Updating Property Information Online IS Important

Sally,  As you say, it is a full time job to keep our data updated in the MLS.  What happens once it is syndicated is completely out of our control.  These sites need to do a better job of keeping their data up to date.   I think this is why some brokers are opting out of listing syndication.

Aloha Sally. Indeed a very important point. I'm not concerned about the MLS for the reasons you mentioned and supported by many comments. But for anything listed in marketing syndication, the updates must be done manually. To be professional means you do the updates in real time.

Sally,

We don't support the aggregator sites.  If agents actually pay to belong to "mega sites" they are feeding their competition. They are paying someone to compete with them in the SERP's for their local RE market.  As your post and comments prove again. Those sites lack timely content.  I just don't want to subscribe pay them to fix it.

JMHO,

Steve

Good reminder. I think sometimes I forget about updating the other sites. (Normally have my asst do it, but she forgets too if I dont remind her.)

Many do not even get the correct data in the MLS the first time. How can we expect them to then keep it updated. Just laziness and a lack of attention to detail.

I visited Honolulu this past summer and LOVED the area.  If I ever move that is where I would want to live.  I will look you up if I do ever move out there!  I love to surf!

The issue highlighted by several of the commenters here is the fact that many times we don't know what sites "grabbed" our listing information.  We update the sites we populated and syndicated but then there are dozens of other sites that take the infomration and post it.  As a result, when we do timely updates for the sites we populate these other sites don't.  Anyone know of any controls that can be placed on secondary syndication activities that are taking place without the listing agent's  (or client's) knowledge?

Updating can be timely, and I have been negligent at updating some sites. There are so many places the listings go automatically, you forget to check on the status.

Local MLS boards to a nice job of regulating the use of information pertaining to properties. However big sites like tulia.com and zillow.com have agent information from the entire history of the property. This a problem obviously.

We need to control the controlables.  How can we have outdated information on our sites?  The challenge is there are sites that are scrapping the data without our knowledge.

Agree.........  when the status changes type in the new information immediately...  Some people just don't do it.  Not much we can do about it except rant..

Patricia/Seacoast NH & ME

I made sure to reblog this, as I absolutely think it is crucial to update your information!

The most annoying part like you mentioned is that other sites grabs our information but they never update their data feed even when we have made some modifications in our listings.

Sally, you are absolutely correct.  Listing data needs to be fresh and up to date.  The only data feed that seems to stay up to date is Realtor.com, which they turn around and sell it back to Realtors.  "Now that's Rich".  Great Post!!

Hi Sally -- So true.  I couldn't even update the correct city (based on a zip code that was split among 2 cities) on Zillow once, and after speaking with them, online, etc., it never got resolved.  This is a huge problem and through syncing RETS feeds or something, our industry has to do a better job so the data are correct and timely.

In this day and age if REALTORS® are not keeping track of where they posted their listing they are in big trouble.   The client need only see it once at the wrong price to undermine the faith that they have in their agent.   It's critical that you keep track of this and keep all information updated at all times.