I had the pleasure to visit Metrolist Inc. last week while on other business in Denver. Brett Cutcliffe was my host.
It was refreshing to find a staff dedicated to providing member benefit by focusing on needs. They use a broad and comprehensive program across all of their departments to bring down call volume and increase the information available to members. They have found that this effort results in higher satisfaction across membership. Although this should be no surprise, I was taken by the attitude that demonstrated by each person I met.
They have some exciting projects underway which will really set them apart from other MLS operations across the country. I’ll let them reveal these when they are ready. With the communication program that they have in place, I could not do the topic justice.
Denver should be proud of Metrolist Inc.
Since I am new to all this, please pardon my newbieness and ignorance if I display any. I am very concerned how all of the different MLS companies seem to be using their own proprietary technologies for delivering MLS service to their subscribers. An example is my local system Trend, they use different methods than other companies and they lack the technological advances that many other companies are currently using. An example would be the lack of true wireless pda solution, while they offer a downloadable list that can be referred using an application that they sell, its still not live access to the site. I understand that NAR’s tech group is pioneering new tech that uses open source code but who is actually using that technology? My local system is not. I have also noticed that other MLS companies are testing systems that enable a paperless transaction, this is very fascinating and exciting. The possibilities are limitless with the capabilities to use e-signatures, access to key documents and the means to send them anywhere in an instant. I can not wait for the day when all the interested parties in the process of RE sales are all able to add documents to a central pool that is accessible by the clients. The endless delays sending documents back and forth by mail and chasing clients around for signatures may soon be over with this new technology. In fact, I feel that with an established standard and system, realtors can finally show clients what truly separates them from the pillagers of our MLS data. We are more than a database of home listings, utilizing systems such as this could push us a group over the top. We are united and they are a unorganized group of individuals looking to get rich using the system that we built with blood, sweat and tears. The only thing that can destroy it all is if different MLS systems approach these initiatives with their own implementations of this system. Individuality is good but in the world of software and computers, its not a good idea. Realtors who want to survive must ensure that the different MLS systems cooperate and use similar technology and standards. Title companies and lenders will soon follow and utilize the same standards to be able to market their services and products.
Above all we must protect and fight for what we have earned, we are professionals, we must demand the respect that other professionals command. We are not used car salesman and we must not act like that by selling each other out.
In response to S. Abraham, our MLS (NORMLS) in the Cleveland area has wireless PDA abilities through Pocket Real Estate but almost no one is using it. They prefer to use the download version. We are exploring transaction management and have even selected a vendor but have put it on the slow track for now. We opted to launch online forms in August as a stepping stone to transaction management and a paperless future. I hope to have the full transaction management system up and running in about a year.
Best regards,
Carl DeMusz, President & CEO
NORMLS
Again another newbie, perhaps with a different view coming from a webdeveloper. As S.Abraham says about the MLS using different technologies, add to that the different permissions. I have two Realtors right now in Arizona wanting the MLS data on their websites. Under ARMLS, only the broker can have this.
To me, members needs are completely out of the picture in this case. I not only am setting up the RETS system myself to fully understand it and offer it to clients, I also have an IDX solution that in 90% of cases cannot be used for individual Realtors due to no access to the data except for a somewhat useless framed “solution”