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MLS Standardization Underway

Posted in Real Estate Bloggers By Josh Carney, Friday, June 20, 2008.

Does your website appear at the top of real estate-related search engine results?
If so, enjoy it while it lasts.
The adoption of a universal MLS data language could hike the demand for real estate search-engine keywords online.
NAR has mandated that all MLS companies nationwide adopt a standardized language called RETS (Real Estate Transaction Standard) by June, 2009.
RETS will allow approved Realtors & industry vendors to gain third-party access to MLS listing data like never before.
The new dialogue is also expected to usher in a new wave of industry vendors, encouraging web entrepenuers to develop newer technology solutions for the online real estate industry.
However, MLS companies will still be operating as seperate entities. This means that although the MLS system will speak a uniform language with RETS, the licensing and user requirements will remain specific to geographical areas.
While price increases for search engine keywords may pick the suit coat pockets of large national franchises, individual Realtors will ultimately save marketing money.
Realtors across the country currently pay expensive premiums to get national exposure for their listings through virtual tour companies, website memberships or similar.
With new marketing technologies entering the industry to compete against the veteran marketing vehicles of old, demand for the marketing dollar of Realtors will likely increase.
Thus, agents will find themselves catching a long overdue break in pricing for subscriptions to the technologies of old & rookie real estate marketing companies.
However, MLS companies will still be operating as seperate entities. This means that although the language will be the uniform across the board with RETS, the licensing and user requirements will remain specific to geographical areas.
What are your opinions regarding the inevitable?
For additional information about RETS, visit www.RETS.org.

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Submitted by Eric Bouler on June 21, 2008 - 2:44pm.

Eric Bouler
Prudential Gardner
New Orleans,La.
www.neworleanscondotrends.com

I do not get the connection between the two. As everyone gets the mls on line it is worth less. You have to go and do something extra that the large lead generaters and brokers cannot do. Give people real ideas and opinions, give them ideas as to what its like to live in your area.

 
Submitted by Wayne Long on June 21, 2008 - 2:59pm.

It seems to me that it is just very important for the local MLS to hold the line on not allowing outside entities to have their listings. Only allowing member Brokers to have the listings would help to keep the interlopers out.

Wayne Long
Columbus GA
www.ColumbusHomeShow.com

 
Submitted by Debbie Ferrari on June 21, 2008 - 4:51pm.

I'm Prudential California Realty Broker Associate Debbie Ferrari, www.DebbieFerrari.com of www.san-clemente.com in South Orange County.

What bugs me is when a home buyer calls me up and starts talking about a home that she is reading off a page that she got from her agent.

The problem is this though: The page happens to be one that the agent got from my www.trackmy.com personal portal IDX/MLS service that costs an agent hundreds of dollars a year to provide as a service to web site visitors.

The buyer called ME because she saw my name at the bottom of the MLS page about a particular house, even though I cannot imagine why she did not call the agent.

It turns out that the agent, in most cases I find, was a part-time agent who was too cheap to JOIN the local MLS, but was very content to sign up to get automatic matches emailed to him from MY MLS service.

These agents search for the properties that their clients want and then when they get the matches automatically emailed to them, they do their best to delete MY name and then send these pages on to THEIR clients. And then, if my name still appears somewhere, as it sometimes does, the client calls ME.

Now I don't believe in stealing another agent's client, so I just tell the buyer who calls me to go back and talk to that agent about the house. I usually never hear from the buyer again.

I USED to contact the agent and ask him what he was up to, but there's always some "good excuse" usually having to do with it was not HIS fault or something else that cannot be disproven. So I just gave up.

Anyway, I think that if an agent cannot afford to belong to his local Association of Realtors, in my case, www.OCAR.org, he should not be doing business. This is especially true if he is relying on the MLS service that another agent DID pay for.

