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Mobile MLS

(This article ran previously in the WAV Group Newsletter released on Friday. We received feedback that despite our rant, some MLS iPad apps are quote good. If you would like to nominate an iPad app that is great, leave a comment below. It should, at a minimum, offer add/edit capabilities - adding photos would be a home run) Some MLS providers and Associations have heard just about enough excuses when it comes to mobile. Vendors have been dragging their feet on supporting full mobile MLS, and it is a real problem. Only one MLS vendor with more than a dozen customers [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:01-07:00May 15th, 2012|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

A Case of Concern Embedded Search and Display

IDX for Facebook There is some degree of discussion about the notion that the IDX rules may be expanded to support Embedded Search and Display on websites or displays not under the apparent control of the broker. I believe that this is too risky, too hard to control, and beyond the bounds of IDX as currently discussed. New thinking is needed and proposed herein. The foundation of new thinking is that MLSs may approve certain websites for embeddable display as a matter of local rule. Embedded Search and Display Defined Many real estate technology thinkers have discussed the [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:01-07:00May 14th, 2012|Main category, MLS Insights|2 Comments

Rapattoni and iHomefinder Partner on VCCAOR Website

Rapattoni has long offered Association websites and MLS consumer property search solutions in the markets that they serve. I believe Rapattoni may have been among the pioneering MLS vendors at offering such a solution. Having said that, there has been little attention paid toward innovating the search component of that platform. In the deployment of the new website, Rapattoni and iHomefinder collaborated to deliver an elegant solution. This week, the California based Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS (VCCAOR) debuted their new website powered by iHomefinder. Board President Cindy Diaz-Telly spoke with the WAV Group about the site. According to [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:02-07:00May 14th, 2012|Main category, Marketing, MLS Insights|Comments Off

MLSs and the Marketing Center
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MLSs and the Marketing Center

Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights

MLSs and the Marketing Center

MLSs have long been a marketing center in some small way. Agents working with buyers and sellers create reports that are organized to provide listing information to clients. The reports are very useful, but aside from the ability to insert a broker logo, agent photo, and contact information, the design of these reports often falls short of achieving the goal of a well-branded and unique marketing piece. Some MLSs have begun to partner with providers to enhance or augment this MLS system functionality, and offer marketing systems that have full feature functionality. MRIS, Metrolist Colorado, MLSListings, MLSLI, and a handful [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:02-07:00May 14th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

PWR Launches 10K Reports

The Minneapolis Association of REALTORS developed a company called 10K a few years ago. The mission of the company is to offer REALTORS outstanding market analytic reports. They have been canvasing the country offering the product through MLSs and REALTOR Associations. Pacific West Association of REALTORS (PWR) is a large and recent new customer for 10K. WAV Group had a Q&A session with Lalaine Castillo, PWR VP Marketing and Communications to understand the strategy behind their vendor selection. Question:What differentiated 10K from other stats vendors? Answer:10k understands the business of REALTOR associations and our members, having deployed similar solutions for [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:02-07:00May 13th, 2012|How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, Marketing, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Syndicator Trademarks MLS Brand

Point2 announced the granting of a US Trademark for "MLS Certified™". This comes at a rather interesting time. The Council of MLS is in the midst of doing some branding of its own, but has not announced or launched the program yet. It is on the agenda for the meetings next week in Washington DC. At the last Council of MLS meeting on this topic last year, there were numerous ideas discussed about branding MLS data. Homes.com offered their ideas, Point2 offered theirs, and Trulia offered theirs. They were all very interesting, but none captured the enthusiasm of the CMLS members. [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:02-07:00May 11th, 2012|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

RPR “Best Practices” Case Studies – Keys To Adoption

Every MLS and Broker in the country knows how difficult it is to successfully roll out new products to REALTORS®. There are so many technology options out there and it’s so difficult to get a busy agent’s attention. It’s even more difficult to convince them to try out a new service that may help project a more professional image when they are in the throes of trying to conduct business. WAV Group has watched Realtor Property Resource® (RPR®) with interest as more and more MLSs and Associations have signed up for this service. From its early beginnings, the product has [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-09-10T13:31:01-07:00May 11th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights, Our Services, Strategic Planning, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off

RPR Broker Case Study – Helping Brokers Understand and Use Realtors Property Resource®

WAV Group provides consulting services brokers across the country to help them find the most effective ways to leverage the technology tools they have chosen for their agents. Some of those tools are provided by MLSs as part of their monthly subscription fees. In working with brokers we have learned how stressed the life of a broker is. Their agents, clients, accountants and office staff pull them in a million directions. Their daily tasks make it virtually impossible to keep up on all of the latest technologies being offered to them. Today, WAV Group is introducing the third in a [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:25:02-07:00May 10th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Product Management, Reports, Suveys and Research|Comments Off

Onboard Targets ListHub Reports with New Product

In a press release found below, Onboard announced the launch of Listings 360 insight Advisor. This product is a reporting solution like Listhub Reports, and FREE! However, Listings 360 does not include syndication at this time. The first customer in line to release the product is Chicago multiple listing service provider, Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED). Connecticut MLS (CTMLS) and Metropolitan Regional MLS (MRIS) have also licensed the solution for their subscribers. WAV Group spoke to MRED CEO, Russ Bergeron to understand the strategy behind the launch. Bergeron indicated that MRED likes to offer more than one product option when [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:03-07:00May 9th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Main category, Marketing, MLS Insights, Press Releases|3 Comments

RPR Agent Case Study

WAV Group provides consulting services to MLSs and Associations to develop strategies and plans for business success. In working with MLSs and Associations we have learned how difficult it is to help agents and brokers understand the value of new technologies in their daily business. Today, WAV Group is introducing the second in a series of Case Studies developed for NAR’s REALTOR® Property Resource or RPR®. These Case Studies are designed to help REALTORS® understand the unique benefits of using RPR in their daily business to help position them as THE local expert. WAV Group developed these best practices by [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:03-07:00May 9th, 2012|Broker-Agent Information, Main category|5 Comments

Keys to RPR Adoption Case Studies Released Today

WAV Group provides consulting services to MLSs and Associations to develop strategies and plans for business success. Today, WAV Group is introducing a series of Case Studies developed for NAR’s REALTOR® Property Resource or RPR®. These Case Studies outline best practices for driving adoption of RPR as a REALTOR® benefit. WAV Group developed these best practices by evaluating RPR “power users” and “power promoters” of the software. Download MLS Case Study. WAV Group has followed the introduction and rollout of REALTOR® Property Resource (RPR) closely since it was officially introduced and then launched in September 2010. In previous papers, WAV Group [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:03-07:00May 8th, 2012|Clients, Main category, MLS Insights, Our Services, Technology Evaluation|1 Comment

Trulia becomes more Broker-Centric

Brokers have been on a rant for the past few years. Online publishers went too far to compel agent and broker advertising on their sites. They pursued rigorous policies that masked the listing agent and listing broker from the consumer. This had three profound effects and led to several types of actions: Removal: In disgust, some brokers retreated from syndication completely (See Edina Realty, Shorewest REALTORS and others) Enhancements: Some brokers went with the flow and enhanced or featured their listings to take over publisher sites in their area (See Howard Hanna and many others). Data Games: Some brokers gave [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:03-07:00May 8th, 2012|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing|1 Comment