Listing Bits

Ask the average consumer what they know about the MLS, and you're likely to hear about their favorite Major League Soccer team. But CMLS wants to change that, and the organization is on a mission to educate the general public around the benefits of working with a real estate professional and listing a home on the MLS. Katie Smithson is the Director of Enterprise Sales at Lone Wolf Technologies, and she serves on the Board of Directors for both the Council of Multiple Listing Services and Real Estate Standards Organization. On this episode of Listing Bits, Katie shares CMLS's new In the Know Campaign, describing how the initiative seeks to convey the importance of the MLS to consumers. Katie explains why CMLS partnered with 1000watt to develop assets for In the Know and how agents and brokers can use the campaign's digital content to share the CMLS message with consumers. Listen in to understand how Lone Wolf is integrating In the Know content into Cloud CMA and find out how other vendors can get involved in educating consumers on the value of the MLS. What's Discussed: How CMLS's Making the Market Work Campaign communicated the value of the MLS to its members CMLS's partnership with 1000watt to develop assets for the new In the Know Campaign How the In the Know Campaign conveys the importance of the MLS to consumers Why In the Know is not specific to a particular MLS system but advocates for the industry as a whole CMLS's hope that brokers and agents will share the campaign's message with consumers Why exclusive listings are not a good look for organized real estate in light of Fair Housing legislation How listing on the MLS gives sellers the best exposure in a given market How In the Know assets are designed for brokers, agents and vendors to put to use How the Lone Wolf Technologies team is integrating In the Know content into Cloud CMA Live Katie's insight around how other vendors might get involved with the In the Know Campaign Connect with Katie: Email ksmithson [at] lwolf [dot] com Resources: CMLS's In the Know Campaign CMLS RESO CMLS's Making the Market Work Campaign 1000watt NAR MLS Clear Cooperation Policy The Fair Housing Act Our Sponsor: Cloud CMA for Brokers

Prior to 2003, Supra had a monopoly on the lockbox market. But NAR membership wanted choice, so the trade association invested in its first outside tech company, SentriLock. Today, a similar market dominance exists in showing service solutions, and SentriLock is stepping in once again to compete with the dominant player in the space. Scott Fisher and Devin Beck are the CEO and Director of Revenue of SentriLock, the first and only combined lockbox, showing service and experience management solutions for real estate. On this episode of Listing Bits, Scott and Devin explain why SentriLock is expanding into the showing service space and how proptech consolidation accelerated industry interest in their new offering. Scott and Devin share SentriLock's approach to entering a new market with a dominant player, describing how their partnership with NAR and commitment to customer service differentiate them from the competition. Listen in for insight around the unique features of the SentriKey Showing Service and learn how you can benefit from their lockbox offering, showing service or combination thereof. What's Discussed: How Scott's telecom background led him to the lockbox space Devin's efforts to diversify SentriLock's portfolio of offerings What inspired the partnership between NAR and Scott's team Why SentriLock is expanding into the showing service space SentriLock's approach to entering a market with a dominant player How Zillow's acquisition of ShowingTime accelerated interest in SentriLock's new offering How SentriLock's lockbox and showing solutions are designed to stand alone yet work together Why consolidation causes uncertainty in the MLS community Why NAR is unlikely to sell SentriLock How Scott sees their commitment to take care of the member first as SentriLock's secret weapon The features that differentiate SentriLock's showing solution How competition among vendors brings value to the industry Connect with Scott & Devin: SentriLock Scott on LinkedIn Devin on LinkedIn Resources: The Story Behind SentriKey Showing Service Supra CoStar's Acquisition of Homes.com REALTORS Relief Foundation REALTORS Political Action Committee Our Sponsor: Cloud CMA for Brokers

At present, MLS data access is unnecessarily complex. And brokers are calling for a more efficient system with a single set of rules around how the data can be used. In response, the CMLS Data Access Concepts Workgroup drafted the Listing Exchange and Access Policy or LEAP. But does the new policy really solve these problems? Could it be improved in a way that recognizes the changing landscape of the real estate industry? Sam DeBord is the CEO of the Real Estate Standards Organization, the trade group responsible for developing standards for the industry, and he writes for publications including REALTOR Magazine and Inman News. Michael Wurzer is the CEO of FBS, the leading innovator of MLS technology and one of the most respected real estate software brands, and he covers industry issues on the FBS Company Blog. Both Sam and Michael are active participants in the LEAP debate on Twitter and have written long-form posts on the topic. On this episode of Listing Bits, Sam shares the goals of the proposed Listing Exchange and Access Policy, describing how it seeks to simplify the rules and make access to MLS data more efficient. Michael discusses his concerns around the draft policy, explaining why licensing should be a part of LEAP and what a usage-based pricing model might look like. Listen in for Sam's speed limit versus toll road analogy for the issues at play and hear both sides of the debate on whether LEAP solves the fundamental problems brokers face in using MLS data. What's Discussed: LEAP's goal to simplify the rules and make access to MLS data more efficient Why Michael sees a problem with how LEAP treats IDX, VOW and Back Office the same Michael's argument that the value of aggregated MLS data as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts Why Michael believes that licensing and pricing should be a part of LEAP How the definition of a Participant is evolving and why Michael thinks LEAP should address the shift Sam's concerns around using policy to penalize companies who are using data well Sam's speed limit vs. toll road analogy for the issues at play in LEAP Michael's point that portals would be worth dramatically less without MLS data The potential to charge licensing fees for MLS data based on usage (with free low-usage plans available) Sam's view that MLSs should make local decisions about pricing rather than NAR policy Connect with Sam: Real Estate Standards Organization Sam's Website Sam on Twitter Connect with Michael: Michael's Blog on FBS Michael on Twitter Resources: Michael's First LEAP Post: Look Before You LEAP Michael's Second LEAP Post: MLS Content Is Uniquely Valuable, License It Accordingly Michael's Third LEAP Post: A Picture Is Worth More Than… Sam's Post: LEAP Forward -- Six Questions to Answer on Broker's MLS Data Rob Hahn's Blog on LEAP Vendor Alley LeadingRE The Realty Alliance CMLS Draft of the Listing Exchange and Access Policy (LEAP) Victor Lund on Twitter FloPlan by FBS Our Sponsor: Cloud CMA for Brokers

Policy may not be sexy, but without standards around how we format real estate data and build technology systems, we simply can't share data or integrate the tools we need to do our jobs well. Sam DeBord serves as CEO of the Real Estate Standards Organization, the trade group responsible for developing the open standards that drive efficiency and streamline technology for the industry. His resume includes a wide range of leadership positions in the real estate space, including President's Liaison for MLS and Data Management at NAR and VP of Government Affairs with Washington Realtors. Sam is also the VP of Strategic Growth for Coldwell Banker Danforth in Seattle and writes for REALTOR Magazine, Inman News and the Swanepoel Trends Report. On this episode of Listing Bits, Sam describes RESO's role in the real estate industry, explaining how the standards set by his organization provide certainty for developers and support data shares and tech integrations. He shares the progress RESO has made in the last year, discussing what they have done to streamline compliance certifications and initiate the proposed Listing Exchange Access Policy. Listen in for Sam's insight on the constraints of the current market (and the new tech that's emerged as a result) and find out how he thinks about the kerfuffle surrounding the most recent mergers and acquisitions in the real estate space. What's Discussed: What RESO does to create efficiencies and streamline tech for the real estate industry RESO's evolution to an independent trade organization and how it relies on thousands of volunteer SMEs to build its Workgroups RESO's recent work to streamline its compliance certifications and create a new development guide for vendors How RESO standards provide certainty for developers and support data shares and integrations Why Sam is a proponent of creating a single policy for how data is used and displayed (and how that would help brokers) RESO's work with the broker community and CMLS to draft the proposed Listing Exchange Access Policy The progress RESO has made in just the last year to align industry trade organizations, brokers and MLSs around common goals How RESO standards helped facilitate the NorCal MLS Alliance Sam's take on how the artificial constraints of the current market impact agents and the tech facilitating the trend to buy homes sight unseen How Sam thinks about the most recent mergers and acquisitions in the real estate space Why proptech companies need to recognize our cultural preference to work with an agent The potential problems associated with a broker-member of an MLS being paid by that MLS for a technology service Connect with Sam: Real Estate Standards Organization Email sam[at]reso[dot]org Sam on Twitter Resources: RESO Workgroups RESO Web API Tools & Software RESO's Broker Advisory Workgroup RESO Certification 2020 RESO Certification Updates Andy Woolley CMLS NAR NAR's MLS Technology & Emerging Issues Advisory Board Summary of NAR's 2021 MLS Policy Changes CMLS's Participant Data Access Policy LeadingRE The Realty Alliance CMLS's CCP Implementation Guide RESO Compliance Guide NorCal MLS Alliance Zillow Economist Jeff Tucker on Industry Relations EP059 CoStar Zillow's Acquisition of ShowingTime Greg on Twitter RESO's Unique Organizational Identifier (UOI) Victor Lund at WAV Group RESO Remix RESO's 2021 Fall Conference Our Sponsor: Cloud CMA