You can see my informative MLS search page on my site at: http://www.debbieferrari.com/search.html and go directly to the portal for my IDX/MSL search at: http://tinyurl.com/6cxjjs

Debbie Ferrari, "The Internet Broker"
****For South Orange County, CA****
Search the Local MLS Right from My Giant Web Site at:
http://www.debbieferrari.com
E-mail: Debbie@DebbieFerrari.com
CALL ME TOLL FREE: 888-547-2942
Reach Me All Day Long---

 
Submitted by William Staab on June 22, 2008 - 9:08am.

While chances are we will ultimately loose the battle to keep MLS listings private amongst user brokers. Then the government needs to pay to provide the system for free to everyone. I agree with Debbie Ferrari, we should not have to pay for a system we are required to provide to non-user members for free. Websites like Zillow & Trulia are gaining valuable information for free and using the information to charge us to advertise on the site with information we provided through our local MLS's in the first place. How long before we have to pay for our own listing inquiries before they are directed to another broker paying these companies to send them leads as many now do?

 
Submitted by Katie Minkus on June 22, 2008 - 1:57pm.

Aloha. Thinking in alignment with the previous century (ie: Brokers/Realtors should maintain "control" over the MLS/listing information) is the quickest way to future extinction, imho. The point is not to control the information, but to position yourself as the "professional expert" such that Buyers and Sellers need to hire you in order to make sense of the overwhelming amount of information they can access via the internet and public records these days. Perhaps we're lucky in Hawaii because we have things like "Lava Zones" and "Coqui Frogs" and "septic tanks" which are unusual and typically need some "local" interpretation, but my guess is that it's the same everywhere. Realtors don't need to sell homes, they need to sell the benefits of lifestyle in a specific area and they need to have the local knowledge to position themselves as experts. It's not about controlling the information - it's about interpreting the information and thereby providing value to your clients.

 
Submitted by on June 22, 2008 - 3:32pm.

Carol M
Bravo Katie, I couldn't agree more. The horse that wore the blanket "control of information" left the barn a long time ago. The consumer not only has free access to information, but in focus groups I've conducted on this subject, they are rebelling against the REALTOR who tries to control information.
My suggestion to all hard-working real estate professionals is that they re-think their value proposition and give your clients what they are looking for...which is superior service and knowledge that helps them make informed decisions.
Katie, you are right that there are opportunities in every community in the U.S. to help consumers through the maze of local customs, practices, and bumps in the road on the way to the closing table.

 
Submitted by Ashton Coleman on June 22, 2008 - 4:54pm.

Regarding the inevitable... Katie is correct. We must position ourselves as the area experts and guide/service the client to free themselves of stress, time and financial hardship of costly mistakes when going through a real estate transaction.

I like to compare/think of our industry as the airline and not the travel agent. The customer/consumer still need expert guidance from getting lost in the multitude of free IDX/MLS sites along with area information and expertise on the inventory and market trends.

If a customer rebels (and they will) it's usually do to an ineffecient agent. Customers pick up on the Realtors market knowledge & experience quickly.

WILL the shared system (RETS) Real Estate Transaction Standard have the listing agents contact info or "blind" contact info based on who holds the technology (ie. Broker Reciprocity here: http://tinyurl.com/64pna8)!??

Think Big, Aim High, Act Bold,
http://MiamiDreamRealty.com
http://MiamiBeachRealEstateBlog.us
Keller Williams Miami Beach

 
Submitted by Wayne Long on June 22, 2008 - 5:51pm.

If the local MLS does not give the listings to the national interlopers - they will not have them - to use to compete against us.

I agree that service and knowledge are key but there is no reason to give away the MLS info to companies who are not directly involved in the local community.

I do agree that brokers/agents should not withhold the info from potential customers - I just think the Brokers/agents should be the ones providing the info. They will be the best at putting it in the proper context.

 
Submitted by Josh Carney on June 22, 2008 - 6:07pm.

