Quality-Tested Product Seal and Approval Process

Non-refundable Product Application fee: $1,500.00.

This fee is associated with processing the product out to the reviewers and setting up the new product in the CRS merchandising system.

1. Vendors contact CRS Product Department and submit a written application for each product and a non-refundable application fee of $1,500 for  each product  submitted to the Council.

2. Application is sent to seven Product Review Panel members.

3. If a majority of those Panel members sent the application determine that there is a need for the product, the product will be sent to the Product Review Committee for evaluation. Reviews are conducted within 45 working days of submission. The Council will maintain records of receipt and return of product to and from reviewers.

4. Any software, prior to receiving the Council's recommendation, must be seen by a "technical adviser" to ensure that it is viable and workable. Any findings of the adviser will be reported to the Product Review Panel, and not to the Vendor.

5. If, after using a list of specific criteria provided by the Product Review Panel and the Product Review Committee, the members determine that a product is useful and functional, the Vendor will be invited to make a presentation at the next meeting of the Product Review Panel and interested guests.

6. Product Review Committee votes to determine if the product shall receive the CRS Quality Tested Seal.

7. Copies of product sent for review, will not be returned.

1. Throughout the year, as determined by need, each previously recommended software package will be brought up for discussion before the full Subcommittee to determine if any problems exist (see "Criteria for Re-Assessment" below). If sufficient concern is warranted, the product will be scheduled for formal review utilizing the criteria to determine if the recommendation should be continued.
2. Re-evaluation of any previously recommended software product may be triggered at any time during the year if written complaints regarding the product have been received by the Council. Such complaints would be brought to the attention of the Subcommittee Chairperson who would then determine, in consultation with the Subcommittee, if a formal re-evaluation is warranted.
3. If the Subcommittee learns of circumstances where use of the recommended software would injure the business of the members, the goodwill of the Council or its members, the Subcommittee may invoke emergency suspension of the Council Quality Seal pending a formal review by the Subcommittee Chairperson and a simple majority of the Subcommittee.
4. The formal re-evaluation process shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines listed under "Procedure" below.

1. In general, is the product still competitive and considered state-of-the-art given the current level of real estate software?
2. Does the current version of the software meet the needs of the membership?
3. Does the current documentation meet the needs of the membership?
4. Is the current version still competitively priced?
5. Is the vendor providing adequate service and customer support as reflected by complaints or lack thereof as registered with the Council?
6. Are the Vendor's representations/marketing practices in keeping with the Council's quality guidelines and the standards set forth by the Council?

1. Vendor shall be notified by Council staff when a formal re-evaluation process is begun. Such notification shall be within five working days of the onset of the re-evaluation process.
2. Vendor will receive written notification of the exact nature of the concern as part of the notification process.
3. Subcommittee will research the problem between meetings and will reach a recommendation prior to the next occurring NAR meeting.
4. Vendor shall be notified of the Subcommittee's findings at least three weeks prior to the NAR meeting and will be invited to submit any response to the findings of the Subcommittee. Vendor also will be invited to attend the meeting where the Subcommittee's recommendation will be discussed and voted upon.
5. Subcommittee will bring its report to the full Committee. Full Committee will vote to either suspend CRS Quality Seal or to continue endorsing the product. Committee will notify Vendor of its decision and the procedures that may be required to obtain recommendation (see #6 below).
6. In the event that a product is removed from the CRS Quality Test software list, Vendor can re-submit the product for re-evaluation. The re-evaluation either can be a full re-evaluation process (involving submission to the Committee's consultant and review copies to Committee members) or a limited re-evaluation consisting of proof that the area of concern has been rectified.