Video marketing is a powerful way for agents, brokers and real estate companies to reach consumers. But how do we get the most mileage out of our videos? How do we maximize the marketing value of the content we create? Christian Sterner is the Cofounder and CEO of WellcomeMat, the premier platform for managing your real estate video. Christian's team facilitates successful video marketing campaigns for agents, brokers and companies who are committed to video as a long-term marketing strategy, helping clients leverage video content to generate traffic and engagement on their domain. Christian has been playing in the technology and marketing space since 2000, and he has led WellcomeMat since its inception in 2006. On this episode of Listing Bits, Christian explains how WellcomeMat maximizes reach for every video in a user's library and helps them make educated decisions about what videos to create. He offers insight around what kind of content really moves the needle for real estate professionals, sharing his take on the pros and cons of producing humorous or provocative video content. Listen in to understand how WellcomeMat is working to facilitate visual search for the real estate industry and learn how drone automation can be used to create killer listing videos and accelerate the adoption of video marketing among brokers and agents. What's Discussed: WellcomeMat's mission to make video the most valuable thing agents and brokers can do to market themselves and their properties What makes WellcomeMat the best way to maximize reach for every video in your library How WellcomeMat accepts content from any service (and allows users to switch providers at will) What WellcomeMat does to help users make educated decisions about what videos to create How WellcomeMat increases site visits by an order of magnitude over using YouTube alone Why listing videos are best for pushing top line revenue The value in producing evergreen content like neighborhood tours, agent profiles, etc. WellcomeMat's referral database of 5,000 video production companies Christian's take on producing provocative and/or humorous video content The MLS rules around branded and unbranded content + how WellcomeMat offers tools to remove branding for MLS compliance WellcomeMat's work to facilitate visual search for the real estate industry How drone automation facilitates the production of quality video at scale for the real estate space Connect with Christian: WellcomeMat Christian on Twitter christian [at] wellcomemat [dot] com Resources: RE/MAX Trulia 8z Booj CBRE Revaluate Homebot ZAVI Homes TED For Sale by Owner LeadingRE Luxury Portfolio Halstead Semonin Realtors Wistia Tim Smith Group on YouTube Smith Group's 'Teach Me How to Duffy' Marketing Video Gracenote Shazam Cole's Drone Video Amazon's Ring Always Home Cam Skydio eWebinar

What can technology vendors do to better connect with the agents and brokers we hope to serve? And what can we learn from the perspective of a computer engineer turned REALTOR about how to approach real estate professionals and what kind of tech solutions they need? Georgia Purpura is Managing Broker at Urban Nest Realty, a mid-size independent brokerage out of Las Vegas, Nevada, where she specializes in helping agents grow their business. She is also very involved in the local association, most recently serving as Chair of the MLS. Georgia has been a licensed agent for 12 years, acting as broker for Keller-Williams Southwest before joining Urban Nest in 2018. Prior to real estate, she earned her degree in business and information technology and spent eight years working as a computer engineer. On this episode of Listing Bits, Georgia discusses how her background in IT has served her well in real estate, explaining how she evaluates technology solutions and what vendors can do to market their software more effectively. She offers advice for vendors and brokers on creating a business model that mitigates agent churn, challenging us to focus on producers rather than subscribers—casting a deeper net as opposed to a wider one. Listen in for Georgia's insight on how modern agents learn about technology tools (and how that's evolved over the years) and get her take on the top technology needs in the real estate space. What's Discussed: Georgia's background in computer engineering and how that tech experience has served her well in real estate How Georgia learned about tech tools early in her career from sales meetings and through the local association How modern agents learn about tech tools through word-of-mouth on social media Georgia's advice for vendors around marketing to top producers who can create influence for you Why vendors should lead with the problem they're solving for in pitching agents and brokers How Georgia evaluates tech based on its potential to shorten the sales cycle and save time or money Georgia's criticism of how brokers have gone about increasing profitability by having the biggest army (rather than the best) How real estate brokerages and software vendors can build a business model that mitigates agent churn The top technology needs Georgia sees in the real estate space --Integration among tech solutions (strategic alliances) --Agent retention and engagement tool for brokers Connect with Georgia: Urban Nest Realty Resources: David J. Tina Top Producer Inman News Realtor.com Realtor Magazine Vendor Alley Rob Hahn Joe Versus the Volcano Our Sponsor: Cloud CMA

Owning a second home can be an enriching experience, allowing us to make priceless memories with friends and family. But many can't afford to buy a vacation home, nor does it make much sense to leave a house sitting empty for ten-plus months, even if you can afford it. So, what if you could buy a share of a second home and enjoy true ownership for a fraction of the cost and hassle? ***MAKE SURE YOU CONSULT WITH A CPA. THIS PODCAST AND ITS CONTENT ARE NOT INTENDED TO GIVE TAX/INVESTMENT ADVICE ON LOSS/GAIN OF PASSIVE INCOME***** Austin Allison is the Cofounder and CEO of Pacaso, a startup designed to make the dream of second homeownership a reality for more people. The platform allows up to eight people to buy a share of a vacation home for much less—in a way that is seamless, hassle-free, and without risk. Austin's first venture was Dotloop, the real estate transaction management solution he built in 2008 and sold to Zillow in 2015. On this episode of Listing Bits, Austin introduces us to the benefits of co-owning a second home through Pacaso over the DIY model, explaining what differentiates a Pacaso from a resort or hotel timeshare. He describes how the platform's scheduling feature works and why it can actually be better to own a property with people you don't know versus friends and family. Listen in for Austin's insight on how his company makes money and learn how you might use Pacaso as a second home buyer, seller or real estate agent. What's Discussed: How Austin's frustration with creating and signing documents as an agent inspired the creation of Dotloop How Pacaso's mission around second home ownership inspired the company name The broad range of people Pacaso serves and the potential market for second homes in the US and Europe What differentiates a Pacaso from a resort or hotel timeshare --True ownership vs. rights to use --Single-family home --Easy to resell Why Pacaso prohibits short-term rental activity in its properties How Pacaso's scheduling feature allows users to reserve dates in a way that corresponds with their ownership level How Pacaso makes money through a markup on the real estate and asset management fees What happens if a Pacaso home increases in value The benefits of owning a home with people you don't know through Pacaso over the DIY model The potential tax benefits of owning a second home with Pacaso How the Pacaso process works for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents Connect with Austin: Pacaso Austin on LinkedIn Resources: Dotloop California Association of Realtors' Partnership with zipLogix The a16z Podcast The a16z Podcast on Joint Home Ownership Sponsor: Cloud CMA

It's easier to gain a seller's trust when you have the data to back you up. But where can agents and brokers go for real-time buyer data? And how do we turn those numbers into actionable insights to earn new business? Ashley Terrell is the Executive Vice President of Partnerships at Buyside, a real estate tech platform that helps real estate professionals leverage intelligent buyer data to capture seller leads, win more listings and close more transaction sides in-house. Prior to joining Buyside, Ashley served as the Director of Account Management and Director of Strategic Growth at Constellation Software and the Director of Account Management and Product Marketing at Real Estate Digital. On this episode of Listing Bits, Ashley explains how Buyside partners with other vendors to procure data and provide its users with seamless product integration. She offers insight around the current buyer landscape, sharing her take on why there's such a boom in real estate right now. Listen in for Ashley's insight on the resources available to help agents use the Buyside tools and learn how to leverage buyer data to win your next listing presentation. What's Discussed: Ashley's background in tech and how she was introduced to the real estate tech space How Buyside serves as a seller lead gen tool and helps agents win listing presentations How Buyside procures data from vendors like Zillow, ShowingTime, etc. Buyside's focus on seamless product integration to create the best possible user experience Ashley's insight around the current buyer landscape in real estate Ashley's take on why there's such a boom in real estate right now How agents and brokers can leverage buyer data in a listing presentation --Help seller price home --Marketing strategy --Pool of buyers How Buyside serves large brokerages vs. small brokerages and large teams The value proposition for Buyside in a buyer's market Ashley's commitment to building out resources that help agents use the Buyside tools Connect with Ashley: Buyside Ashley on LinkedIn Resources: Market Leader Sharper Agent Real Living John Hensley John Heithaus on Listing Bits EP061 Charles Williams ShowingTime RealScout Cloud CMA Inman News 'Existing Home Sales Skyrocket Amid Pandemic, Inventory Down' in Inman News ShowingTime's June 2020 Showing Index Results Buyside Help Center Sponsor: Cloud CMA

The five most stressful life events include the death of a loved one, divorce, major illness or injury, job loss, and moving. But a new proptech platform is working to take relocation off the list with a tool that makes the experience of moving less stressful, less expensive, and more efficient. John Heithaus is a serial entrepreneur and venture investor with 30-plus years of experience in strategic marketing, corporate strategy, and product development. He has co-founded or served as a founding executive of four real estate startups, generating nearly $100M in successful exits. One of John's current projects is OK Move Me, a proptech tool that offers consumers a one-stop resource for planning, moving, and settling into a new place. On this episode of Listing Bits, John explains how OK Move Me works, walking us through the four phases of the moving process and describing the site's interactive task lists for each. He discusses how the vendors promoted on the platform are vetted and share what the team is doing to provide an outstanding customer experience. Listen in for insight into how OK Move Me generates revenue and find out why the site is looking to partner with traditional real estate agents and brokers. What's Discussed: John's unique background in real estate, proptech investing and the music business What inspired John's return to building an online marketplace for moving + relocation services OK Move Me's four phases of the moving process and associated interactive task lists --Planning --Moving --Move-in --Settling in How OK Move Me serves as a referral organization rather than a direct service provider OK Move Me's affiliate agreements with vendors on the site What makes OK Move Me users a coveted cohort How OK Move Me vendors are vetted and held to a high standard The potential for OK Move Me to partner with traditional real estate agents and brokers How OK Move Me is promoting the site through social media ads and content marketing OK Move Me's alliance with moving company brands that focus on customer experience OK Move Me's Reddit approach to procuring user feedback Connect with John: OK Move Me My OK Move Me Resources: Buyside Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp SuperStar Factory Productions Pure Music Nashville Artisanship Music Moving.com Best Places to Live Jonathan Miller Sharma Packers and Movers Edwin Tichenor Relocation.com Move.com Updater Moove Guru The Knot Relocation Stress Syndrome Broker Public Portal MILLIE Indeed ZipRecruiter Monster AARP Wirecutter Honey Opendoor's Deal with Realtor.com Zillow's Partnership with DR Horton SIRVA Sponsor: Cloud CMA Live