Good question Ashton. The new listing RETS standard will follow the rules and guidelines of the local MLS system which applies. I currently am a member of REALTRACS (Middle Tennessee MLS). The broker reciprocity is required to contain the listing office which provides the IDX listing here regardless of the situation. My understanding is that will not change with my MLS. However, the requirements seem to vary depending on the region. This would be a good question to ask your MLS service.
Josh Carney (Realtor)
President/CoFounder
www.RTextUSA.com
866-579-TEXT
931-639-2625
JoshC@RTextUSA.com

 
Submitted by Brian Bell on June 23, 2008 - 6:11am.

From www.RETS.org:
The Real Estate Transaction Standard (RETS) facilitates data transfer between partners in the real estate industry. Creating and improving RETS is a collaborative effort to simplify moving real estate information from system to system and simplify solution development efforts. As RETS usage matures and expands, MLS with geographic overlaps can create data-sharing policies that provide their members a single point of entry to search multiple MLS data sets.
RETS provides an interface for you to easily access data through a RETS compliant MLS. Additionally, vendors who offer RETS compliant utilities allow you the ability to use their services without having to perform double entry as well as gives you the option to easily migrate to new services or systems.
RETS creates a way to easily share information allowing you to focus more on using the data than getting the data.
_________________________________________________

In short, for years software vendors used proprietary means of data transport. The facilitation or integration of multiple data-based products within an MLS was cumbersome and time consuming.
To give you a broad example, Microsoft SQL (a database software) is a standardized means of transporting data.
There are literally thousands of products that are produced to interact with SQL. This is only possible because SQL, is a standard just like Oracle or Big Blue’s AIX. If Microsoft did not allow developers to integrate with SQL or any of their products for that matter, who would write the software that we all use on a day-to-day basis? Every product would be different, separate and there would never be a semi-flawless means or way that multiple products could cross-integrate effectively.
Hence RETS…. RETS is based on a certified schema.
So what is a schema? RETS.org defines a schema as:
The structure of a database system, described in a formal language supported by the database. In a relational database, the schema defines the tables, the fields in each table, and the relationships between fields and tables. RETS Schema defines fields, data types and classifications.
When MLS operators and Real Estate software vendors embrace, utilize and adapt the RETS 1.7.1 standard by June 2009, the doors that open will be limitless; somewhat of a flood gate of new possibilities.
Those flood gates are only meant to enhance the current REALTOR® technology that is available. Because there will be less software development time, a standard will bring more software options to the Real Estate table and has the potential to drive down current software costs.
Reciprocal data sharing and access between MLS operators in overlapping areas will become realistic, affordable and easy.
RETS is not a vehicle designed to take REALTORS® listing data and just throw it out all over the world in an irresponsible manner that would only benefit large vendors attempting to force their way into an industry they know nothing about. The implementation will be transparent to REALTOR® members and serves to benefit your local association and thus you.
Currently our association is 100% RETS. There has been no ill effect on members, the integration was indeed transparent, and has only increased our ability to serve our members and provide more data related services at a lower cost.
RETS is not a standardization being forced on the Real Estate community for regionalization or replacement of the local MLS. It is a process being put in place to enhance the services currently being provided, and opening a new venue for software developers to provide better service and a larger variety of software options for our members.
RETS is being driven by RESO or the Real Estate Standards Organization, which is a body that is a legal United States Corporation whose purpose is to govern the standards development, promotion, and maintenance activities of RETS and related activities.
RESO is made up of Your MLS executives, Your peers, Your current MLS vendors, Developers, attorneys, and staff from NAR and CRT. RESO is overseen by Executive Officer Mr. Myron Adams and a Board of Directors made up of your peers and vendors.
RESO is a volunteer organization that any REALTOR® member can be a part of and I would encourage any and all of you to become actively involved as RETS will shape the technology for years to come and will benefit us all.
The next RETS/RESO meeting will be held in Chicago on August 6th through Friday, August 8th, 2008 and is an open meeting provided at no cost for the education, development and certification of RETS. Details for this meeting and other meetings are located at http://www.rets.org/meeting and you may register for the conference by going to http://notes.rets.org/retsmreg.nsf/Regis?OpenForm .
The best way to help ensure RETS is what you want it to be as a Broker/Owner or an MLS operator Executive, and to make sure it is not what you do not want it to be, is to become involved.
RETS is a standardization for all of us to embrace that will take each of us to the next technical level where we should have been several years ago and will only serve to benefit us all.
RETS..... Will not change your website positioning on search engines....... It is simply changing your current data format (that us geeks use) and instead of having hundreds of different formats, molding it into a single format for all vendors.

