I'd like to take a crack at defining the 2 in Web 2.0. (here is the WIKI definition of 2.0)
Many mistake the 2.0 as being simply innovative new websites. But that isn't always correct.
The key to being "2.0" is the added interactivity of user input.
Blogging is 2.0. This is 2.0. Congratulations! But if you have never left comments on a blog (amazingly, only about 1% of readers leave blog comments, except ActiveRain posts get a 7% response rate) you are stuck in the 1.0 world. You have a thought, share it.
Why Share? Why 2.0?
Good question. It is like being a good Samaritan. Your input helps others. Eventually, the input of others helps you. Everyone helps each other and we both prosper (vs competition which has to put one down for one to win). Yes consumer feedback can be manipulated to a certain degree, but when I went to Italy, all I used was TripAdvisor.com's consumer reviews of hundreds of hotels. 
Here is another example: I do most of my shopping on Amazon.com (I even paid the $70 once per year for upgraded free 2 day shipping on everything). Amazon is the epitome of Web 2.0.
I was looking to buy a softball glove. The prices were $30 to $200. I found the Wilson A0360 ES14 14" but it had NO PHOTOS! Who the heck is going to buy a glove sight unseen? Well I was able to google the model name and fine a TINY photo deep within the 20th click of a website. I bought the glove, and hoped (Amazon has amazing return policy too, so I wasn't too concerned).
The glove was great!
Amazon then said "What did you think. Share some images."
Not only was I able to review the glove, my photo is now the MAIN photo for this product (see link above). Sales will probably quadruple for this product.
It is also 2.0 since that link is attached to my account. You buy that glove, I make a buck or so.
So the question is when is Real Estate and the MLS going to get into the 2.0 world?
All these fancy new MLS search sites that mash up Google maps into the search results, to me, that isn't 2.0. Albeit neat, that is still 1.0.
- Redfin tried adding some interactivity and they got slapped with a $50,000 fine. They were blogging about properties fro other listing agents. They are appealing that now.
- ZipRealty has had home reviews posted by their buyer clients for about a year now.
- And of course Zillow and Trulia are adding functionality and 2.0-ness, but they don't have the MLS data. See: Home Search Rumble! Zillow.com vs Realtor.com vs Trulia vs etc
- HomePredict.com is neat. It tries to predict the prices homes will close for, but that hasn't really gone anywhere.
What new ways will the MLS morph into Web 2.0, adding user functionality and collaboration?
I for one think that there is a way to make all those photoless listings suddenly have user generated pho
tos. Would you as a buyer agent be willing to create and share your photo album next time you are out showing a property that has no photos?
Suddenly that foreclosure property with no photos, can have photos, seen by all.
Let's also debate whether we would need permission from the listing agent (ZipRealty doesn't for home reviews). If I show Mary a vacant foreclosed house, and I take photos of it, and a week later Edward wants to visit the house, can't I say "Oh, let me show you this album I took of that house." (I do that now) How is that different then letting people surfing my website or blog seeing it?
- Written by Frank Borges LL0SA- FranklyRealty.com (please report typos)
Join my new group: WIKI MLS 2.0 to discuss MLS 2.0 ideas there.
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