Who's ready to get geeky about MLS? Collaborations among MLS organizations are usually about sharing data. But MLS Aligned takes collaboration to another level, promoting dialogue among their in-house technology teams and putting the tech tools they have developed to work in each other's markets. Matt Consalvo is the CEO at Arizona Regional MLS, Chris Carrillo is the CEO of Wisconsin's Metro MLS, and Brad Bjelke is the CEO at UtahRealEstate.com. Together, with a few other MLS organizations are principles at MLS Aligned, a collaboration of five forward-thinking MLS organizations that are coming together to change the industry. On this episode of Listing Bits, Matt, Chris, and Brad share the MLS Aligned origin story and discuss how their in-house tech teams benefit from the ability to share best practices. They introduce us to the MLS Aligned API, describing how it is designed to follow RESO standards while providing additional fields and features for vendors, brokers, and other MLSs. Listen in to understand how MLS Aligned might support smaller MLSs with fewer resources and learn about the organization's mission to provide high-quality products with a local focus. What's Discussed: How MLS Aligned grew out of a conversation among MLS CEOs and CTOs How the tech teams of MLS Aligned members benefit from the ability to share best practices Examples of MLS Aligned collaborations where tech has been plugged into other markets The Market Initiative partnership between ARMLS and Metro MLS Why the MLS Aligned API is designed to avoid data replication How the MLS Aligned API follows RESO standards while providing additional fields + features How vendors are using the MLS Aligned API How MLSs might collaborate to adapt to moving trends prompted by the pandemic What differentiates MLS Aligned from other MLS collaborations (e.g.: MLS Grid, MLS Roundtable, etc.) --Collaboration among MLSs with in-house technology teams --Mission to deliver a high-quality product with a local focus How MLS Aligned might serve as a lifeboat for smaller MLSs with fewer resources The focus on inclusivity at MLS Aligned Why the principals at MLS Aligned are committed to building success before they start selling Resources: ARMLS Metro MLS UtahRealEstate.com Monsoon Tax Records System MLS Grid Jim Harrison ARMLS & Metro MLS Market Initiative The Marquette Airbnb Study of Milwaukee STRs Sam DeBord at RESO CMLS MLS Roundtable Kurt von Wasmuth Dave Wetzel Connect with Matt, Chris & Brad: MLS Aligned Email [email protected] Sponsor: Cloud CMA Live

Most real estate agents look down on rentals, preferring to work solely with clients looking to buy in the next three to six months. What they don't realize is that there are $12B in leasing commissions available to those agents who are willing to work with renters. And they're missing out on the opportunity to build relationships with the homebuyers of tomorrow. But how do you find out what rentals are available in your market—when only a small percentage are listed on the MLS? Ishay Grinberg [pronounced ee-shy] is the Founder and President of Rental Beast, the MLS for rentals. The platform helps tenants and landlords navigate the rental experience and levels the playing field for agents and brokers, giving them access to a comprehensive database of rental listings. Ishay has 20-plus years of experience in the real estate industry, working as an agent and managing broker for firms in New York City and Boston before creating Rental Beast. On this episode of Listing Bits, Ishay introduces us to the Rental Beast platform and describes the opportunity available to real estate agents who are open to working with renters. He explains how the platform facilitates a fully virtualized transaction that is driven by the agent, exploring what the sales side of our industry can learn about virtualization from rentals. Listen in for Ishay's insight on integrating Rental Beast with existing MLSs and learn how the platform helps agents earn more by generating transactions on the rental side. What's Discussed: Why Ishay describes Rental Beast as the MLS for rentals The 50 unique data points Rental Beast collects for each property Ishay's experience in the NYC market where there is no MLS The $12B in leasing commissions available to agents who are willing to work with renters How working with renters helps agents build relationships with the homebuyers of tomorrow What JCHS research reveals about the growing affluence of renters in the US How Rental Beast facilitates a fully virtualized transaction driven by the agent How agents can leverage Rental Beast's AVM for rentals What the sales side of real estate can learn about virtualization from the rental industry --Streamline and digitize the closing process --Touchless showings Reading the local market to decide whether to hold or flip an investment property Rental Beast's vision for embedding themselves in the MLS universe via integration The positive results brokers are seeing from the use of Rental Beast Resources: RESO Harvard's JCHS Research FBS Invitation Homes MRED MRED's Partnership with Rental Beast Connect with Ishay: Rental Beast Sponsor: Cloud CMA Live

While we may not be able to predict exactly how the current health crisis will impact organized real estate moving forward, most of us would agree that change is in the air. The kind of change that could transform the way we do business altogether. So, how is the Coronavirus changing the way we think about the spaces where we live and work? And how might this new perspective lead to foundational shifts in our industry? Jessie Beaudoin is the Founder and CEO of CallAction, a lead engagement automation platform that helps real estate agents capture, track, and respond to leads from online and offline marketing channels. He has 35 years of experience in real estate, working as a mortgage broker for nearly two decades before his interest in efficiency and scale led him to the technology space. Now, Jessie is on a mission to help businesses do more in less time through intelligent sales and marketing automation. On this episode of Listing Bits, Jessie discusses the foundational shifts in real estate that may come from the Coronavirus pandemic, exploring how the crisis is changing the way we define 'home' and why the efficiencies of working remotely might shift the way we do business moving forward. He offers insight into why we lean on technology in moments of crisis and how the virus could impact the housing market in the months ahead. Listen in to understand what mainstream adoption of virtual showings means for real estate agents and get Jessie's advice on what YOU can do to step up as a leader for your clients and your family in this challenging time. What's Discussed: Jessie's background in real estate and segue into the technology space How the Coronavirus is giving us a newfound appreciation of what home means How the efficiency of working remotely might change commercial real estate Why we leverage technology in moments of crisis The positive foundational shifts that may come from the COVID-19 pandemic - Appreciate being together, hyper-focused during appointments - Written + verbal communication more clear, poignant and thoughtful How mainstream adoption of virtual and self-showings could impact agents Jessie's insight around how the virus might affect the housing market The innovations that emerged in the last recession Jessie's advice for agents on navigating the current health crisis - Leverage overcommunication and connection - Depend on technology to scale efforts - Step up as a leader for clients and family How CallAction allows agents to scale their communication via automation Resources: Zoom Real Estate for Millennials vs. Baby Boomers Gary Vaynerchuk's Keynote at Inman Connect 2016 Connect with Jessie: CallAction Call (323) 741-2255 Jessie's Blog Jessie on LinkedIn

Out of 565 Multiple Listing Services nationwide, 82 serve less than 100 brokers and agents. Unsurprisingly, this means that the nation's 20 largest Multiple Listing Services serve over 50 percent of the nation's total MLS subscribers. These statistics didn't exist a year ago, but thanks to the Real Estate Almanac, the disparity is clear. Now that we understand the scale of the issue, how can we make changes to better serve agents, brokers, and their clients? Clint Skutchan is the vice president of T3 Sixty's association and MLS division. T3 Sixty is an industry-leading management consultancy and research company that focuses on residential real estate brokerage. Clint has over a decade of experience in the real estate industry and previously served as CEO of a realtor association in Colorado. He established an independent consulting company in 2014. In 2018, he joined T3 Sixty. On this episode of Listing Bits, Clint discusses T3 Sixty's latest undertaking: Real Estate Almanac. He explains where the idea for a comprehensive list of MLSs and associations came from and talks about some of the surprises that came out of that list. Listen in for Clint's insight on the future of the Real Estate Almanac and how the data it consolidates will impact the industry, and the nation as a whole. What's Discussed: How Clint got involved in T3 Sixty What the Real Estate Almanac is and what it says about the industry Why T3 Sixty put the latest MLS and association list together What issues MLSs and associations are facing nationwide Whether Clint thinks NAR membership will stagnate, drop, or continue increasing How the list of MLSs and associations has shrunken in five years Why MLSs choose not to consolidate How smaller MLSs might tackle some of the issues they face What's next for the Real Estate Almanac Resources: T3 Sixty Real Estate Almanac Top Associations/MLS Connect with Clint: Follow Clint on Twitter Follow Clint on LinkedIn

According to research conducted by Freddie Mac, there are 83 million mortgage-ready renters in the US! But most grossly overestimate how much they need for a down payment and very few know about the low down payment programs available to low and moderate-income home buyers. How much could a real estate business grow simply by making down payment assistance part of its business development strategy? Rob Chrane is the CEO of Down Payment Resource, a platform that aggregates down payment assistance program data and connects homebuyers with down payment assistance. Rob has more than 30 years of experience as a top-producing Realtor and mortgage broker, and he has been recognized as a HousingWire Vanguard for his leadership in the housing economy. On this episode of Listing Bits, Rob discusses who down payment assistance is designed to help and why some agents and lenders are reluctant to incorporate these programs into their workflow. We also discuss the evolution of Proptech as well as the pros and cons of the fractional ownership model. Listen in for insight around how Down Payment Resource shares its data with MLSs, lending companies, and individual agents and LOs—and learn about the massive opportunity available to real estate players with access to down payment assistance tools. What's Discussed: How Rob connects homebuyers with down payment assistance What inspired Rob to create Down Payment Resource Who down payment assistance programs are designed to help Why agents and lenders are reluctant to use these programs How Down Payment Resource gets its data to industry players MLSs and Associations Enterprise solutions for lenders Down Payment Connect (individual agents, LOs) How Down Payment Resource makes money via a subscription model How Rob thinks about the Proptech fractional ownership model How DPR's data shows up for MLS clients vs. individual agents Resources: Urban Land Institute Freddie Mac Housing & Economic Research Cloud CMA MGIC Divvy Shelley Specchio Connect with Rob: Down Payment Resource Down Payment Connect