RETS... it's that simple...

-Brian Bell - CTO for the Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS®, Inc and 2008 RETS Education Vice Chair.

 
Submitted by Lu Doan on June 23, 2008 - 8:02am.

Viewpoint from a software developer: One of the services of our company is providing MLS/IDX solutions for Realtor's and brokerages' websites. My opinion is from a software developer's viewpoint.

Some of the earlier comments talked about providing data to 3rd party companies. That boat has already left the dock and will never come back. The reality is that the listing data (with or without RETS) is already being provided to 3rd party companies.

Our subject at hand is the mandating of RETS and how that would effect Realtors. IMHO, there should be very little change in today's landscape and business processes for Realtors. The listing data feeds are already out there. The biggest impact will be for 3rd party companies.

The current lack of a data standard creates a huge issue for 3rd party companies. Each board's data feed contains a different data schema (if you've ever wonder why the information about your listing is wrong on your website, this is usually the main cause). Because we pull the listing data from multiple boards; what we get is a jumbled mess of listing data. Our system then has to sort through this mess and turn it into something useful. The mandating of RETS will make life much simpler for 3rd party companies. Instead of having to account for a thousand different data schemas we only have to account for one.

Mandating RETS will provide a lot of positive impact for Realtors. In my humble opinion, I don't think the mandating of RETS will increase the Realtor's cost (marketing dollars spent, keywords, etc) of doing business. In actually, it should lower the costs. Software companies can redirect the resources and personnel that was being used to manage and sort data feeds into R&D. I think there will be an acceleration of new tools and features for Realtors to benefit from.

I'm personally very excited about the mandating of RETS.

Lu Doan
Managing Partner
Agent Shield Technologies
www.AgentShield.com

 
Submitted by Josh Carney on June 23, 2008 - 8:17am.

Thanks Brian for your help in clearly explaining this wonderful new data transfer method. I am particularly excited about RETS as it will help my company in connecting using our SQL database. Thanks again for the great inputs.
Josh Carney (Realtor)
President/CoFounder
www.RTextUSA.com
866-579-TEXT
931-639-2625
JoshC@RTextUSA.com

 
Submitted by Kaye Thomas on June 23, 2008 - 9:11am.

I agree with Katie and Carole.. we gave away control over listing information years ago. What we should be concerned with today is who gets the link back on our listing information.

I don't care how many companies "use" my listing info as long as I get a link back everytime. That is one of the issues with Trulia and Zillow.. who gets the links.. Zillow will allow anyone to "claim" a listing if the listing agent isn't the first to do so. Trulia doesn't give direct links to agents but rather uses no follow tags.

These are the battles we need to fight... who gets the direct link to the listing. Is your name on the listing where a consumer can find it and can they link directly to you from the listing. That is the kind of control every agent should be looking to exercise.

 
Submitted by on June 23, 2008 - 9:34am.

I also agree with the above - the horse is out of the stable, as it should be. RETS is only going to help things work better. The consumer can and should be able to get the MLS listing info from many different sources. We realtors have a customer service to provide and add value that goes way beyond parsing out listing details.

But - if my local MLS board requires the listing agent contact info to be included on every IDX provided listing, the non-members like Trulia and Zillow should have to meet the same standard. I'm thrilled to have my listings all over the web for potential buyers to find but I, too, want a direct email link back to me from every site on which they appear.
- Lori

 
Submitted by on June 23, 2008 - 10:59am.

