We signed up for our own version of the SmarterAgent smart-phone MLS client. We’ve been live since Monday, but it proved its value and then some yesterday afternoon.
Cathy was out with buyers, and they asked the most dreaded question of all: “What about that one?” Not every house with a sign is for sale, and, even then, most homes for sale don’t meet your search criteria. That’s why we don’t have that listing with us. But Cathy whipped out her iPhone and did a GPS-based search on her own location. Voile! Three bedrooms. Too small.
That’s not in the SmarterAgent marketing patois, but it doesn’t have to be. The software rocks in anyone’s hands. We had been looking at pure iPhone solutions, but the SmarterAgent tool is simultaneously more robust and more broad-based: It provides a GPS-aware MLS search from virtually any smart-phone. You can also search by map, by address, by MLS number, by neighborhood or subdivision, etc. The user interface is easy to navigate, and the level of detail on the listings exceeds many desktop-based IDX systems.
I wouldn’t want to use this client for showing purposes, but it’s a nice tool for buyers to use as they explore neighborhoods. And, as above, it’s very useful to working Realtors to deal with on-the-fly questions about properties. The best part is, if you follow through and inquire about a property, the phone call — and an email — comes to me. We have the email set up to echo to all of our mail clients, so we don’t miss anything. And the email includes the listing agent’s phone number, so we can track down specific information quickly, no matter where we might happen to be.
If you’re a Realtor working anywhere but Phoenix, I think you should get this thing. It’s a pain in the ass to get in Phoenix, and, besides, my plan is to suck all the oxygen out of the SmarterAgent space in Phoenix.
To that end, here’s how you can help: Write a post on your own weblog about how you intend to look into this cool new tool, and how you heard about it from BloodhoundRealty.com. Use anchor text like “hassle-free Phoenix MLS search” or “free GPS-aware smart-phone client to search the Phoenix MLS” — stuff like that.
Want to play to see what you’re getting? If you click on the image above, you’ll be taken to a landing page where you can acquire your own BloodhoundRealty.com-branded smart-phone search into the Phoenix MLS.
And: If you do sign up for your own version of the SmarterAgent client, stay tuned here. Like FBS Systems, SmarterAgent listens to its end-users, so the product should get better and better as time goes by.
Even faster: Text HOUND to 87778.
Brian Brady says:
Slow to download on the iPhone (waiting).
By the way, I can do this, all autumn long:
http://smarteragent.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
July 29, 2009 — 8:16 pm
Al Lorenz says:
I like this. Of course, I’m going to maybe have to get a “smart phone” to really appreciate it. When the market was hotter, and we had less inventory, I could just memorize every available home. It makes me feel like the country broker compared to those of you operating in big cities! But it isn’t a huge leap, at least my current portable phone isn’t just one with a really long cord like the old days.
But, their pricing isn’t bad and it would be a great service for our Seattle customers! It just might take a little while to get it approved and up on our local MLS.
Greg, they already know you. They asked if I was affiliated with anybody. I said no, but I had heard about it from Greg Swan at Bloodhound blog. He said great, that your name is already well known at Smarter Agent.
July 30, 2009 — 8:35 am
Jeff Brown says:
This sounds as if it might be a real breakthrough. I know Phoenix MLS is Apple friendly. San Diego MLS, like the vast majority of MLS’s around the nation, is not. Will this work in those areas? Thanks
July 30, 2009 — 9:39 am
Greg Swann says:
Should work from any RETS-based MLS. Kris Berg has it, I believe. In Phoenix, SmarterAgent isn’t an approved IDX vendor, which is why it is difficult to get here.
July 30, 2009 — 10:28 am
MARIE CHAPPELLE says:
THE SMARTERAGENT IS GREAT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO BE ON THE PHONE, TEXTING IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO PIZZA. I ASKED MY 27 YRS. SON WHY DON’T YOU JUST CALL AND TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS; MY SON TOLD ME THAT TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE COST MORE, AND IS FOR THE OLDER GENERATION. I AM ONLY 45YRS. TEXTING IS TIME CONSUMING, AND DIFFICULT. BUT IT IS THE NEWSET WAY TO FIND PROPERTIES. I GUESS WE WILL SEE!
July 31, 2009 — 11:10 am
Geno Petro says:
Ive been w/Smarter Agent since about the last BHB Unchained in late April. A day doessn’t go by where someone doesn’t call me or at least look at a Listing (which pings my iPhone). Quality of people, location, and price point have been horrendous so far but the Law of Large Numbers says someone decent will eventually sift through the funnel. Its certainly worth the few bucks a month to subscribe.
August 3, 2009 — 1:09 pm