Many agents might view Opendoor as a competitor, yet another tech platform out to eliminate their jobs. But what if you could leverage the iBuyer as a partner to build your real estate business? Shannon Fitzpatrick leads a team of 45 agents at Movoto Real Estate in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, and Tyler Hixson serves as the Director of Real Estate Partnerships and Strategy at Opendoor. In this episode of Listing Bits, Tyler and Shannon explain how agents can leverage Opendoor as a tool to grow their business, bringing cash offers to prospects and tying multiple transactions together. Shannon speaks to the value of going into a listing presentation with an Opendoor offer, describing how it allows him to do what's best for the seller, and Tyler discusses why agents can get a stronger offer from the platform by articulating the property's unique features. Listen in for insight into the misconceptions agents have about Opendoor and learn how to work WITH the iBuyer to serve your clients and generate more leads. What's Discussed: How Shannon uses Opendoor to bring a cash offer to prospects Leveraging Opendoor to tie multiple transactions together The value of going into a listing presentation with an Opendoor offer Opendoor's offer valuation process and associated service fees How Opendoor passes its vendor discounts on to sellers How Opendoor can serve as a powerful lead gen tool for agents Why agents can get a stronger offer from Opendoor than sellers How Opendoor works directly with agents through closing How Shannon uses Opendoor as a recruiting tool at his brokerage The advantage to sellers of working with an agent AND Opendoor The misconceptions agents have about the Opendoor platform Quality of offer + fees Think it's out to eliminate agents Opendoor's plans to expand to serve all customers, home types Resources: W+R Studios Cloud CMA Opendoor/CloudCMA Connect with Tyler: Opendoor's Agent Partner Program Connect with Shannon: Movoto Shannon's Website Shannon on Zillow

When you move fast, you break things. Mark and the rest of Remine's co-founders are definitely shaking things up in the MLS space. This conversation was recorded at the CMLS Conference in Salt Lake City on October 17th before their recent attempt to launch a new listing portal and Zillow's decision to cut off access to their Zestimate API As Mark says, in this wide ranging conversation, Remine's attitude is to "go big or go home." In February 2019, Remine raised $30M in private equity to grow its real estate data and analytics platform. A month later, the company announced a painful reduction in force as they shifted focus from upselling agents to partnering with the MLS. So, what prompted Remine's pivot to an enterprise model? And how are they making the transition from predictive analytics to a next-level MLS system? Mark Schacknies is the Cofounder and CEO of Remine, a software company that delivers real estate intelligence to more than 825,000 realtors in 40-plus MLS markets. On this episode of Listing Bits, Mark shares the Remine origin story, discussing how the founders started out as competing agents but came together around a shared fondness for data-driven strategies. Mark speaks to Remine's pivot from predictive analytics tool to full MLS system, describing what inspired their transition to an enterprise model and how they are addressing their lack of experience in the realm of MLS conversion. Listen in for insight around how Remine's philosophy differs from legacy incumbents like CoreLogic and learn what success looks like for Mark's team on their journey to an IPO. What's Discussed: How the founders of Remine started out as competitors Leveraging tech to transform real estate from within How the MLS governs the world's most important asset class Why Redfin is at the top of Mark's list of consumer portals Balancing privacy with data to empower decision-making What inspired Remine's pivot to a full MLS platform What a day-in-the-life of Mark Schacknies looks like How Remine is addressing a lack of experience in MLS conversion The difference in philosophy between Remine and CoreLogic How Remine's UI gives control to MLSs re: business rules What success looks like for Remine + the IPO timeline Resources: CMLS 2019 The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future by Alvin Toffler Cloud CMA Joe Kazzoun Connect with Mark: Remine Mark on LinkedIn

You can ask Alexa to turn on the lights, show you the forecast, remind you what's on your calendar today, or give you the score of the Astros game. And now, voice assistants are expanding to the real estate industry, allowing agents to open their business information and even access the MLS—with the sound of their voice alone! Miguel and Ami Berger are the creators of Voiceter Pro, the conversational search platform that brings real estate and consumers together via conversations with voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Home. On this episode of Listing Bits, brought to you live from the 2019 RESO Fall Conference, Miguel and Ami share their mission to provide customized voice technology to the real estate space, affording voice access to websites, MLSs and associations. Miguel and Ami explain how they came to create the company and describe their vision for Voiceter 2.0, offering insight around potential features and applications that could be added to the platform. Listen in to understand why the Voiceter technology is system agnostic, how industry standards make it easier for small teams to innovate, and what applications Voiceter might facilitate beyond the real estate vertical. What's Discussed: Voiceter's mission to provide voice to the real estate industry How Voiceter affords voice access to MLSs and associations The potential for Voiceter customization by MLS and agent How Miguel and Ami came to create Voiceter Pro Miguel's vision around potential features for Voiceter Pro Why the Voiceter Pro team has decided to be system agnostic How the consumer search works and what info it provides Voiceter Pro's intention to integrate with other vendors, APIs How industry standards support developers like Voiceter Pro Potential voice applications beyond the real estate vertical How Voiceter Pro brands to the agent, broker or association Resources: Ami's Voiceter Pro Presentation at RESO RESO 2019 Fall Conference FBS CoreLogic Trestle Samsung Bixby Adam Cheyer The BBC's Beeb Cloud CMA Developers Page ShowingTime Connect with Miguel & Ami: Voiceter Pro Voiceter on Vimeo Voiceter on Twitter Voiceter on Facebook Ami on LinkedIn Miguel on LinkedIn

Michael Wurzer is 100% confident of one thing: The MLS creates value in the real estate market that doesn't exist in any other way. No one else has created enough trust to generate that same level of cooperation among competitors. And rather than being a scourge to brokers, Michael argues that the MLS powers the market. That unique value prop is the reason why he believes current trends will prove the value of the MLS—not kill it. Michael is the CEO of FBS, the leading innovator of MLS technology. He has 22 years at the helm of this highly-respected real estate software brand which was named one of Forbes2019 Small Giant companies. On this episode of Listing Bits, Michael addresses the trend toward off-market listings, sharing his take on why it's not a threat to the MLS. He weighs in on the potential creation of a 'vendors association' that would afford prescreened developers access to real estate data. Michael also discusses the likelihood of consolidation in the MLS vendor space, tech adoption in the employee versus independent contractor models, and the importance of data in light of high agent churn. Listen in for insight around the value of integration among real estate tech vendors and learn Michael's take on the role of the MLS in creating choice for its members. What's Discussed: How standards are key in making software easier to build The trend toward off-market listings and its impact on the MLS The idea that pocket listings are a kind of DIY-Upstream The resilience of the MLS community and its unique value prop The creation of a 'vendor's association' to prescreen developers Why ShowingTime's acquisitions of CSS is a holy shit moment The likelihood of consolidation in the MLS vendor space Tech adoption in employee vs. independent contractor models The importance of data in light of high agent churn Why SaaS marketing techniques don't work in real estate The value of integration among vendors and with the MLS The role the MLS plays in creating choice for its members Resources: Pocket Listings on Industry Relations EP037 Inman Panel on the MLS & iBuyers Michael's 'Death of MLS?' Blog Post Andy Woolley at Homes.com Swanepoel Trends Report ShowingTime's Acquisition of CSS Lone Wolf Technologies Software is Eating Real Estate on Industry Relations EP029 Cloud CMA Developers Page BombBomb Curaytor Connect with Michael: FBS Flexmls Michael on LinkedIn

"These combinations are fragile. You're pulling 43 associations together. You're pulling all these different boards together. You're pulling all these different things together … so, I suppose you could look at blowing it up and go, 'Why the hell did you do that?' [The consolidation of MLSs] was a big deal and was very, very expensive. It really was, both in time and energy and everything involved. But you could also look at it this way: It's something that had to be done. It really, really did. So, you can take your pain now or later." Brian Donnellan is the interim CEO of Bright MLS, a consolidation of nine forward-thinking MLSs in the Mid-Atlantic region that serves 85K real estate professionals and facilitates approximately 250K annual transactions valued at more than $70B. Brian has 13 years of industry experience, serving as CFO and COO of MRIS prior to the merger. On this episode of Listing Bits, Brian shares the challenges of merging different personalities and cultures and explains how the Bright consolidation gave others the courage to follow suit. Brian also offers insight around the power of relationships in the real estate industry, the factors that influence growing agent attrition, and the value of building a product that helps brokers and agents make better decisions. Listen in to understand why Bright MLS is bringing on new staff from outside the industry and learn how the team's commitment allowed them to endure criticism during the consolidation and get to a place they can be proud of! **A quick note, due to a microphone issue the sound quality of this isn't that great.** What's Discussed: Brian's background in information systems and public policy How we underestimate the relationship aspect of real estate Brian's insight on the factors that influence agent attrition How building a better product supports agent production The challenge of merging the cultures of MRIS + TREND MLS The distinction among members, customers and subscribers The rocky start to the process of consolidating Bright MLS How the Bright team endured the criticism on social media The value of bringing in new staff from outside the industry Brian's pride in Bright's progress and vision of the future Resources: Inman Connect Teaching Strategies Homesnap Tom Phillips David Charron Frank Major Chris Finnegan Mike DelGaudio Connect with Brian: Bright MLS Brian on LinkedIn

