I guess I don't get it.
I don't understand why on earth MLS systems go to great lengths to sabotage the sale of home, especially in this economy.
INNOVIA/ New Hampshire:
It's been proven for years that the quantity of photos and the quality of photos helps to sell homes. Yet, Innovia offers only 12 photos. Not only that, they're exactly 290 x 218 pixels, just a little bigger than a lousy postage stamp! In addition, up until recently, descriptions were limited to a very small number of characters, forcing agents to abbreviate their brains out trying to fit everything in. Of course, the result for the consumer was an intelligible mess of made up abbreviations! Finally they got wise a few months ago and increased the size of the comment box. Now how about those photos, Innovia? It's 2009!!!
MLSPin/ Massachusetts:
MLSPin at least offers 30 decent sized photos, but beginning in August, they now have REMOVED all descriptions of all properties... unless you register of course!
This is absurd. This is 2009, and this is a blatant attempt at a closed system once again. And if they think buyers are SO STUPID as to fall for this game, they need to think again. People are very sensitive about giving out their email addresses and the resulting stream of spam. It's 2009. This is the age of transparency, yet MLSPin seems to want to take a few steps backward. Maybe we should just remove the IDX from the web altogether and start printing up MLS Books so everyone will be FORCED to call an agent if they want information?
The whole idea here (unless I'm mistaken) is to sell HOMES, not to put barriers up to keep that from happening. I believe the MLS is supported by agents, yet I can't imagine most web savvy agents thinking that removing ALL descriptions helps them sell homes or helps their sellers get their homes sold.
To make the online experience of buying a home less meaningful is doing a disservice to agents and to sellers, and hobbling the ability to sell a home in this market.
I've always believed the real estate industry was about 10 years behind regarding technology. This just proves I'm still right.
I would strongly suggest agents in Massachusetts and New Hampshire let their feelings be known to THEIR MLS that this is not acceptable. Information should be free and open to the public and every effort should be made to facilitate the sale of a home.
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