CMLS intensifies pressure on NAR to repeal recent IDX rules

Dear Pat and MLS Issues and Policy Members,   Please accept this letter on behalf of the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) regarding the recommendations included in the “Report and Recommendations of the IDX Data Use Work Group". The difficult task of reviewing the inclusion of social media in IDX isnt an enviable one; please know that we respect the commitment that each work group member gave to the effort.   The membership of CMLS is very diverse and includes Associations and MLS organizations from small to very large REALTOR® owned to regional to broker owned to private. Regardless [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:41-07:00May 4th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on CMLS intensifies pressure on NAR to repeal recent IDX rules

Is it time for a MLS “Light” product solution?

I have spent the last couple of hours reviewing verbatim comments from a member satisfaction survey for one of the largest MLSs in the United States. While they have outstanding satisfaction scores overall we always like to look at those that are less satisfied than average to better understand what could improve satisfaction. One of the themes that came through loud and clear with the less than satisfied was the need for simplicity. Many said things like “there are too many bells and whistles", “just want to “get in and get out” of the system quickly and that’s not possible [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 30th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Is it time for a MLS “Light” product solution?

Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!

According to a study released by Canalys today,  Apple fueled the 7% growth of the computer market in Q1, 2011. According to Canalys, pad shipments reached 6.4 million units worldwide. Apple accounted for 74% of these shipments, while other vendors struggled to bring competitive products to market. Canalys expects that next quarter will see a significant change in the market, with products appearing from Acer, Asus, LG and RIM. This continued growth suggests that the iPad and other pad devices are here to stay. They seem to be moving past devices that are purely for games and entertainment and into [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 28th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!

Looking for better ways to announce a system upgrade with your members? Check out this great example!

Whenever we conduct member satisfaction surveys for MLSs, there are many suggestions from members about ways to improve MLS tools and services.  Of course, many MLSs listen to their clients and make the requested changes.  Over time these improvements help to increase the overall satisfaction of the MLS with its members. Here’s a way to jump start the process of improving customer satisfaction.  Make sure that your subscribers know that you are listening and responding by giving them credit for making the suggestion in the first place. Here’s a great example of this I wanted to share with you.  There [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 27th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Looking for better ways to announce a system upgrade with your members? Check out this great example!

Realtor.com iPad App released

Yesterday, under the cloak of embargo, Realtor.com released the iPad app to the media. Errol Samuleson, President of MOVE provided us with a walk through of some really great technology, calling it the Etch A Sketch of mobile real estate search. If you are familiar with the popular iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile applications by Realtor.com, then you know that they have done an admirable job of providing a top of class mobile search product. Like its mobile brethren, the iPad is no different. All in all, it is a great start. Some features I liked are the ability to [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 26th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Realtor.com iPad App released

Looking for ways to make your Association more valuable? Take credit for your MLS

Many times when I speak with Association Executives they tell me how they wish they could play a more vital role in solving the technology needs of its members. Here’s a simple idea to consider…..why not take advantage of all of the great services and technologies and training classes your regional MLS offers?  Many MLSs offer terrific consumer-facing websites, for example.  For example, few association sites I visit feature the MLS Consumer facing website on their websites.  Property search has been proven to to be the best way to generate consumer traffic yet few Associations are taking advantage of framing [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 26th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Looking for ways to make your Association more valuable? Take credit for your MLS

Looking to make your MLS more profitable? How about improving the earth along the way too?

Are you as worried about our planet as I am?  We continue to destroy it without considering the consquences. As a mother of a young child, I would really like to find ways I can create a positive impact on the planet she will be living on in the future. While I don’t believe I can come up with a way to reduce the amount of oil used in auto engines or eliminate jet fuel from our air supply, I do believe I can help influence our own businesses.  The technology exists. We just need to embrace it and make [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 25th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Looking to make your MLS more profitable? How about improving the earth along the way too?

MOVE (listhub) renews syndication agreement with Zillow.com

ListHub operator Move, Inc., (NASDAQ: MOVE) and Zillow, Inc., today announced a long term content syndication agreement for the ListHub publishing network.  ListHub is the largest online syndicator of real estate listings to real estate web sites and provider of performance reports for brokers, franchises, and Multiple Listing Services. ListHub is Zillow’s largest listings syndication partner. This agreement confirms Zillow and Move’s commitment to the publishing and syndication of  accurate MLS real estate listings. As a result of the new agreement, ListHub will continue to send approximately two million listings to Zillow directly from 358 MLSs every day representing 40,000 brokers throughout the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 21st, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on MOVE (listhub) renews syndication agreement with Zillow.com

MLS and Cloud Computing

There are some technology companies in real estate who love Cloud Computing. Many of the nations’ most significant websites use it to host their applications, include foursquare. But be aware, there are risks - Imagine the frustration of agent and brokers would express if they tried to login to the MLS or other business critical system, and got a similar message to this.  

By |2017-08-26T02:50:59-07:00April 21st, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on MLS and Cloud Computing

Brokers and MLSs formulate concerns over new IDX recommendations

There is a work group that recommends changes to NAR’s MLS Policy Committee on changes to the policy. This work group recently submitted suggested changes that, if adopted, would enable RSS and other electronic means of syndicating listings to third parties. Brokers and MLSs alike are very concerned about the potential infringements on the copyrights of brokers and MLSs, and the potential for law suits from home sellers. Broker participants are legally liable for the listing content as outlined in the listing contract with the seller. The broker takes on the legal responsibility for the listing through the contact. Moreover, the convents [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 18th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Brokers and MLSs formulate concerns over new IDX recommendations

Zillow files registration for public offering

Press Releases Zillow® Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering SEATTLE, April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Zillow, Inc., which operates real estate site Zillow.com®, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, and Zillow Mobile, today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock.  The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. Citi will act as the sole book-running manager for the offering.  Allen & Company, Needham & Company, LLC, ThinkEquity LLC and First [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 18th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Press Releases|Comments Off on Zillow files registration for public offering