see the buttons for quoting, BOLD, etc.

That is normal - not a restriction on new members.

Thanks, Doug! I have tried both ways tho', using the full reply screen and selecting things across the top and typing in my own [quote] or [b] with the [/b] at the end, but to no avail. Must be something not set right on my computer.

I just double checked and html tags are turned off (except for moderators) for security reasons. UBB tags are used for bolding text etc. but for most forums new users are indeed restricted from using UBB as well. You almost have enough posts that soon that restriction will be lifted for you

Thanks for explaining that. ;) Not trying to be a problem - I'm enjoying it here!

I did notice one restriction, I am a new member and my quote UBBCode didn't work correctly. Is it possible this is related to the forum upgrade?

Yes, UBB code doesn't work for new members until after 30 posts.

Yeah I just read that post above, I should have read to the second page before asking.

[quote=Admin]Yes, UBB code doesn't work for new members until after 30 posts. [/quote]

Ah, understood, thanks for the headsup

I'm a newbie, just started to create an account here awhile ago. I understood the rules. Thanks for the reminder.

This will take some time if you don't like to post.

I guess all this goes for signatures too? Newbies can't have signatures?

Yes, as per the first post in this thread

As a new member and also new to newsgroups. Where do you suggest
I begin? I seem to be going round in circles.

Read everything you can and use the search feature to locate topics that you have an interest in.

This system is in place to curb SPAM and as a result new members have to be patient and follow the rules.

We welcome you and other new members! We hope you learn from fellow members and can contribute to the forum as well! If you are interested in only the BPO/REO forum, then you need to spend some time reading every post that you can as your question(s) have most likely have been asked and answered.

Do I understand this correctly that as a new member, I have to wait 10 minutes between posting in existing threads?

The restriction is on starting new topics - not replies in existing threads. It looks like we increased that to 15 minutes at some point - so 15 - not 10 minutes.

Unfortunately, spammers like to sign up in the middle of the night and can make dozens of spam posts in a very short period of time. They like to go down the list of forums and post in each one - and it takes me a lot longer to delete those posts than it takes the spammer to make them.

That is the reason for the restriction.

Wow, so in this market, when we should be doing what we can to help people buy & sell real estate, we have to worry about 30 posts? Well then I am not sure what to do. Go out & create business like I have been for 20 years or sit here & insure that I have 30 posts. Dilemmas………

I just stumbled on this forum and am still not sure what if any benefit there is to me or my brokerage. Is there at least one?

If your primary determination of value is whether or not you can use a signature file in the first 30 posts and need to ask what the benefits are of being here if you can't - then you are here for the wrong reasons.

One isn't tied to the other. Hence separate paragraphs.

It seems strange that someone must jump through certain hoops to obtain certain items. That said.

Now as for the benefits of being a member, regardless of the signature, are? That was my question. If we are spending time here and we are full time brokers or agents, would we not expect some benefit? Such as increased knowledge, advice, something? If this is an opportunity to give something back to an industry that has sustained my family for over 40 years, then so be it! I would enjoy that also.

Or am I just being ignorant?

Great idea to tighten down the hatches on spammers.

I am at 20 posts(21 after this) and the 900 second(15 minutes) rule is still in force. Have you considered a sliding scale rule on this?

The mechanics of this does not easily lend itself to a sliding scale so we decided that 30 posts was a good point . If there was a sliding scale it would not start sliding until after the 30 posts anyway

No problem. I am sure as I continue to utilize this great forum I will appreciate any measures taken to eliminate spammers.

Hi Everyone
I am new to this forum. I am a veteran Real Estate broker on New York.I have read the concerns of new BPO agents. Let me say that I have done over 500 BPO's and did not get a single REO from it. I would say that while there are many BPO,s with RRR and they pay quick, they pay less than any other BPO company out there.
The reps of this company are operating from an asian country, thousands of miles away and do not understand or know anything about our market here. It is very frustrating to to communicate and work with them manty a times.
If you are looking for a BPO company from which you will get REO's, this is definitely not the one .

Arg! Halfway mark to the 30 posts.

Watch out Girl ! There is some kind of rule about "single sentence" Posts.

I know "Arg" is Pirate Talk and seems to express a complete thought; but I'm not sure it constitutes a Full Sentence as per the Forum Rules. I hope so for your sake.

Is there any other "private parts" of the website you can access once you have the proper authorization?