Ever wonder what happened to all the business cards you've handed out over the years? Wish there was a better way to engage with prospects beyond simply giving them your contact information and hoping for the best? The SavvyCard platform affords real estate professionals the opportunity to provide immediate value to new leads, sharing information relevant to their initial conversation with the prospect. And most importantly, SavvyCard gives the agent control of the follow-up! David Etheredge is the cofounder and CEO of SavvyCard, a lead development platform designed to facilitate proactive, tech-enabled follow-up with prospects. David and his team are committed to helping real estate agents, brokers, associations and affiliates build a direct relationship with buyers and sellers through technology and networking tools that put the customer experience first. Prior to SavvyCard, David managed software development teams for Disney Interactive, Microprose and Hasbro Interactive and cofounded a boutique digital marketing agency. Today, David shares the origin story behind SavvyCard, explaining the platform's intent to facilitate proactive follow-up by way of a digital business card. He discusses the SellerShare feature, describing how it can be used to engage sellers in promoting their own listing on social media. David also walks us through best practices for following up with prospects, addressing the data around how quickly agents should follow up and offering ideas for how to provide value. Listen in for David's insight around the role of advertising in growing a business and learn why real estate professionals should take advantage of social platforms to promote new property listings! What's Discussed: David's background managing software development teams How SavvyCard originated as a better way to engage prospects How progressive web apps will change the way content is distributed How SavvyCard facilitates tech-enabled, proactive follow-up Engaging sellers in promoting their listing on social via SellerShare The data around following up within 10 minutes of meeting a lead Following up with a relevant article or service recommendation Why it's valuable to post new property listings on Facebook David's insight around the role of advertising in growing a business SavvyCard's intent to become a part of the real estate toolkit Resources: SellerShare Connect with David: SavvyCard David on LinkedIn

"We will never sacrifice service to our existing customers to growth. We just won't. Our first priority is taking care of our customers." Merri Jo Cowen is the CEO of Stellar MLS, the third-largest regional MLS in the US with nearly 60K members in 16 REALTOR Associations throughout Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Formerly known as My Florida Regional MLS, the organization's recent rebrand is inspired by its reputation as the country's most customer-focused MLS and intention to design a curated experience for each subscriber. Merri Jo's resume also includes a 6-year run as CEO of Northern Nevada Regional MLS, and in her 35-plus years in the industry, she served as president of CMLSand played an integral role in the development of the CMLXprofessional accreditation program. Today, Merri Jo shares her journey from entering listing input at the Reno Board of Realtors to CEO of Stellar, offering insight around the challenges she faced in moving from NNRMLS to MFRMLS in 2008. She discusses her commitment to foster future industry leaders, her involvement in the MLS Grid, and her proactive approach to solving for front-end of choice. Listen in to understand how MFRMLS has grown under Merri Jo's leadership—without sacrificing service—and learn how the organization is working to create a 'curated customer journey' for each of its members. What's Discussed: Merri Jo's journey from entering listing input to MLS CEO Merri Jo's commitment to foster future industry leaders Merri Jo's leadership in developing the CMLX program The challenges of moving from NNRMLS to MFRMLS The experience of expanding Stellar to include Puerto Rico What inspired the rebranding of MFRMLS to Stellar MLS Stellar's emphasis on creating a curated customer journey Why Merri Jo sees value in being part of the MLS Grid Merri Jo's proactive approach to solving front-end of choice Resources: NNRMLS CMLS CMLX Shelley Specchio Chris Carrillo Sean Murphy T3 Summit MLS Grid Flexmls Matrix Remine Cloud MLX NAR Legislative Meetings Rapattoni Connect with Merri Jo: Stellar MLS Email: ceo [at] stellarmls [dot] com

Rather than trying to predict the future of real estate and act accordingly, Gene Millman is working to collaborate with brokerages to create the future together. He comes to MLS leadership from a unique perspective, leveraging his experience running a brokerage to find ways to say YES to his members and champion the industry as a whole. Gene is the CEO of Northern Nevada Regional MLS. With 32 years of experience in the real estate industry, he served as an agent, broker-manager and broker-owner before making the transition to MLS executive. Greg has held key leadership roles with various local, regional and state associations, and his recognitions and honors include Realtor of the Year for the Delaware Association of Realtors and Hall of Fame Inductee at the New Castle County Board of Realtors. Today, Gene explains how serving on the board at TRENDintroduced him to the MLS world and how working on consolidation ignited his passion for the space. He introduces us to his mission to partner with brokers and create a future together. Gene also offers his predictions around the potential iBuyer market share and shares his take on portals as a broker versus MLS exec. Listen in for insight on creating culture within a team and securing buy-in for your vision—and learn how Gene's background as a broker influences his approach to running an MLS. What's Discussed: How serving at TREND introduced Gene to the MLS world How MLS consolidation ignited Gene's passion for the space The differences among governance models from MLS to MLS Gene's approach to running the MLS to serve the brokers Why Gene doesn't believe that the MLS is under threat The MLS's responsibility to secure data, give brokers control Gene's aim to partner with brokers + create a future together How a market correction may impact views toward the MLS Gene's take on portals as a broker-owner vs. MLS executive Gene's predictions around the potential iBuyer market share The value in creating culture + getting buy-in for your vision Resources: T3 Summit TREND MLS Connect with Gene: Northern Nevada Regional MLS Gene on LinkedIn

Glenn Kelman has always had the ambition to make real estate better for consumers. But it took him a while to realize that he wasn't the only one who wanted to do that. He came into the game with an US vs. THEM mentality, assuming that all of Redfin's competitors were villains and snake oil salesmen. To his relief, it turned out that his industry rivals were actually good people. And while that doesn't make him any less driven, he does concede that this shift in perspective has made him 'not quite so insufferable.' Glenn Kelman is the President and CEO of Redfin, a technology-powered brokerage designed to redefine real estate in the customer's favor. Prior to Redfin, Glenn cofounded the startup Plumtree Software and served as its VP of Marketing & Product Management until its acquisition in 2005. Glenn has been the CEO of Redfin for the past 13 years, and under his leadership, the company was twice named Innovator of the Year by Inman News. Redfin went public in July of 2017, and today, its market cap is $1.82B. Today, Glenn explains why he still feels like an underdog, despite Redfin's success. He weighs in on running a mission-driven company, discussing his aim to 'do something good for real estate consumers' whether Redfin makes money or not. Glenn also covers the civil nature of the relationship between Redfin and Zillow, Redfin's new partnership with Re/Max, and the impetus behind Redfin's 'buy without an agent' feature. Listen in for Glenn's insight on cultivating agent professionalism and learn how his perception of the competition has changed over time. What's Discussed: Why Glenn still feels like an underdog despite Redfin's success Glenn's aim to 'do something good for real estate consumers' Glenn's take on the tribal nature of American politics How becoming a father has made Glenn a better leader The learning culture Glenn works to cultivate at Redfin How Glenn's perspective of his competitors has changed Glenn's solutions-based approach to candor with employees How Glenn is driven by the desire to live up to his potential The civil nature of the relationship between Redfin and Zillow How Redfin addresses the idea of agent professionalism The impetus behind Redfin's new partnership with Re/Max What inspired Redfin's new 'buy without an agent' feature Resources: T3 Summit Glenn's 'Once and Future King' Post Vendor Alley Andreesen Horowitz Real Estate Stats Connect with Glenn: Redfin Glenn on LinkedIn

"A phone call is worth a thousand emails, and a Slack channel is worth a million conversations." RESO's push for an industry shift from RETS to Web API makes a lot of developers nervous. You can spin your wheels for days trying to figure out how to make the new way to consume MLS data work with your application. But here's the thing: Somebody else has probably already solved that problem. So, how do we create a platform where developers can team up to move adoption forward? How much does accessibility to the experts serve as a game-changer in the switch to Web API? Jon Druse is a Senior Developer at W+R Studios, a software company dedicated to building tools for the real estate industry. Prior to W+R, he served as a Software Engineer and Interaction Designer with Socialcast, Sleepy Giant, and Central Desktop and cut his teeth as a Senior Developer at PhishMe, Inc. Jon has 11-plus years of experience in the industry, and he was recently responsible for leading Cloud Agent Suite's shift away from RETS, making W+R the first vendor to put Web API into production. Today, Jon explains why direct access to 'people with answers' was critical to his success on the project. He describes how Web API is less error-prone and requires fewer requests than RETS yet displays in the same format. Jon also discusses the minimal differences among Bridge, Trestle and Spark when it comes to replication of a data set. Listen in to understand why collaboration among developers is key in moving Web API adoption forward and learn how Jon was able to make the transition happen at W+R in just 6 months! What's Discussed: How John set up the Web API feed in W+R's Cloud Agent Suite Why accessibility to 'people with answers' was crucial to Jon's success RESO's push for an industry shift from RETS to Web API The intention behind RESO's Replication Workgroup How Web API outperforms RETS in terms of time and accuracy How a common schema will solve for maintenance in Web API The 3 vendor-MLS partnerships delivering data through Web API The minimal differences among Bridge, Trestle and Spark for replication Jon's insight around how to move Web API adoption forward How Jon taught himself to program working tech support at a high school Resources: RESO Conference Mike Wurzer & Andy Woolley on Listing Bits EP035 Al at CoreLogic on LinkedIn The Bridge API Trestle Spark API Connect with Jon: W+R Studios Email: [email protected] Jon on LinkedIn Jon on Twitter