Here's an idea. Lets just get rid of the internet. If there was no internet, we could keep all the listings printed and store them in big three-ring binders. Then ONLY agents and brokers would have the listings! Screw John Q. Public! They'd all have to come to US for real estate listings!

Maybe I'm living on a different planet, or I'm doing something wrong, but it sure seems like there is a lot more to this job than providing listings...

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by Kaye Thomas on June 23, 2008 - 11:05am.

Jay,
Right on.. "we don't need no stinkn' internet"..LOL..
Seriously I believe the internet is the best tool we have ever had.. I love being able to reach out to so many buyers and sellers. Beats the heck out of postcards being read over the circular file!

 
Submitted by on June 23, 2008 - 12:06pm.

Bill
I think Jay was joking.

 
Submitted by on June 23, 2008 - 1:36pm.

As a real estate website developer and search engine marketer, I may have some further insite into this matter:

1. Realtors & industry vendors already have access to MLS information.

2. Real Estate advertising will become more expensive online if RETS 'is' or 'is not' adopted.

There is a trend in our real estate industry that has already started. Larger national companies are investing large amounts of money on developing better and new ways of organizing and displaying MLS data. This is good for home buyers and sellers because they get improved technology for searching and advertising property, respectively.

And since buyers and sellers are our clients, what is good for them is good for us.

Here in Hawaii, we work with 3 MLS companies to deliver the listings on our site, www.hawaiilife.com. One of the MLS providers uses RETS and it is simpler to work with than our other 2 feeds. So requiring MLS companies to use RETS will make my job easier and allow me more time to develop the tools used to display the information.

 
Submitted by Christine Donovan - Costa Mesa Real Estate on June 23, 2008 - 11:18pm.

I am not sure how I feel about this as I am not clear what RETS will do. I do know that having a personal IDX is pricey and necessary in an industry where the internet and information are so important.

Site: Costa Mesa Real Estate

Blog: Costa Mesa Real Estate Blog

 
Submitted by on June 24, 2008 - 7:39am.

Justin,

This is beautiful, "And since buyers and sellers are our clients, what is good for them is good for us."

That is really all you needed to say. That's the whole argument, in a nutshell.

http://www.RealEstateZebra.com

 
Submitted by William Staab on June 25, 2008 - 8:33am.

Let me clairfy my earlier comment. I do agree the horse has left the barn along time ago on free access to information. I agree any consumer should be granted access to it. We should have a data transfer system that is universal. What I was in objection to was that we as individual Realtors and Boards pay for that system unless it is private to members. Companies such as Trulia and Zillow should have to pay not as an individual member to a local board but to all of them if they are going to access the information and re-sell the information for their own profit that we provided by paying for in the first place.

Why should we pay to give Trulia and Zillow and other companies that will arise "Free" access to the information only to turn around and sell us advertising space, leads or other services on their websites. Would you like your own local MLS and Board to sell you back your own listing leads? Isn't that the same thing?

These websites if you read the posts claim you do not need a Realtor to buy or sell a house just them. If this were true they should have to operate and be subject to the same code of ethics and standards that apply to us all, or no we will not be able to compete against these sites when the money is coming out of our pocket to support them.

 
Submitted by on June 25, 2008 - 9:03am.

I couldn't agree more with William. If the information is FREE than why are we paying dues? I don't think any of us are getting free rides so I would like the fare to be paid, fairly among those using our information. Otherwise, I see no reason for the Realtor to pay MLS dues.

Anyone care to make a point, otherwise?

Gena Riede, Assoc Broker
Remax Gold
http://SacramentoRealEstateVoice.com
916-417-2699

 
Submitted by Ginny McGonigle on June 25, 2008 - 9:10am.

I think William has made some excellent points and it is thought provoking. It seems more and more of these sites are popping up.