No. There is a section for moderators to discuss moderation issues but no private forums for members. All discussion forums are open to everyone.

lets make one... ;) that sucks because there should be a spot for "hardcores" to discuss real stuff that cant be spied on by thousands of passive viewers. Limiting access to a small part of the site might encourage more users to post in order to be a part of it. Also there are many learkers out there, I have been one for a year at least. Spiders are combing the site like crazy. I would love to be a part of a core group which is what I have witnessed on other none real estate forums.

what is the dis-advantage to doing this?

Use the "Search" feature. This has been discussed before - and further discussion of this does not belong in this thread.

I can understand the reasoining behind the 30 posts, but the 9000 second rule between comments is ridiculous. I think I'll probably just find another forum. If I want to share my opinion, I don't want to half to wait a half an hour.

I finally found out why I could not post in the REO section.

It only took a few months to find the right thread.

Now I have to work on posting every half hour:(

SONAVABEECH

I just dropped the time between posts to 10 minutes in most of the forums. The restriction on links that was introduced the same time as the time had been bumped up to 15 minutes seems to be sufficient.

30 posting is very restrictive and on top of it delay of 15 minutes between each posting is not very conducive for getting people to stick around. I'm participating on other websites forums and I noticed that the better and bigger the forum gets the less restrictions it imposed on it members. The idea of trying to prevent spam and or whatever other consideration you may have is acting as double sword and you may end up losing many good people who simply do not have the patient to wait 15 minutes to post?! I bet that if you conduct a survey you'll discover that your membership expansion slowed down after you begun that policy.

Membership numbers are meaningless. The bulk of the membership numbers on most forums come from spammers who sign up for the link in the profile and for the opportunity to spam. That is not the case here.

The only thing that counts is the real discussions that occur.

Trust me, Hard Money, it's worth sticking around. Lots of really super people here and good information to exchanged and shared by all those who participate.

Linda

Granted many are the spammers, the question is does it worth it to lose hundreds of good members because of spammers? Is there a better way to reduce spamers?

Linda,

for example, I wanted to reply to your post immediately but since I replied to Doug I now now need to wait 10 minutes?!, seems like a horror government bureaucracy. I hope you are right and that I'm not wasting my time subject to some rules that frankly do not make much sense (to me).

Seriously. Hang in there, Hard Money.

The 15 minute wait can be used searching and reading topics you find interesting. It will help pass the time and there's an incredible amount of information posted here.

Linda

I can't believe I'm back. I'm torturing myself. If i'll ever make it it is because of Linda!

I must be totaly crazy to go through this. I may be the only user when I'm done.

At this rate, you'll have 30 Posts in no time; all devoted to just complaining about needing 30 Posts. I'm really looking forward to what you'll have to actually contribute when it becomes something substantive.

HMB,

As of the time I am writing this you have 8 posts. 5 of them are complaining about this forum and the other 3 are cut and paste copies of the same post. It is beginning to look like we won't miss you if you don't come back.

Heh, looks like HMB may have given up. [Seriously, 30 posts is NOTHING for persons that are actually wanting to become a part of the community.]

Okay. Well I am over 30 posts but I don't have my sig showing up yet? What uP? And I"m not making crap posts either. Trying to learn. What gives?

You need to write something in the signature field in your profile. You can do that in "My Stuff"

Hello

I'm from Oakville Ontario, Canada. Looking forward to the post..I will try to make 30 post to earn a signature..

PS this is my third post...27 and counting.

Michael McCulloch

Hello - I'm a new member. Interesting to see everyone's reaction to the 30-post/30 min (15 min?) requirement.

So here's my first post. I guess I'll go read another forum while I am waiting.

Junk1958

I see your signature now. Good job! I'm probably about half way there.

I'm pretty new to this forum but has come to a quick conclusion that there are a lot to learn from just reading post and comment. Nice job!

Yes, it is appreciating to have stern policies to make the quality of the forum. This help to keep away those professional who mainly seem interested in link leaving rather than posting some information.

Hmm...I can't seem to upload an avatar. Is this also related to the new member restrictions?

(And yes, it is less than 100 x 100 pixels, and it is a .jpg, trying to upload via URL)

Yes, you can still use a remote avatar though just by specifying a remote url for your graphic.

That's what I was trying to do but it didn't work, so I wondered if it was because I'm still under 30 posts.

Sounds like you're saying that the remote method *should* work now, but there's something else I can't do under 30 posts?

Ok...I don't know what's wrong.