In a world where national brands like Zillow and Realtor.com dominate search results, how can individual brokerage websites compete? And how do real estate brokerages stay relevant as the iBuyer market continues to grow? Eric Stegemann believes the firms that adapt and take on alternative options for transacting will be well-placed for the future—and adopting the right real estate tech is a big part of that solution. Eric is the founder and CEO of TRIBUS, a custom brokerage platform vendor tasked with providing medium and large real estate firms with made-to-order websites, intranet, email marketing, transaction management and CRM systems. Eric became a licensed agent at the age of 18 and started his own tech-oriented brokerage, River City Real Estate, at 21. In short order, River City became the largest independent brokerage in St. Louis due in large part to its real estate tech innovations, which became the framework for TRIBUS. Eric is often called upon to speak at industry events, including Inman Connect and the NAR Annual Conference. Today, Eric explains why brokerage websites still matter in the age of Zillow and Trulia, discussing what differentiates a TRIBUS site from the national brands. He shares his conservative approach to growth for TRIBUS and offers advice for aspiring vendors in terms of building trust and fixing your mistakes. Listen in for Eric's insight around the challenges facing brokerages today and get his industry predictions on MLS consolidation, the changing role of the agent, and potential winners in the iBuyer market. What's Discussed: How Eric started selling real estate to pay for college What inspired Eric's shift from broker to software vendor The meaning behind the company name, TRIBUS TRIBUS' aspiration to be a zebra rather than a unicorn Eric's take on the challenges facing brokerages today Eric's insight on why brokerage websites still matter How TRIBUS customer sites rank in Google search results How local content differentiates a TRIBUS site from Zillow TRIBUS' pioneering collaborative search mechanism How brokers can build their own iBuyer programs Eric's top advice for vendors on persistence and presence Eric's predictions on MLS consolidation + iBuyer success Resources: RESO Conference Doyle Real Estate Team LeadingRE Blackstone Connect with Eric: TRIBUS TRIBUS on Facebook TRIBUS on Twitter TRIBUS on LinkedIn Eric on LinkedIn

The Clash. The Police. Journey. Talking Heads. Some of the most well-known bands in recent history also happen to have some of the most powerful names. Names that describe their music and articulate what separates them from everyone else. Just like those bands, the name of your real estate brand has a job to do. So, why are so many of us afraid to break traditional paradigms? Why is every brokerage Insert-Last-Name Realty? And why are so many logos a roofline? What if you liberated yourself from what everybody else is doing and made your own kind of music? We recorded this podcast live after Marc spoke at the MLS Summit, an event hosted by Annie Ives of The MLS™/CLAW. Marc Davison is the cofounder of 1000watt, an agency dedicated to helping real estate brokerages, tech vendors, mortgage and title companies, MLSs and associations build better brands through marketing and design. Prior to 1000watt, he served as the Vice President of OnBoard Informatics and founded Access Media. Marc's resume also includes a long stint in the music business as a musician and manager, and he is the author of All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians. Today, Marc shares the parallels between building a band and building a company, discussing how his background in music informs his work at 1000watt. He offers insight around the dynamics of the team at 1000watt, describing the unique voice of the company and how its name serves as a differentiator. Listen in for Marc's challenge around breaking paradigms in branding your real estate organization and learn how your name, logo and messaging can work together (in harmony, of course) to articulate what's important to you as a company. What's Discussed: How Marc's background music relates to his work at 1000watt The parallels between building a band and building a company How 1000watt's unique voice differs from its team members Marc's take on real estate as an intoxicating, aspirational business The significance of thinking of your company as a product Marc's insight on the charisma of the name W+R Studios How names serve as vehicles to create differentiation Why 1000watt chose to brand itself as an agency vs. consultancy Marc's challenge around real estate terminology (i.e.: Team, Realty) The necessity of alignment among names, logos and messaging Resources: The MLS Summit TheMLS.com All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians by Marc Davison 'An Uncommon Brokerage Vision' in 1000watt Nick Shivers The Police - Bring on the night -LIVE PARIS -79. Connect with Marc: 1000watt 1000watt Blog Marc on 1000watt Marc on LinkedIn

This episode was recorded live at the Clareity/Corelogic MLS Executive Workshop in Scottsdale. Art and Josh were good sports when I spotted them at the lobby bar at the Scottsdale Plaza. Also, full disclosure, I think I've had at least one drink. So, what's it going to take to get vendors to transition away from RETS to Web API?RESO is hoping that both a carrot (providing easy-to-use replication tools) and a stick (large MLSs putting a 'death date' on RETS feeds) will facilitate the move. Art Carter is the Chair of the 2019 RESO Board of Directors and CEO of California Regional MLS. Josh Darnell is the Chief Architect at RESO and Founder and CEO of kurotek, a real estate tech consultancy. Both Art and Josh are committed to RESO's mission around creating and promoting the adoption of standards to drive efficiency in the real estate industry. Today, Art and Josh discuss the transition from RETS to Web API and discuss what RESO is doing to rectify the replication issue. Art gives us an update on the progress of RESO's search for a new CEO, describing the combination of technical skill and evangelism the organization is looking for in a leader. Josh shares his take on independent systems like Trestle and Spark API and walks us through the RESO initiatives that address the separation of listing input. Listen in for insight into the ongoing evolution of real estate standards and learn how you can support RESO's work to give agents access to the data they need. What's Discussed: The progress of RESO's search for a new CEO What RESO is looking for in a leader for the organization What the RESO Board is doing to rectify the replication issue RESO's understanding that standards will continue to evolve RESO's focus on giving agents access to the data they need Josh's take on independent systems like Trestle, Spark API The intent behind RESO's RCP010 and RCP019 initiatives Why we will eventually rely on MLSs to handle compliance The value of working together in an open-source model Art's insight on how proprietary systems impact innovation Why vendors need to accept that RETS is going away Who Josh would like to see at RESO's Workgroup meetings What it will take to get vendors to transition to Web API Resources: Mike Wurzer on Listing Bits EP035 OAuth Trestle Spark API RESO on RubyGems Amy Gorce at RESO Connect with Art & Josh: RESO Josh at RESO kurotek Art on LinkedIn CRMLS

Is it better to develop an all-in-one CRM? Or focus on relationship-management and work with other vendors to create a flexible package of best-in-class offerings? In the ever-evolving world of real estate tech, LionDesk is choosing integrations, leveraging partnerships with top third-party applications to create a CRM that plays well with others—and allows agents to maintain their independence. David Anderson is the founder and President of LionDesk, a complete sales and marketing solution for real estate agents, broker and lenders. As one of the premiere CRMs, LionDesk makes it easy for sales professionals to connect, communicate and close more leads, and its open API platform integrates with hundreds of the best management tools, allowing professionals to run their entire business from a single system. Today, David shares the challenge LionDesk faced in designing a CRM flexible enough to accommodate any workflow. He discusses the early days of the startup when he was 'giving it away for free,' focusing on individual agents and referral business and developing the subscription business model. David also speaks to Compass' acquisition of Contactually and how it is impacting his business. Listen in for insight around how LionDesk integrates with other best-in-class real estate systems like Cloud CMA and ShowingTime and learn why agents prefer an independent, third-party system to an all-in-one, broker-led platform. What's Discussed: How David's experience building tools for travel translated to real estate The challenge LionDesk faced in designing a flexible CRM for any workflow David's focus on individual agents and referral business in the early days LionDesk's recent deal to provide CRMLS members with a full account How LionDesk integrates with best-in-class apps like ShowingTime + Cloud CMA Why agents appreciate the freedom and independence of a third-party system How Compass' acquisition of Contactually is affecting David's business Why David believes an all-in-one brokerage CRM system is the wrong play The LionDesk SaaS month-to-month subscription business model Why David discourages new vendors from pursuing the freemium model The challenge around determining a CRM's number of active users Resources: Greg's Blog on the LionDesk Partnership with CRMLS ShowingTime Cloud CMA Contactually 'Compass Acquires Contactually' Press Release 'Compass to Acquire Alain Pinel Realtors' in Inman MoxiWorks Connect with David Anderson: LionDesk David on LinkedIn

We've all heard the rallying cry to drop RETS and move over to the RESO Web API. What's been less clear is exactly how to go about making that transition. So, what's step one? How exactly might vendors help make this shift happen? Rebecca Jensen is the President and CEO at Midwest Real Estate Data, the real estate data aggregator that provides the Chicagoland multiple listing service to more than 45K subscribers. Under Rebecca's leadership, MRED was named Most Innovative MLS by Inman News. Rebecca also serves as the Board Chair for MLS Grid, a technology company created by MLSs across the country to deliver on the RESO Standards and provide vendors with a single access point for the data of participating MLSs in addition to a unified licensing agreement, standardized business rules and policing processes. Today, Rebecca explains how the MLS Grid provides both a unified data feed and compliance process. She shares the tech company's progress in getting the IDX feed and licensing agreements up and running as well as her long-term vision to have all software connect through the platform. Rebecca discusses the cost to vendors to access MLS data through the Grid and walks us through her efforts to facilitate a graceful transition from RETS to Web API. Listen in to understand the opportunity for vendors to test their apps against new systems like MLS Grid and get access to MRED's step-by-step guide for RESO Web API adoption. What's Discussed: How the MLS Grid serves as a unified platform to deliver RESO standards How the Grid provides a unified data feed and licensing agreement MRED's step-by-step guide for vendors regarding Web API adoption MLS Grid's work to finalize VOW and back office licensing agreements How MLSs set prices for vendors to access their data through MLS Grid Rebecca's long-term vision to have all software connect through the Grid The benefits of the unified compliance process provided by MLS Grid Rebecca's insight on the different ways to approach consolidation Rebecca's efforts to transition from RETS to Web API gracefully How long it may take to convert a RETS infrastructure to Web API The difference between an API and the data dictionary itself The need for vendors to test their apps against new systems like MLS Grid Rebecca's call for vendors and MLSs to plan for Web API adoption Resources: REALTORS Conference & Expo RESO Conference Mike Wurzer & Andy Woolley on Listing Bits EP035 MLS RoundTable RealTracs Homesnap (BPP) MLS 2020 Agenda Trestle Spark API MLS Aligned Bridge API Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customersby Geoffrey A. Moore Connect with Rebecca Jensen: MLS Grid MRED LLC Rebecca on LinkedIn

