How to Use the Remarks Field in connectMLS

Ever felt like the perfect property is out there... but it's not showing up?

That’s because some of the most useful details—like fixer upper, investment potential, or motivated seller—don’t live in dropdowns or checkboxes. They live in the Remarks field. That’s where agents add the listing description. And that’s where you can find what your client is looking for—if you know how to search for it.

First: How to unlock the Remarks field

1. Scroll to the bottom of your search screen

2. Click Add/Remove Fields

3. Add Remarks to your criteria

 Quick-Start Guide: What Each Tool Does 

What You Can Do in the Remarks Field (and Why You’d Want To)

We’ll walk through the main tools you can use, what they do, and give you examples you can copy or tweak.

1. Search for an exact phrase

How: Put the phrase in quotes
Why: So you only see listings that have that exact combo of words
Example:

You want homes described as a fixer upper? Type: "fixer upper"
Without the quotes, you might get listings with fixer in one spot and upper somewhere else.

2. Exclude something you don’t want

You have two options here—use whichever feels easier.

Option A: Use a hyphen
How: Add a space, then a hyphen before the word
Why: To filter out results with words your client doesn’t want

Example:
"fixer upper" -foreclosure
This finds fixer uppers but leaves out anything that mentions foreclosure.

⚠️ Don’t start your search with a hyphen, and don’t use hyphens inside quotes.

Option B: Use “Does Not Contain”
If you’d rather not use symbols, you can:

1. Click Show Advanced Options in your search screen

2. In the dropdown next to the Remarks field, choose Does Not Contain

3. Enter the word or phrase you want to leave out

This method is great for excluding things like “sold as-is” or “foreclosure” without needing to learn the search logic.

3. Search for one thing or another

How: Use the vertical line symbol: |
Why: So you get results that match either phrase
Example:

Want listings that say fixer upper or needs work? Type:
"fixer upper" | "needs work"
You’ll get results with either phrase—or both.

Where to find the | symbol:
It’s usually above the Enter or Return key on your keyboard.
Hold Shift and press the backslash key \ (it looks like a slanted line) to type it.

4. Mix and match ideas with parentheses

How: Wrap related phrases in parentheses
Why: To keep your search logic clean when combining multiple things
Example:

Want fixer uppers or homes that need work—but only if they also mention foreclosure?
Type: ("fixer upper" | "needs work") foreclosure
This tells the system: “Find listings that say either of those phrases AND also say foreclosure.”

5. Use a wildcard when you’re not sure how a word ends

How: Add an asterisk (*) to the end of the word stem
Why: To catch different versions of the same word
Example:

Not sure if the listing says renovate, renovated, or renovation? Type:
renovat*
It’ll match all versions that start with renovat

✅ Only use one * per word
⚠️  Don’t use it inside quotes or with hyphens

6. Keep it simple with regular words

You can also just type normal words—like pool, hardwood floors, or bonus room. Combine them with the tools above to get exactly what you’re looking for.

A Few Quick Reminders:

• Use quotes for phrases

• Use | for OR

• Use parentheses to group things

• Use a hyphen to exclude

• Use * only at the end of a word

This field is powerful, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Start small. Try a phrase you’d expect to find in a listing—like “motivated seller” or “fixer upper”—and go from there.

And if you ever get stuck? Reach out. Our help desk is here to help you craft the perfect search.