There have been a few posts floating around about the end of the traditional MLS…not a MLS, but the MLS.
The ‘Give us your data and we’ll charge you for it and tell you how you can(t) use it’ MLS.
Trulia, Google, Realogy, Zillow, etc all to one extent or another are fostering this shift away from an antiquated system. IDX SUX, the alternatives are far better and free.
The ‘MLS’ is already dead, pretty soon the stench will drive away even the most loyal users.
As the Alternative Listing Services (ALS) improve and homogenize, they feed the Long Tail, the bottomless consumer appetite for information. Whoever has the longest tail, wins.
Now, ive been afforded the same conventional education where Psychology says consumers are more likely to choose if offered limited choices. In reality, that theory is dead (too).
Today, right now, consumers want it all. They want to see everything thats available while shopping. And there are never seems to be too many choices.
500 cable channels are a testament to that, so are iTunes, Amazon, eBay, Google…its a Long Tail economy/market and real estate is not exempt, although it resists.
In response to Greg Swann’s post– that the small guy would get wiped if big brokerage took their listings ‘in-house’– This actually happening is far more Orwellian than the idea of ‘Open Listings’.
Dual Agency or any other poorly disguised impostor, should be illegal…agreed.
Greg mistakenly feels that I advocate Realty.bots as the solution– ‘Terminator’ style, i.e. the machines will eventually rule the domain.
BA’s should evaluate, integrate/implement the Realty.bots and a host of other ‘Widgets’ for their benefit instead of combat them as a detriment to their ‘craft’…
Via a comment thread, my proposition for BA’s was pretty simple, (IMHO)
Buyers Agents should charge similar to the attorney or accountant model:
- Interview and asses the client and their needs.
- Determine the amount of hours it should take to handle their situation.
- Establish a retainer contract that agrees to pay the BA this cost POC.
- If the scope of work obviously exceeds the retainer $$, start adding up the hours and charge appropriately.
Also see:
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This is exactly why I integrated the Trulia listings into my California Only Real Estate Site. I couldn't possibly sign up for the MLS and pay the dues in every city. Let alone the idea that the rules and regulations they put on the listings is crappy. I have mentioned this to many people and I agree that THE MLS is a dying dinosaur.
Scott