ShowingTime was built to help people buy homes more efficiently by making the process of scheduling a showing much easier. Since it was founded 18 years ago, the company has grown to include a family of technology products that serve MLSs, brokers and agents in the areas of showing management and market statistics. Mike Lane is the Co-Founder and President of ShowingTime, the most widely used showing management service provider in the market. ShowingTime serves 1M agents and 200 MLSs, scheduling up to 5M showings per month. Mike has been with the company since its inception in 2000, and he continues to head its sales and marketing divisions and serve as the primary contact for MLS clients and large brokers. A former Naval Officer and seasoned athlete, Mike has competed in a number of triathlons, including three IRONMAN races, and he holds an MBA and Master's in Engineering Management from Northwestern. Today, Mike explains how ShowingTime facilitates the scheduling of showings by way of its online calendar and call center. He describes the company's evolution, discussing how they got into market stats as a complement to their core business. Mike covers the ShowingTime Index, explaining how agents might leverage the information and what showing activity reveals about market demand. Listen in for insight on ShowingTime's business model and learn what the company is doing to reach brokers and agents, remove the hurdles to ordering online, and navigate the complexities of bundling—and unbundling—its products and services. What's Discussed: How ShowingTime facilitates online scheduling of showings How the ShowingTime call center unburdens brokers/agents How Mike got into the real estate software business ShowingTime's acquisition of 10K Research and RBI MRIS How agents might leverage the ShowingTime Index How showing activity reveals demand in the market Mike's insight on the predicted turn in the market ShowingTime's focus on supporting mobile adoption ShowingTime's ability to facilitate reverse prospecting How ShowingTime serves MLSs, brokers and agents How to reach brokers and agents via online marketing Vendor efforts to remove the hurdles to ordering online The complexities of bundling products/services for REALTORS Resources: RESO Conference Cloud Agent Suite 10K Research RealEstate Business Intelligence Greg's Blog on MarketView ShowingTime's Showing Index Zillow Research Connect with Mike Lane: ShowingTime Mike on LinkedIn

Tim Dain has a reputation for being the 'mad scientist' of the MLS world. He is not afraid to challenge established systems and ask WHY things are done a certain way. Tim facilitates innovation by assigning a creative writing piece, commissioning a study or building a spreadsheet—and then implementing the best ideas with a commitment to being of service. Tim is the President and CEO of MARIS MLS, a multiple listing service out of St. Louis that serves 13 REALTOR associations, 58 counties and more than 13K members. A seasoned MLS executive with a unique resume, Tim spent two years running the Austin Board of REALTORS and four years as Executive Director of SIR/MLS prior to joining MARIS. Tim has a background in information technology, and he has served the real estate industry in multiple roles since 2006. Today, Tim explains why he is not afraid to disrupt established systems and shares the improvise-adapt-overcome leadership mantra he learned in the Marines. He offers insight around the redesign of the MARIS MLS website in collaboration with 1000watt, describing the skills development video library featured on the site. Tim addresses his work to rebuild the infrastructure at MARIS, offering insight on his essentialist approach to technology tools and his commitment to service over shiny objects. Listen in for Tim's take on the current plight of the broker and learn about his dedication to facilitating an honest dialogue around industry challenges—and publishing the unscripted answers. What's Discussed: Tim's reputation as the mad scientist of the MLS world MARIS's marketplace approach to the board structure Why Tim is not afraid to disrupt established systems Tim's improvise-adapt-overcome leadership mantra The redesign of MARIS's web presence with 1000watt Related content to continue learning process Video library tied to skills development Tim's work to rebuild the infrastructure at MARIS MLS Negotiating price vs. subsidizing tech for small brokerages The essentialist approach to MLS technology tools Tim's commitment to make basics available at a low cost Why service should be the Holy Grail of the MLS AMP's origins in a thought exercise re: small MLSs Tim's view of the consumer as the 'lion over the hill' How the MARIS Asksseries facilitates an honest dialogue Resources: RESO Conference 1000watt Cloud Agent Suite Bright MLS Clareity DASH Salesforce Tim's Infrastructure Spreadsheet The Buckminster Fuller Institute Bill Chee's 'Lions Over the Hill' MARIS Asks Connect with Tim Dain: MARIS MLS Tim on LinkedIn

Let's say you have your heart set on a kitchen with hardwood flooring, natural light and an island. Imagine having the ability to search images on the MLS for those specific features. With advancements in artificial intelligence, it is possible to have software read the images, identify the room type and even recognize the objects in it! There are an infinite number of use cases for the real estate industry and Restb.ai is quickly becoming a leader in the space. Dominik Pogorzelski is the Vice President of Product and Operations for Restb.ai, a machine learning computer vision company specializing in visual recognition for real estate. The company's plug-and-play solutions employ AI to automatically tag and classify property photos with industry-specific information. Dominik earned his MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona. Today, Dominik discusses the societal shift to consume information in a digital way, explaining Restb.ai's ability to filter images by room, features and amenities. He offers insight around the potential use cases for AI in real estate and the technology's ability to unlock the data available in images and create value in a number of ways. Dominik describes how the pain points in the online ecosystem differ between Europe and the US, and he addresses the decision to apply Restb.ai's technology to historical data or active listings. Listen in for insight on how an MLS might establish a partnership with Restb.ai and learn why AI is the next big thing in real estate technology. What's Discussed: Restb.ai's niche as an AI company playing in the real estate space Dominik's path to Barcelona and his role as VP at Restb.ai Restb.ai's client base in Europe, Canada and the United States How Restb.ai's AI filters images by room, features and amenities The societal shift to consume digital information in a visual way The potential applications of AI tech for real estate professionals AI's ability to unlock the data available in images and create value How Restb.ai could automate the compliance review process The moral obligation AI companies have to the industries they serve The horizontal players in the space vs. the specialists like Restb.ai How the online ecosystem in Europe differs from that of the US No central source in Europe like US MLS Duplicate listings, competitor watermarks The technical aspects of establishing a partnership with Restb.ai The decision to apply Restb.ai to active listings vs. historical data Resources: RESO Conference MLSOK TLCengine Connect with Dominik Pogorzelski: Restb.ai Email: [email protected]

As real estate professionals spend less and less time in the office and real estate offices host fewer and fewer walk-ins, you might start to question the merit of spending top dollar for office space in a high-rent district. What if you saved that money and reinvested it in agent services? What if you could build a full-service brokerage in the virtual world, conducting business and meeting with colleagues in VR? Cameron Paine is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at eXp Realty, the world's most successful virtual, full-service brokerage. eXp invests the money saved by having very few offices into the technology that helps its agents stay relevant. In his role as Senior VP, Cameron is responsible for seeking collaboration opportunities with MLSs, Associations, brokerages and technology partners. Camron's resume includes 15-plus years combined experience as top executive for an MLS and Association, and he has been recognized by Inman Newsas one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate. Today, Cameron shares eXp's decision to invest in change rather than fight it. He explains how a progressive MLS facilitates a broker's ability to do business and offers insight around the innovative joint system between Arizona Regional and Metro MLS. Listen in to understand how eXp helps its agents build wealth by investing in the company and learn how the brokerage is creating a virtual world for its employees and partners! What's Discussed: eXp's decision to invest in change rather than fight it How eXp serves as a virtual, full-service brokerage How eXp agents build wealth by investing in the company The benefits of running a brokerage without office space Cameron's background in MLS and Association leadership How a progressive MLS facilitates a broker's ability to do business The innovative joint system between Arizona Regional and Metro MLS Greg's argument for a New Jersey and Palm Beach MLS data share Cameron's responsibilities as SVP of Industry Relations at eXp Collaborations with other brokerages Opportunities with tech vendors How eXp was designed for agents as a tech-forward brokerage How eXp has created a virtual world for employees and partners Resources: Russ Bergeron ARMLS|Metro MLS Connect with Cameron Paine: eXp Realty Cameron on LinkedIn

Talk of standards adoption at the recent RESO conference in Milwaukee sounded much like the conversation last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. So, how do we move beyond discussing the reasons for converting to Web API and begin to execute on that plan? What might vendors do to help facilitate a little less talk—and a lot more action? Mike Wurzer is the President and CEO of FBS, a leading innovator of MLS technology and one of the most respected real estate software brands. Andy Woolley is the VP of Industry Development for Homes.com, one of the nation's top online real estate destinations and provider of tech solutions for the industry. In addition, Mike is the Vice Chair of RESO, and Andy serves on the Board of CMLS. They join Greg live from RESO Conference 2018to discuss the need for a shift in the conversation from the WHY of RESO standards adoption to actual implementation. Mike explains how the platinum data-dictionary certification stands in the way and addresses the need for education around how to access the credential manager. Andy describes what his team is doing to facilitate the transition to Web API, sharing his intention to publish a follow-up to the whitepaperdetailing the first few conversions. They also cover the complexities around efforts to do away with replication and their responsibilities as established vendors to promote Web API adoption. Listen in for insight around developing a plan for conversion and learn how trusted vendors might work together to help their customers move forward—faster. What's Discussed: Greg's frustration with the panel on standards at the RESO conference How MLS platinum data-dictionary certification is a barrier to adoption The need to move past a discussion of the WHY to implementation The need for education around how to access the credential manger What Andy's team is doing to facilitate the shift to Web API Mike's solution to the issue of renegotiating licensing agreements Andy's case study of the first few conversions + the proposed follow-up The complexities around efforts to do away with replication Other methodologies better than Web API Software developers expect copy of data The responsibilities of established vendors in promoting API adoption Serve customers, push MLSs to make feeds available Implementation = fewer maintenance, data quality issues Mike's insight on how the API makes lead data available in all apps Why every established vendor should have a plan for conversion The pros and cons of creating a deadline when RETS will stop working Resources: RESO Conference CoreLogic Trestle Spark API Black Knight Andy's Case Study Connect with Mike Wurzer: FBS IDX Solutions Mike on LinkedIn RESO Connect with Andy Woolley: Homes.com Andy on LinkedIn CMLS