Ginny McGonigle
http://www.westsidehomefinders.com

 
Submitted by on June 25, 2008 - 11:17am.

Bill,
Without the MLS there would be nothing to aggregate to Trulia, Zillow and others.

We pay, we allow aggregation and then pay again...no sure I think this is viable for the Realtor. It's not like we are talking about someone else who pays for the MLS...we all pay and pay and pay.

I realize the fox is already in the hen house but it sure doesn't make me like it.

Gena Riede, Assoc Broker
Remax Gold
http://SacramentoRealEstateVoice.com
916-417-2699

 
Submitted by Pasadena Real Estate Agent on June 25, 2008 - 11:47am.

Regards,
The Manzo Team
RE/MAX Tri-City
626 296-2900

Pasadena Real Estate

 
Submitted by Pasadena Real Estate Agent on June 25, 2008 - 11:57am.

Our MLS has regulation that we cannot have our company sign be visible on the pictures we take of our listings, don't they value the efforts we make to obtain those listings? we get fined if the the pictures appear on the postings.
Regards,
The Manzo Team
RE/MAX Tri-City

Remax Pasadena

626 296-2900

Pasadena Real Estate | Pasadena Realtors | Pasadena Mls | Pasadena Homes For Sale

 
Submitted by Victor Lund on June 25, 2008 - 11:59am.

Don't forget that the MLS provides agents with valuable tools for working with clients....

Oh, and that other thing...it manages the OFFER OF COMPENSATION.

Victor Lund
Partner
WAV Group
http://waves.wavgroup.com
http://www.wavgroup.com

 
Submitted by Lu Doan on June 25, 2008 - 12:14pm.

I feel that something we have to keep in mind when debating the subject of free data to 3rd parties is “ where or who receives the most benefit” in this situation.

I believe that it’s the listing agent that is the real winner. If you’re the listing agent, it doesn’t matter what source the buyer comes from as long as the listing gets sold and you get paid. If you list any properties at all, you’re benefiting from having your listing marketed for you on websites like Zillow & Trulia for free.

I personally believe that third party tools brings tremendous value to Realtors. I agree with Bill. The fox was invited into the hen house and was asked to stay.

 
Submitted by Ginny McGonigle on June 25, 2008 - 12:34pm.

I guess time will tell how these search sites will play out within the real estate market in the long run. They certainly are attracting young buyers who would rather do the research on their own before consulting a Realtor. I am not certain what direction it is taking us - if it will help us or hinder us but I do know that it is here and moving fast.

Ginny McGonigle
http://westsidehomefinders.com

 
Submitted by on June 25, 2008 - 3:18pm.

As a listing agent you have a duty to see that your listing get the widest exposure possible. So you should see to it that it is on on the 3rd party sites mentioned.

What is un-fair are the local MLS boards trying to prevent agents from using "MLS" in their web site domain names etc.; all the while permiting these same third parties to have access to this information and the use of "MLS".

This is actually recent "crap" from the national association of realtors "suggesting" that this is an ethic violation...again crap.

Oh...you say "crap"...how so.

Well "Mr. Internet" published and article in the National Realtor's magazine suggesting agent do just that (March, 2002 issue).

Additionally, at the national realtors convention in that year I actually paid extra to hear him, in person, suggest the same.

Excellent idea then and excellent idea now...but of course that was before someone was making money off these third parties...or the third parties were making money off the realtors information.

You see if Realtors were permitted to use "MLS" to attract buyers and sellers that would actually hurt these third party providers.

Just follow the money...see who is making money off the realtors and who is stopping realtor from making money off of their own information and you will have a lot of your answers.

While many of the comments are excellent on these posts they actually miss the point...your are getting screwed with your own money and information.

Vince Ciroli
Marketing Director
EXIT One Realty
Columbus, OHIO
http://www.TheColumbusMLS.com

 
Submitted by Lu Doan on June 25, 2008 - 3:44pm.

