In my career I have spent countless hours working with brokers and their MLSes to obtain what should be simple, their listings and the listings of their peers.
During the Dot Com era there was a real fear that the role of the real estate professional would be replaced by websites in the same manner the travel agent was replaced. This caused Brokers to partner with their MLS boards and create complex IDX rules and charge fees. Here we are, almost a decade later, listing syndication is becoming common place (and desired by brokers,) and the role of the real estate professional is still in demand. Consumers still need an agent and an expert. The only change is that the consumer is more informed, prepared and connected to the real estate sphere. If the fear that caused MLSes to implement complex rules and fees has now been proven to not be a threat at all, we have to ask ourselves, why do we need to put up with all of these barriers to get to our own listings? In today's marketplace a consumer wants as many eyes as possible to see their listing. MLS rules fees and other barriers prevent this.
Brokers and agents are often confused or just priced out of an IDX feed by some boards, and consumers can not find any true national property search with all IDX listings.
I think it is time for real estate professionals to let their MLS board know that they don’t way to pay for an organization is hindering their business and hurting consumers.
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