20 Years and Counting: Still Waiting For Digital Real Estate Transactions

In the 1990s, it was called disintermediation. In the 2010s, we are calling it disruption. Back then, we talked about a “new paradigm” that would alter the real estate business forever. Now we talk about “new business models” doing the same. The names may have changed, but the bottom line is this: I am still waiting for digital real estate transactions to be a common practice, not the exception to the rule.   What has really changed? Next month in early August, like many of my colleagues, I am heading to Inman News Real Estate Connect in San Francisco. It’s [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 20th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on 20 Years and Counting: Still Waiting For Digital Real Estate Transactions
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The Confident House Hunter: A Better, Different Way to Buy

It was a sunny day on beautiful Bainbridge Island two years ago when I met with Dylan Chalk. It was at the New Rose Café, a nearly secret lunch spot hidden among the plants and outdoor sculptures at the historically significant Bainbridge Gardens. Dylan had an idea for a new book about home buying and he was seeking my professional counsel, as well as my writing, editing – and eventually – promotional skills. As a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (naree.org) for more than a couple of decades, I have received enough books about buying a [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 20th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off on The Confident House Hunter: A Better, Different Way to Buy
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CRM Impact on Recruiting and Retaining Agents

WAV Group has deep experience supporting real estate brokers on the selection and adoption of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for their agents. Sometimes the best business strategy is a simple one. All research points out that successful real estate agents have 500 or more legitimate prospects in their CRM and they actively communicate with those prospects with a customer for life philosophy. Bearing this in mind, a broker or manager can better understand customer value of agent recruiting and retention. If you have been in the industry a long time, you may know the story of Intero Real Estate in [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 27th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Clients, Main category|Comments Off on CRM Impact on Recruiting and Retaining Agents
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Are You Selling To Your Competitors

Companies across the real estate spectrum who are selling to their competitors are having fantastic results. The process of expanding your communication strategy to include competitors is found to drive more new business than ever imagined. In the old days, companies locked down their communications plans to hide from sharing information with their competitors. Today, the overwhelming trend is to occupy more share of voice to position your company as a market leader. WAV Group consulting works with Associations of REALTORS®, Multiple Listing Service Providers (MLS), and technology firms to implement these programs through WAV Group Communications. Below are some [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Are You Selling To Your Competitors
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Backed by Google, Zillow Set to Become Online Brokerage

Real Estate is not just an online thing. It’s a global thing. People buy houses all around the globe, and in many nations – the notion of online real estate is hot.  In the small nation of England, companies valued at £312m, or £40m Housesimple along with easyProperty and eMoov are all trying to make a go of it with significant venture backing. Online real estate is ripe for the taking. Zillow Group will not need to go out for additional funding to pivot to online real estate.  The company is valued at over $5B and is operating at a run [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Backed by Google, Zillow Set to Become Online Brokerage
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Are Real Estate Agents Dishonest?

A few months ago I spoke to the owner of a start-up company who was completely convinced that consumers do NOT trust their real estate agents to help them find service providers. He believed that agents were not the best group to help a home buyer secure all of the services they need to complete a transaction. He passionately believed that consumers believe that real estate agents are dishonest and do not have the best interest of their clients in mind. For those of you that read the WAV Group blog, you know we are not shy about talking about [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Are Real Estate Agents Dishonest?
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How MLSs Stand To Benefit From Upstream

The pessimist MLSs among you will look upon the title of this article with raised hairs. The lens that we have adopted here is for a single focus. Namely, to search for specific context within the databases of Upstream that may be of value to MLSs. Remember, Upstream does more than manage listings, but it does  start with the MLS destination in mind. The MLS does not need to change their business rules, or modify their data schema. They need only disclose to their brokers what their rules and schema are and accept a broker load as is common among nearly [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 14th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on How MLSs Stand To Benefit From Upstream
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RESO Fielding Survey to Learn how to Make MLS Data Work Better for Brokers

COMPLETE THE SURVEY NOW The Real Estate Standards Organization, RESO, has been hard at work creating consistent data across MLS regions and across the country by creating the RESO Data Dictionary.  To date 1.1 mm agents across the country now have access to RESO Data Dictionary thanks to the hard work of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, The Realty Alliance, NAR, MLS system providers and MLSs across the country. This normalized data built from years of work with technology leaders from around the industry is being used to fuel Upstream, Broker Public Portal (Homesnap) and the AMP program.  [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:13-07:00June 9th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Marketing, MLS Insights, Suveys and Research|Comments Off on RESO Fielding Survey to Learn how to Make MLS Data Work Better for Brokers
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Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation

My wife woke up this morning to the voice of Alec Baldwin telling her “Wake up Sunshine. Let me tell you something, I’ve been up since the crack of dawn…” before I shout out “off” and silence Alec in midsentence. No, Alec isn’t in our bedroom. Alec’s voice is an alarm option in Alexa, our household’s digital assistant that’s built into both our Amazon Echo and Dot. It’s simply the coolest – and most practical – innovation I’ve seen in decades. Alexa is a vibrant example of the rampant innovation emerging today. Life-changing stuff: self-driving cars, VR immersion technology, drones, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:14-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information|Comments Off on Risk-Taking is Back and so is Rampant Innovation
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The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention

There is nothing more devastating to a brokerage than losing a top performer. Many times these departures come as a total surprise that leaves the company scrambling to find ways to get them to change their mind and to stop more top producers following them out the door. So what can brokerages do to stop this painful bleeding that happens all too often? Here are a few suggestions that have proven to be successful. Ask for Anonymous Feedback We have worked with brokerages fielding surveys to get their agents’ input for everything from the technologies offered, the quality of yard [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, WAVes of Change|Comments Off on The Best Kept Secrets for Agent Retention
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Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?

Real estate is a fascinating industry when it comes to making choices about something vs. nothing. Again and again, we see individual agents, brokers, Associations, MLSs, and Franchises make choices to set something when getting nothing may be the better strategy. I doubt that this article will have any change on the bearing of the industry, but in some small way it may influence one or more decisions today or this week by a few people. Why Do We Sacrifice Long Term Success for Short Term Gain? In our industry, people too often say “yes” to a bad deal. An [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Real Estate in Crisis – Is Nothing Better Than Something?
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Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan

It is with much excitement that I would like to announce some major news for the Broker Public Portal project!   We have been researching the value of consumer property search sites like the Broker Public Portal since 2005 and we’re thrilled to announce a game-changing opportunity for agents and brokers to captivate consumers! Broker Public Portal has executed a binding letter of intent with Homesnap, a creator of highly rated apps for consumers and agents, to launch a national home search experience defined by simplicity, integrity and common sense.   The program will be marketed under the Homesnap brand. Homesnap is [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Broker Public Portal Reveals Partnership and Plan
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