Property ManagementWhy Isn"t Your MLS Internet-based?
Which is better - accessing your MLS data from any device that hooks up to the Internet or only being able to search homes when you go into "the office?" Is it better to have to purchase expensive software to run on a proprietary MLS system, software that is so complicated you have to take training to use it? Or would you prefer to dial in to the Internet and have instant user-friendly access with a click of a mouse? And what if you could add other benefits such as off-line searches, mapping overlays to show school districts, or e-mail
conferencing with clients as you view the screen simultaneously miles or states or even continents apart? What if all the productivity tools you needed were yours at the click of a mouse?
Small, start-up companies who offer Internet -based MLS systems are providing all these user-friendly benefits and more to REALTORS®. And, they may be the stealth force that bombs the real estate paradigm once again.
One such company is Solid Earth, Inc., developers of the LIST-IT Internet MLS application. The LIST-IT MLS provides the ability for professional real estate associations to access their secure MLS information from any computer equipped with a simple web browser. That"s right. Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer can take you to this geographic information system (GIS) or digital mapping system-based MLS. This puts Realtors in the same information loop as city planners or geographical engineers.
"We start with a map that encompasses the MLS region," says Matt Fowler, president of Solid Earth, Inc. "Then just as with a paper map, we can overlay any information that the Realtor(or consumer) wants on top of the map - school districts, residential and commercial zoning, flood hazard areas, topography or dozens of other search criteria. The difference is you can do it with the click of a mouse."
Other companies have opening salvos that are also impressive. MLS-Today provides multi-lingual customization for its Internet MLS, a boon to border or high-immigration population states. OpenMLS has launched a browser-based tool called Xsort which allows home searches off-line, freeing agents in the field.
Fowler, a Realtor and appraiser, is particularly aware of the relevance of how homes are searched. "As an appraiser, I can tell you that the two largest determining factors in appraising comparable homes are size and schools. The elements in the search data are similar to those methods used in appraisals."
Fowler believes the Internet MLS is the future - here and now. "You can use it with no expertise or software required. It is an opportunity to have a community real estate information site - more than just homes for sale."
"We are 100% Internet- based, there is not requirement for a dial up network or a costly computer at the association office. All the information resides on our server," says Deborah Dutra, operations manager for MLS-Today. "As long as the user is linked to a browser, we can provide them with a virtual office."
When agents find out how simple and easy to use Internet MLS is, they should clamor to have it. Who wouldn"t want a system that allows agents to access their secure MLS information from any computer equipped with a web browser?
So if Internet MLS is so great, why isn"t everyone doing it?
According to Dutra, objections from Realtor and MLS associations are rarely over expense. It is over having too much invested in older systems.
"Most people"s frame of reference is the dial-up, proprietary system. There is an ugly conversion process. They may even be locked into a contract. That is why we offer the opportunity to work either as the association"s primary MLS or as an adjunct to their primary MLS," says Dutra.
"We tell them that they can use us as a transition, so they can get their feet wet and get up to speed. The only systems we can"t work with are the ones who can"t access a browser," continues Dutra. " It is point and click technology, and it is so much easier. We have never had an objection past the presentation point. In fact, we can get them up and running in 60 days or less."
"We have embedded transaction management which enables agents to order
other services online. This ties in activity to assist in tracking the transaction and what has been done," adds Dutra. " We tie via e-mail and pagers to those systems so that if a new buyer comes in you can create specific
searches and save those and then e-mail the client. We can also e-mail each new listing and put it on the agent"s pager. The agent doesn"t have to check e-mail. Is says "Property search for Mrs. Smith has a match." Then the agent can connect with her/his buyer faster."
In addition, the agent can tap into tax information courtesy of DataQuick,
and the system supports all kinds of multimedia, including uploading and
displaying digital photos with two clicks of a mouse.
"The legacy systems are difficult to modify for an individual board,"
explains Fowler. "Most of the old bulletin board computer systems were designed
before the advent of the Internet. If you have a lot of farmland or beach front
property, you have to customize the software. On the Internet, the
customization is so much easier than with legacy systems."
"We treat each installation as a custom network because each board is
unique," continues Fowler. "Internet MLS is easily customizable. All you need
is a browser."
What about the consumer? Will this eliminate the need for the traditional
MLS-based Realtor?
Dutra explains, "About ten percent of an association"s site is public
display with the capability of displaying listings to the public worldwide. The
other 90% is password protected for Realtors. This is where the CMAs are
created, and where Realtors can create flyers. Upgrades happen in real time and
we don"t charge for upgrades. Everything happens out of sight of the consumer.
They just see the results."
"Consumer sites and MLS sites are merging. The MLS site has the potential
to become a prime portal to the Internet. You just make your local MLS your
start page," suggests Fowler.