This is my column for this week from the Arizona Republic (permanent link):
Weblog documents, supports transition to new MLS system
This could get complicated, so put on your thinking cap.
Here’s the scoop: Beginning last Friday and culminating on July 1, 2008, the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) is going to be switching from Marketlinx/Tempo, our current on-line MLS vendor, to the flexmls system developed and marketed by FBS Systems.
Bored yet? You shouldn’t be, because, although the primary beneficiaries of this switch will be Realtors, there will be quite a few interesting answers to your own “What’s in it for me?” questions.
Tech-savvy agents like us are dancing in the streets. At Bloodhound, we have a profound hatred for the kinds of buggy vertical market solutions foisted off on Realtors, so we have built our business on commodity and horizontal software tools. What that means is that systems like Tempo are so hard to work with that we have built our tools around their bugs.
So that’s the first benefit of the switch for Realtors and consumers alike: FBS is committed to working with the user base to achieve the greatest possible satisfaction. How do I know they’ll follow through? Because FBS President Michael Wurzer is an active participant in the real estate weblogging community. He can afford to lead with his chin because he’s prepared to effect this transition in the most public possible way.
But what’s in it for you? Here are a couple of teasers, with plenty more to come. If you’re out with your agent next summer and you see a house that sparks your curiosity, your Realtor will be able to look up the listing on the fly by smart-phone. Even better, by next November, your agent will be able to set you up with direct access into the MLS system. You’ll be able to run true MLS searches from your den.
Some of the geekiest Realtors in the Valley have set up a new weblog to celebrate and document this transition, The Phoenix Real Estate Technology Exchange (PRETexchange.com). Feel free to join and advise us as we make the leap to this brand new MLS system.
Technorati Tags: blogging, real estate, real estate marketing
Michael Wurzer says:
It will be great to see what kind of reaction PRETexchange gets from this atricle. Excellent!
October 12, 2007 — 8:09 am
Arlington VA Real Estate says:
Sounds like you will love the new system. Here in Northern VA we have been running a similar system with wireless smart phone access. Being able to pull up listings on the fly was my main reason for getting a Blackberry.
October 12, 2007 — 12:15 pm
Apella says:
Greg,
I am following this development for the long haul. I have commented on FBS and commend that others (who blog and use the systems) are involved!
I think that this has far far ranging abilities and would like to see if it could be brought to places like Michigan.
Thanks for the post and contribute to the project.
October 12, 2007 — 1:04 pm