Scott, this is too funny.  But pathetic at the same time.  I've heard of agents who don't join the boards, but I've never dealt with one. 

I can't imagine being without the MLS. Sometimes I don't agree with the concept that REALTOR Membership is a requirement to be able to access the MLS, especially since they ar two very distinct fees--and to top that off, Suprakey access is also through the local Assoc--Actually, maybe that is where the true monopoly lies. 

I agree with what you are saying--

Maggie,

We average one call a week like this.

Suzi,

That`s one of the realities of being a board member. It`s the cost of doing business.

Not complaining about the cost.

Suzi,

Nobody said you were.:)

Hi can I show your listing? Well I don't a a supra key...oh I forgot to leave my card and oh...sorry for not showing up and letting you know...I'm from Dade:)

Yep, it is amazing, but these are the folks that will decide they can't afford to be in real eatate anymore...

Neal,

How about "Can you meet my client at your listing?I`m too busy"..lmao

Joeann,

Right! They`ll blame everyone for their demise.

Scott - that's a sad story - I can't imagine trying to call myself a full service, full time Realtor without the MLS,  but it's amazing how some agents will try to cut costs in the wrong way!

Scott, the cost of entry into the Real Estate business is very low compare to other businesses. This goes back to my post about agents without fax machines. I would like to ask their Broker why would you let someone represent your Brokerage if they did not have the tools? I do.

Frank,

True. Many agents feel their license isn`t worth too much!

Carol,

Not really sad, it`s indicative of what`s happening in our industry.

I had an agent call me from a magazine ad (I was in my car). I wasn't sure what the property was, because I use tag lines, like remodeled, Needs TLC and I explained that not all listings were mine, and if it were available (who knows how old the magazine was) it would show up in the MLS. I told him all the info was at my office, he wanted me to go to my office and look it up for him. I laughed which frustrated him more and I told him to call his broker and explain how marketing works.

Of course he called my broker and complained, my broker said he was on the phone a half an hour with him. I told my broker I would only give him five minutes, he was too nice.

Scott, It's amazing how some agents try to practice real estate.  Trying to sell real estate without being a member of the MLS is like trying to sell shoes in a shoe store with no inventory.

Rob,

I get those calls all day long! Makes you wonder somedays.

Dan,

Isn`t this part of the reaon so many leave the industry?

many have no idea how our profession works.

Well what can you say? Some broker considers this good service...sad. I would recommend to the agent without the MLS...get it or refer your clients to a MLS/Board member.

Ye Gads, I would have an instant headache from that agent.  He sure can't represent any buyer adequately.

Gary,

I`m showing my age here. When i started they used Books,which could be purchased weekly from th brd in order to have MLS access..

Ouch! It's amazing what happens in our world of real estate. Thanks for the post.

Diane,

No he can`t,which is why he was wasting my time as well.

Al,

It sure is! It`s a very interesting business.

I can't tell you how many times in the last month I have asked someone if they are a Realtor because they called with crazy questions for showings.  Simple, really.  "APPTLA" equals appointment with listing agent.  Do not cry to me if you are sitting in front of the home and it doesn't have a keybox.

I see more and more of thiscoming. I read somewhere that half of the members of my board didnt make a single sale last year. Many of these folks will want to stop paying their dues but still be part of the business.. My MLS allows public searches with limited search criteria but displays the results with addresses and mls numbers.  All they have to do is arrange for the listing agent to be at the property for access. 

As a listing agent wouldnt you go to a property to see that it was shown?

I am guilty - I showed out of my area not to long ago and needed some help with showing instructions. The problem with NC there are sooo many small MLS systems that do not share the information with the larger MLS systems. So you have to search Realtor.com, Yahoo, its ridiculous but sometimes you have to do it or risk losing your buyer to the LA.

beca,

At least your honest!

Ron,

What property are you referring to?The agent couldn`t tell us.

Renee,

vegas is probably a lot like south florida. 

That just wouldn't fly in Northern VA.  An agent not affiliated with the MLS would quickly lose out to the competition, but we do have an enormous MLS that covers all of DC and the MD and VA suburbs.

Boy, I can't imagine getting my job done without the MLS.  The MLS is one of the most necessary tools you need to be a Real Estate Agent.  This is not the place to cut costs.

Shucks.  I don't feel sorry for that agent.  They expect other agents to subsidize what is an expensive business to maintain.  They save overhead and we do half their work.  Think she has Keybox access?  Why should she when she can usually get the listing agent to show. 

Some folks just need to get a job.

So do we blame the agent who doesn't have the tools or the Broker who has turned them lose? Who is ultimately accountable?  Hopefully the days of filling seats with any available person who passed the RE test are behind us for awhile.  If you are a principal broker and not stepping up to the plate to make sure your agents are prepared then shame on you!

I can only imagine the frustration this causes.  It must be very hard to be professionally polite in such circumstances.

Are you sure this agent was a Realtor, as opposed to just a licensee?  I would have thought that a Realtor - at least a local one - would have had automatic access to the MLS. 

I thought it might be a weird fluke that only happens once or twice. But once a week is ridiculous. I have never gotten a call like that.