The fox may already be in the hen house ... but you can always kick the fox out.

In your listing, all you have to do is choose the "do not include in IDX" option. This will keep your listing out of the IDX data feeds and thus ensuring that you keep control of your data.

 
Submitted by on June 25, 2008 - 3:54pm.

So this is how the converastion is supposed to go?

Me: "Dear Mr/Ms Seller - thank you for trusting me to list your home for sale. I just want you to know that I won't be putting it on the internet, you know, that same internet where 80% of all buyers start there home search."

Seller: "So, you aren't going to market my home on the internet?!?"

Me: "Nope, I want to ensure I keep control of the data. Your data."

Somehow, I just see the conversation degrading rapidly from this point.

Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty

Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com

.

 
Submitted by Real Estate Marketing - Misty Lackie on June 25, 2008 - 4:02pm.

Jay - simply put and right in target.

Your Friends at ClassifiedFlyerAds.com - Online Advertising That Works!

 
Submitted by on June 26, 2008 - 6:36am.

Jay & Misty get it. Look - if there are agents who truly believe that the way to do business today is to keep information from the customer, let them. All it means is more opportunity for success for those of us who know better. Our value to the consumer does not come from parsing out 'secret' listing information. Any ageny who doesn't realize that has a lot to learn.
- Lori

 
Submitted by on June 26, 2008 - 6:36am.

Jay & Misty get it. Look - if there are agents who truly believe that the way to do business today is to keep information from the customer, let them. All it means is more opportunity for success for those of us who know better. Our value to the consumer does not come from parsing out 'secret' listing information. Any ageny who doesn't realize that has a lot to learn.
- Lori

 
Submitted by Jason Malone on July 23, 2008 - 7:06am.

I work for the MLS in middle TN. It really burns me up when I hear agents like some in the earlier comments complaining about data sharing. Are you serious you don't want your clients listing being markets to 100's of millions of people? Like Jay said above that would be a very interesting conversation.

Agent "Yes sir/mam I will not be marketing your listing to 100's of millions of people across the country/world. I would like to keep sole ownership of this data and not share it with anyone."

I remember when Trulia and Zillow where just getting started of the ground. I had several agents complaining about them. "What are we going to do these places are going to display our listings and we are never going to make money again." Are you serious???

For you agents who don't want your listings displayed, you may want to think twice. There are many a savvy buyer out there and they check the large sites for there listings. I have many agents call with the story that their buyer couldn't find their listing on Realtor.com or where ever. I check the listing and see that they forgot to check "Internet List."

 
Submitted by Jason Malone on July 23, 2008 - 7:06am.

I work for the MLS in middle TN. It really burns me up when I hear agents like some in the earlier comments complaining about data sharing. Are you serious you don't want your clients listing being markets to 100's of millions of people? Like Jay said above that would be a very interesting conversation.

Agent "Yes sir/mam I will not be marketing your listing to 100's of millions of people across the country/world. I would like to keep sole ownership of this data and not share it with anyone."

I remember when Trulia and Zillow where just getting started of the ground. I had several agents complaining about them. "What are we going to do these places are going to display our listings and we are never going to make money again." Are you serious???

For you agents who don't want your listings displayed, you may want to think twice. There are many a savvy buyer out there and they check the large sites for there listings. I have many agents call with the story that their buyer couldn't find their listing on Realtor.com or where ever. I check the listing and see that they forgot to check "Internet List."

 
Submitted by Anne and Eddie McKechnie on July 23, 2008 - 8:11am.

I agree most people are missing the great impact the internet has on listings and how they are now found. Telling your client/seller that you are going to put them in the Sunday newspaper and magazines and not provide them with comprehensive advertising apart from their own Brokerage site on the internet is not giving them full service advertising.

 
Submitted by Jason Graves on July 23, 2008 - 8:29am.