There are two fields where the url can be entered - you need to enter it in the "Url to your avatar" field and not in the "Upload your avatar" field.

Yes...that's what I was doing. Or trying to anyway.

I am familiar with both methods, but I don't even have the direct upload field option on my profile - it may be hidden when one has under 30 posts...

Send me a Private Message with the url you are trying to use and I will check it out for you.

Hmm, know what...I'll bet you I know why it's not working - it's behind a password. I'll try another method first and if that doesn't work I'll PM.

Thanks!

...ETA while in n00b timeout: Yep...that was the problem. Solved!

I'm from Germantonw, MD. Looking forward to the post..This is my first post I will try to make 30 post to earn a signature..

HPollard

For new members, I have just reduced the time spam required between posts to 5 minutes. (Except for in the Introduce Yourself Forum where the time between posts is 15 minutes).

I have other measures in place that should help address the original concerns so we will try this for a while and if all is well will reduce further in the future.

I'm not sure how many posts I have now, but reading the forums is worthwhile. There is a lot of good information here.

You are now at the Magic 19!

I believe newbies can post to an open thread, they just can't start a new one and they can't put links to websites either (that's for the spammers), until they have contributed 30 posts.

Patrishia's 2nd. right under our nose - notice the topic - and stealing a mod's post too

I can agree totally with most of your restrictions, but the 1 post every 15 minutes seems a little overboard. Most users surf forums over a 5 minute or so span commenting on what they read.

*edit- just came to stand corrected. That is for this forum only, 5 minutes for regular postings. Sorry

Please read the whole thread - the time between posts for new members is 5 minutes except in the introductions forum.

I like how the time curbs spamming but it tough to have multiple conversations. I'll just come back regularly.

[quote=Admin]I have made an additional change to help discourage those intent on breaking the forum rules by posting single sentence type posts just to get their post count up. Now in all forums new members - those with under 30 posts - will have to wait 15 minutes between creating new threads.

Also, in most forums new members will not be able to post links.[/quote]

Though I can understand and appreciate the desire to minimize spammers, this particular limitation has made it fairly....difficult. Well, at the very least, frustrating to be a regular poster. Perhaps I move through and post too quickly, but it sucks to be told you've got to wait, and wait without a timer.

The site is great and has a wealth of information. I enjoy learning and contributing where I can, I just wish spammers (not the site admins) did make it brutal for others. :(

sounds fine to me!

From a Newbie point of view, I must say that sounds fair enough. Probably after 30 posts, a person has decided if they're going to stick around for awhile.

I understand the need to protect from spammers, and appreciate how it improves the overall quality of the forum. I've been reading this forum for months now....even before I finished my real estate license in July. That said, the restriction of 30 still isn't that bad. It will take me no time at all to get to 30.

I am a new member from Loxley, Alabama. I have been a REALTOR associated with EXIT Realty in Gulf Shores, Alabama for 7 years and did not know that this forum even existed. I am retired a person from TVA and UGA who dabbles in real estate trying to learn as much about profession as possible. I am also active in US Coast Guard Auxiliary. I enjoy life and I am glad to be above the ground. Looking forward to being here.

You may be interested to review some of the prior discussion pertaining to Exit Realty by using the search feature over in the right column --->>

Just make sure to embed any multi-word search in "quotation marks".

Hi,

I have been an A-O member and poster for years. I was in the REO/BPOS/Foreclosures forum. Been a few weeks since I checked in. Now I cannot access this "Private Thread."

What gives here.

James G Gilbert
Associate Broker, CDPE, MBA, MSE
RE/MAX Olympic
VA license # 0225-059831

There are two "Forecosure" forums. You had no problem accessing the BPO,REO, and Foreclosures forum but may have found that the BPO, REO, Foreclosure Asset Managers forum is restricted.

You now have access to both

I am a new member. I have been trying to read up on the proper ways to use this forum. I could have sworn I saw that I needed to prove I was an agent somewhere. Either with a nrds # or agent id or a copy of your license. I am happy to supply my credientials but I cant find the person or location to upload to. Any help.
Thanks
Kelly Klei

I am a new member also, and I don't know how to supply my credentials. Please help me too. Thanks

Check with one of the blue moderators to be sure (only one is needed) You don't need to hit all of them.

But this was for a specific forum on the AO site that is industry specific. So they decided to limit it to agents only, I think. It is not for the entire site.

If you want to be a part of it tell that moderator you wish to be a part and give them some basic data about you and your license.

The specific forum is listed above.