Been there, have gotten similar calls. Many of them did not renew their realtor memberships and may be trying to stir up some business without access to the MLS. Orlando Assoc. rules prohibit a broker from employing an agent not a Realtor, unless the broker pays the agents membership fees. Something like that. An agent, that's not a Realtor may only be hired as a referral agent.

Does that sound right?

I am not sure how anyone can possibly beleive they can get away with not joining their local MLS! Scott, you probably kept your cool...I dont know if I could in a situation like that. I would probably inform them they need the proper "tools"

Experience.  What is an experienced agent?

I know too many that have been in the real estate business for 5 years and all they have is 1 year of experience 5 times.  Sad but true.

I know some that have had 1 year of experience 10 times and they are even sadder.

Why not tell someone like that "Tell you what, I will show the home for you and pay you a hefty referrral fee."

I don't feel sorry for that agent at all. I do, however, feel sorry for the client.

I'm getting an increasing number of calls like this.  Usually they are on my website calling about OTHER Realtor's listing.

At the end of the day, the seller hired me to sell the home.  If this agent called me then I would have likely tried to help them navigate to the right home, but not without a certain degree of annoyance.

That is a really pathetic story.  They are telling you they are flying blind and don't need to see.  I wonder of their client has any idea of how poorly they are being represented.

Randy,

What about the company this person hangs a license with?

JJ,

Sure! As long they can provide me with actual addresses.

Kelly,

The agent is brand new with no training. Who allows agents to run around like this?

Ed,

Rookie mistakes.

That agents client is not being properly taken care of!

Well not to throw a wrench in this Blog but you all need to get use to not using the term "MLS".  If NAR has its way the term will be gone from our vocab in next six months. We here in Indianapolis are no longer using the term MLS but BLC-  we just want to confuse the consumer more today in the worst market in years.  Seems we had nothing else to do... or we changed because we fear the Gov.

A sad commentary on the state of our industry.

Scott - how extremely disturbing.  I actually commented on your blog off of another blog that discussed your blog.  Wow!  We're meta-communicating now! That's where I learned of this crime you speak of.  Rather than cut and paste the response I just linked to it.  Keep up the good work.

I believe the slow market will remove these marginal agents from the business.  Perhaps that is one of the good things about the cyclical nature of real estate. 

Too bad that this person is a real estate agent.  Realtors are required to have access to the MLS and join a board.  This person obviosly is trying to be a real estate agent without paying fees and going to alot of work.    THIS IS COMMON AMONG REALTORS TOOO!   How many Realtors are doing their own postcards?

 The Realtors that are doing their own postcards and home made marketing are in the same boat as this person not using the MLS.   It takes all the right steps to achieve success.

Hmmm, makes you wonder whether or not they paid their dues doesn't it?  What self respecting Realtor (if that is what this person actually was or perhaps used to be) would not be able to access MLS?

Scott, when I arrived in my area five years ago, the MLS, by choice, was not used by real estate companies.  Absolutely horrified, I went back to selling new construction.  We now have it (can you believe that it took this long- two years ago) so your story is one that would have been NORMAL here just a few short years ago.  It is still largely unused in the Hamptons (NY).  Better odds of limiting showings, and finding your own buyers (in my opinion).  Horrible plan for sellers and buyers; nice plan for broker owners.  I was, and am, stunned at the practice.

OH- and meeting the buyer and their agent at the house is the residual of this practice, only everyone still does it.  If it's vacant, one picks up the key at the office of the listing agent.  I'm in the dark ages.

wow - I am shocked. I had to map Cooper City florida. Thought maybe you were in the boonies :) But to be near such a big city and have that happens surprises me even more. I can't imagine how that agent ever lists a property without being able to add it to the mls. What would her buyer(s) (the 's' in case there is more than 1) think? I wonder if they know or if they just don't know better.

You feel sorry for the "REALTOR®"? I wonder if he IS a REALTOR® or only an agent. I also wonder if he knows that the offer of compensation is only to REALTORS®?

What a topic! I can not imagine anyone hiring a carpenetr without the tools. Or plumber. Or surgeon... What a shame on our industry! I just do not understand how these agents are going to be compensated if they are not members of MLS. Do we have a contractual agreement inside MLS organization to offer co-op compensation to each other, not to everyone? Please correct me if I am wrong.

This is crazy. How can an agent even begin to represent a client without the proper tools. Too crazy.

Wow -- I never heard of such a thing!  Everyone I know is on the MLS -- no MLS no career!  It's that simple!

It gets really crazy out there of what length will some go too. I wish someone would take the time to help this agent. I know you have taken many under your wing and helped. Looks like another one out there weather they want help or not.

I don't think he is a realtor, I think he is a real estate agent. I can't work without MLS, wasting my time without MLS.  

Here is a thought, he may have been from out of town.  I know if I wanted to help my family that lives in Kansas City Missouri find a property, I absolutely couldn't, because I only have MLS access in Saint Louis Missouri.  The difference is I am smart enough to realize that I would not be an asset to represent my out of town family I would only hurt their search.  It would be in their best interest if I referred it out to a competent agent in that area.  By competent I mean at the very least being a member of the local board and having MLS access.