The internet is not a magic wand. I agree 100% that it is instigating a firestorm of change in our business and I'm excited to see what's next. That being said, it's a stinking mess. So many different entities are striving for control that information is scattered unreliably and ultimately consumers are the one's suffering. I'm not sure that any one thing will fix it accept for time.

Shopping for a home on-line needs to be more of a catalog and not an agent advertisement. That is what a consumer wants, free and accurate housing information. Who wants to be "trapped" and re-sold as a lead?

MLS organizations, be them regional or statewide, need to get in on the action. Don't necessarily withhold information from other sites but use it to create competition against them. A public MLS will generate the most significant benefit for agents and consumers. They may chose to go wherever they want for information but ultimately a public MLS could offer the best on-line shopping solution while branding brokers and brokerages.

Jason B. Graves
Graves Realty Associates
www.RaleighRealEstateNews.com
www.JasonBGraves.com

 
Submitted by Pasadena Real Estate Agent on July 23, 2008 - 8:51am.

I agree for this big companies to be able to display our listings, what I object to is them using our listings to make money by mass marketing to our own audience and then selling leads to us or the rights to a zip code for a few hundred dollars a month.
Regards,

Sidney Manzo and "The Manzo Team" have over 18 years of real estate experience we specialize in Pasadena Real Estate, Pasadena Foreclosures and Pasadena Homes For Sale. Who do you know that is thinking of buying or selling a home? if you do give us a call at 626 296-2900.

 
Submitted by on July 23, 2008 - 8:58am.

We try and do things a little different here at http://www.beatyouthere.com. Although we aggregate data and offer users a free search, we DO not sell leads back to you, the agent who is ultimately fueling our site. We try and enable you to get your own leads by using our platform. You can post your real estate knowledge on our "chit chat" blog and communicate with other registered users. We will also be unveiling our newest lead generation tool that will also be FREE. We want the users to see the relevant listings come up when they perform their search, not just the listings that were paid to be at the top. Agents have enough expenses to worry about, the last thing they need to worry about is how much they have to pay us,,,the marketer for the lead back to them.
Check us out.
http://www.beatyouthere.com

Mark Langowski
CEO
mark@beatyouthere.com

 
Submitted by on July 23, 2008 - 10:55am.

I never got why an agent would NOT want the most exposure for their listings. That is why the seller hired them, isn't it? To market the property and get it SOLD. What are they afraid of?

Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
46 Hoolai St.
Kailua, Hawaii 96734
808-792-7040
Personal: Hawaii MLS
Company: Oahu real estate

 
Submitted by Pasadena Real Estate Agent on July 23, 2008 - 11:48am.

I think is because if we sell our only listing we wont have anything else to sell.
:) :) :)
Regards,
The Manzo Team
RE/MAX Tri-City

Remax Pasadena

626 296-2900

Pasadena Real Estate | Pasadena Realtors |

 
Submitted by on July 23, 2008 - 2:47pm.

@Jason Malone - Have you ever thought about making the "Internet List" checkbox defaulted to checked?

--
Justin Britt
Head-Web-Head
Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC
Oahu real estate | Real Estate Marketing

 
Submitted by Jason Malone on July 23, 2008 - 2:54pm.

We can't force an agent to share their information. The office has the option to OPT into the data exchange program, and then every listing that is put in has the option to be "Internet Listed."

 
Submitted by on July 23, 2008 - 3:23pm.

@Jason Malone - I'm not saying to force anything. Just have the checkbox checked so they have to uncheck it if they don't want their listing "Internet Listed". This way, people don't forget to check it. This is the way they do it with the 3 MLS systems I work with.

--
Justin Britt
Head-Web-Head
Hawaii Life Real Estate Services, LLC
Oahu real estate | Real Estate Marketing

 
Submitted by Jason Malone on July 23, 2008 - 8:52pm.

We don't choose any options for the agents. They must choose every single option themselves.

Why would we choose that one option for them? Especially for such an emotional issue for some agents, see above...

I mean why don't we go ahead a fill out the commission fields to?

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