We need to realize that there is a large number of agents out there that truly don't have the interest of their clients over their own, these agents are giving us that do a bad rep.

I'm glad this is public. The public needs to understand that all real estate agents are not the same. It is amazing the stories we hear.

This sounds really far fetched,  I have never run across a realtor who acted that dumb.

Scott--thanks for the great read!  A couple of points:

• This agent needs a firm who will take her under its wings but, she may very well hold her own FIRM license.
• The firm should be fined for not making certain that all of their agents belong to their local Board.
• How do you conduct business with no directions/photos/agent notes, etc. OR having to make each listing agent meet you at the home to let you in because you don't belong to your local Board?
• Sad but, true--these are the agents that we NEVER want to have a cross-sale with!
• Also sad but, true--these are the agents that will be weeded-out by the depressed market.
• But, the worst reality of it all--her poor Buyers!  Not only are they receiving far less than quality-service but, they will wind up this transaction with the WORST of impressions of those in the real estate profession.

Sad, very sad...

Debe in Charlotte, NC

Thanks your dialogue shows the desperate need we have in this industry for a mentoring or apprentice program that puts rookie agents under the care and instruction of a seasoned professional.  Our current system of passing a test and start selling is broken and the current crisis is proof.  Thanks for the fodder.

It's crazy how this person sustains himself for business! I feel terrible for his clients.

Realtors searching on Yahoo... That's amazing, you think they'd atleast use Realtor.com. I think this problem has a lot has to do with local licensing laws. In Connecticut where I sell you must be licensed, a member of all the major boards & a MLS subscriber in order to even practice in the state. 

Our MLS has statistics on traffic to it--It's amazing the amount of traffic this "tool" gets for us. It pays to learn as much about what your MLS provides and how to use the tools effectively. Thanks for you post

Lol... yahoo is the last website I would think to use to find properties for a buyer.  I would have responded the same way.

I get those calls all too often! I received one a couple of weeks ago, and they were complaining about another listing agent who advertises a lower commission for non-board members.  They thought this was so unfair...then they proceeded to ask if I can drive 45 minutes to let them into my listing.  Astonishing!!!

I would question weather this so called "agent' was really an agent or Realtor?  I've never had a call like this!  I've had lazy agents that call with an MLS# but were too lazy or didn't know how to access the system.  They always have at least the address or MLS# - If they didn't have either - I would check to see if they even have a liscense.

Last fall a friend of mine wanted to look at lake homes that were just outside of where my local board's MLS goes and I had to resort to looking on the internet for homes to show her.  I thought it was a pain in the ..., and came to the conclusion that the MLS's should be at least as encompassing as my state license.  With the internet, there is no reason that we should have a million different boards (sometimes in over-lapping geographical areas).

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Scott,  our MLS was down for a couple of hours yesterday.  Instead of getting mad, it only reminded me how fortunate we are to have it.  I would not be able to function without it.  Luckily I don't have many agents who are not REALTORS with access to the board call me...  It would grow old quickly.

you have to be kidding... your post is truly unbelievable. Can you imagine doing a transaction with that sales person who has a license, who is not a Realtor. (In Colorado you have to be a Realtor to use & join the MLS)

Scott, I have to say that was the funniest thing I've heard all week.  I couldn't believe an agent could tell you they were looking up homes on Yahoo with a straight face.  And, then I read your comment where you said you get one call a week like this.  We really need to weed out the part-timers in this business or we all end up looking like fools.

You know, this just brings up a few other points.  First, the REALTORS (don't know where my trademark symbol is) just got in some hot water because in many areas, you have to belong to the board to have access to the MLS.  Second, notice I said, "in most areas..."

Here in Western Washington, the Multiple Listing Service is a separate entity from the board. The two are not connected, and any licensee can belong to the MLS without belonging to the board. 

Our board is free to the public, but you should still have an account for a variety of reasons.

Our board is free to the public, but you should still have an account for a variety of reasons.

Scott ~ This is crazy! But I see folks who get licensed and don't have the cash reserves to invest in their business. It's really sad when a new agent doesn't have the tools to get set up adequately.

Let's face it, being a REALTOR® is expensive. We pay out quite a bit each year although the perception is that we bring in the money by the boat load!

I can't imagine an agent not having access to the MLS?  Why would they want to forego that?  Just sounds bizarre!

You always have the best stories!  Sometimes I think you live in the Real Estate Triangle!

I wonder why so many Real Estate agents don't make it in this business. They try shortcuts to get by and don't realize they are missing the big picture. thanks for the info.

This is best compared to having a bike with no tires. MLS is our means to transport our listings how can you live without!

As a new agent I understand trying to save money, but this is crazy. 

Here in Salem Oregon you don't have to be a member of NAR (or any association) to access the local MLS.  I personally think they should be two distinct entities myself.  I wonder though, if the buyer agent realizes that you are under no obligation to compensate them for their efforts. I mean you could go to close, and owe the buyer agent nothing. The compensation is just for other members.