How do MLS executives make decisions around which technology solutions work best for their REALTOR-members? What motivates leadership to establish a system of choice? Are there benefits to offering agents options when it comes to MLS solutions? And what are the challenges associated with giving members more alternatives? DaVina Lara is the CEO of the Oakland/Berkeley Association of REALTORSand bridgeMLS. Her career in real estate began working for Russ Bergeron at SoCalMLS in 1993. Since then, she has served as an association executive with both the Hemet San Jacinto and Palm Springs Regional Association of REALTORS. DaVina took on the role of OBAR CEO in August of 2015 and added the MLS leadership responsibilities in April of 2016. She is committed to providing members with access to reliable data through innovative technology, offering subscribers access to 10-plus MLSs across California. Today, DaVina shares her extensive industry resume, discussing her early years as the office manager for SoCalMLS through her current role as MLS and association executive. She explains the thinking behind her decision to implement a system of choice and what impressed her about the dynaConnections' connectMLS system. Listen in for DaVina's insight around the pros and cons of offering members additional technology options and learn more about the trend to separate listing input from MLS systems. What's Discussed: DaVina's early years as the office manager for OCMLS DaVina's extensive resume in the real estate industry Why DaVina is establishing a system of choice DaVina's goals as the CEO of bridgeMLS Change name, reputation Improve governance structure More advanced technology The advantages of dynaConnections' connectMLS system Give members options Great mobile site Phenomenal service How data is shared in SoCal vs. the Bay Area DaVina's plan to provide connectMLS training The trend to separate listing input from MLS systems The relationship between choices and support challenges Resources: Cloud MLX dynaConnections connectMLS Bridge Interactive Paragon BOOST MLS Staff Summit Connect with DaVina Lara: DaVina on LinkedIn bridgeMLS Oakland/Berkeley Association of REALTORS

How does design impact a real estate brokerage? Does it go beyond aesthetics to influence processes? How does quality design shape the user experience? And what are the benefits of an in-house creative team? Matt Beall is the CEO and Principal Broker at Hawai'i Life, the state's largest listing brokerage with over $25M in annual revenue across 13 commercial locations. He founded Hawai'i Life in 2008 to solve for representation of properties in marketing and digital technology, and now the firm does thousands of transactions each year, representing approximately $1B in sales. Matt also produces the Worthshop Series, a unique industry event designed to facilitate content and conversation among real estate's brightest minds, and he serves as the cohost of HGTV's popular reality show Hawaii Life. Today, Matt shares his diverse experience in real estate, discussing how his background in sales, investing and running a traditional brokerage inspired him to found Hawai'i Life and what differentiates the company from other firms in the space. He explains the value of design in creating a clean and simple user experience and his decision to employ a full-time team of creatives and engineers. Matt also describes the benefits of being featured on HGTV in terms of brand awareness and credibility. Listen in for a preview of this year's Worthshop at Mauna Kea Resort and learn how the design focus at Hawai'i Life contributes to its company culture. What's Discussed: Matt's background running a traditional brokerage What inspired Matt to found Hawai'i Life in 2008 Hawai'i Life's recent merger with Joy International Why Matt employs a full-time creative design team Hawai'i Life's focus on simplicity in user experience The benefits of being featured on HGTV The aim of Hawai'i Life's annual Worthshop Series What differentiates Worthshopfrom other conferences The key aspects of Hawai'i Life's company culture How an 'ethos of reset' influences the tone of Worthshop Resources: Wake Interactive Hawaii Life on HGTV Worthshop Series CMLS 2018 Connect with Matt Beall: Hawai'i Life Matt on LinkedIn Worthshop 8

How does a tech company maintain a startup mentality after nearly five decades in the real estate space? Rapattoni has held on to its spirit of independence since its inception, embracing change and demonstrating a pride of ownership that is rare in the tech industry. Brian Tepfer is the Executive Vice President and CTO of Rapattoni, a 48-year-old startup that offers a suite of innovative software products and services designed specifically for real estate associations and MLSs. In his role, Brian is responsible for shaping the future vision of the company's MLS and AMS software platforms and keeping Rapattoni's products relevant and useful. He has been with Rapattoni since 2003, serving as Technical Operations Manager and Business Processes Manager before his 2014 promotion to the C-suite. Today, Brian shares his background in computer science and business administration, explaining how he got his start in MLS tech support at Rapattoni. He describes the startup mentality at the company, its distinction as one of the first internet-based MLS systems, and Rapattoni's decision to focus on the real estate vertical. Brian walks us through the latest developments in the organization, including the new Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS, recent updates to every piece of their MLS software, and Rapattoni's drag-and-drop custom report writer. Listen in for Brian's take on hot button industry issues like the front-end of choice model and the Upstream initiative—and learn how Rapattoni is working to provide one of the best MLS experiences in the rapidly changing real estate market. What's Discussed: Brian's background in computer science and business Rapattoni's function as an MLS and AMS software service Brian's initial role in MLS tech support with Rapattoni Brian's affinity for the startup mentality at Rapattoni How pride of ownership inspires Rapattoni's independent path Why Rapattoni ultimately chose the real estate vertical How the company dealt with the passing of Andy Rapattoni The advantages of the new Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS Rapattoni's focus on updating every piece of its MLS software How the custom report writer helps agents stand out Brian's belief in the front-end of choice model 'Makes everybody better' Requires separate listing input Brian's take on Upstream and its lack of cohesive messaging Rapattoni's intention to provide one of the top MLS experiences Resources: Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS Cloud AMS Cloud Streams Rapattoni's Custom Report Writer Greg's Blog on Rapattoni Cloud CMA Cloud MLX Gary Keller at Inman Connect 2018 Connect with Brian Tepfer: Rapattoni Brian on LinkedIn

'Defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences.' Century 21 has been in business for the past 47 years, and in that time, the branding has remained virtually unchanged. When Nick Bailey took the reins, however, he moved quickly to rebrand the company in a way that reflects the consumer-driven movement in the industry, engenders multi-generational appeal, and inspires his global team to deliver extraordinary experiences. Nick took on the role of CEO and President of Century 21 in August 2017, and he is responsible for the organization's 8K offices and 118K independent contractors in 80 countries around the world. He has 21 years of experience in the industry, earning his real estate license at the age of 21. Nick served as the VP of Growth and Development at RE/MAX World Headquarters for 12 years and VP of Broker Relations for Zillow Group for five years. He is a leader in franchising, brokerage management and technology, and Nick is known for increasing margins while mitigating the impact of economic change. Today Nick explains how his diverse background allows him to see issues through different lenses, including that of the consumer. He walks us through the Century 21 rebrand, discussing the company's new motto around delivering extraordinary experiences and the positive response to its new brand identity. Nick speaks to Century 21's reputation for training, his take on new models like iBuyers, and the consumer-driven movement in real estate. Listen in for Nick's insight on the necessity for open network, mobile-first technology and the healthy competition between Century 21 and Realogy. What's Discussed: How Nick's diverse real estate background helps create clarity The consumer-driven movement in the real estate industry Nick's insight on the core of Century 21's business Help affiliates grow companies Help agents get closings Century 21's new motto around delivering extraordinary experiences The positive response to Century 21's new brand identity Cross-functional (mid-priced AND high-end) Multi-generational appeal How a brand's design impacts consumer trust Century 21's reputation for training and education Nick's take on new models like Redfin and iBuyers How the process of finding buyers and sellers has evolved The difference between home search and home shopper How agents remain essential to consumers despite industry disruption Nick's preference for integrated, open network technology The healthy competition between Realogy and Century 21 Century 21's international presence Connect with Nick Bailey: Century 21 Century 21 on YouTube Century 21 on Twitter Nick on LinkedIn

88 MLSs serve 80% of REALTORS. The remaining 20% are served by the rest—that's nearly 600 MLSs! We know that consolidation will make it much easier for brokers to serve consumers, but what is the best way to approach the issue? How can we work to understand the 20% in rural, small town and resort communities and bring that group in to alignment with the 80%? Kevin McQueen is the President of the T3 Sixty MLS Division. He joined the firm with the express purpose of facilitating MLS consolidations, mergers and collaborations. Kevin has been a real estate consultant since 2000, when he founded Focus Forward to help MLSs and associations navigate the evolution of the industry. Prior to consulting, Kevin spent nine years as the CEO of Realcomp and eight years running technical operations for BORIS Systems. Today Kevin shares his path to consulting, from his early days with BORIS to his experience consolidating MLSs in Michigan at Realcomp. He explains the role of a consultant in facilitating strategic thinking and what led to his collaboration with T3 Sixty. Listen in to understand Kevin's mission to pick up the pace of MLS consolidation, addressing problem areas individually with a quiet, flexible approach. What's Discussed: Kevin's early experience with MLS technical operations How Kevin transitioned to MLS leadership at Realcomp Kevin's insight on the benefits of consulting Why Kevin chose the name Focus Forward The role of a consultant in facilitating strategic thinking Discussion about what's possible Organizational assessment Why Kevin sought a partnership with T3 Sixty The value of accurate data in decision-making to supercede emotion-based decision making in boardrooms The shrinking number of MLSs from 2000 to 2018 Kevin's mission to pick up the pace of MLS consolidation 88 MLSs serve 80% of REALTORS 20% served by the rest (nearly 600) Kevin's take on NAR initiatives as dividing vs. unifying Kevin's Do's and Don'ts of MLS consolidation Be flexible, modify business model Don't go into takeover mode Paul Prince's quiet and respectful approach to consolidation How Kevin's MLS map initiated a conversation T3 Sixty's approach to addressing problem areas individually Resources: Number of MLSs By State Paul Prince Case Study T3 Summit Connect with Kevin McQueen: T3 Sixty Email [email protected] Kevin on LinkedIn Kevin on Facebook

What do you think of when you hear the term 'MLS'? The software vendors? The providers? The database itself? What about MLS executives? We tend to use the label as a catchall for all of those things, which can get problematic. Shelley Specchio has a handle on all aspects of the MLS system. In 1994, Shelley began her professional career publishing a home magazine for the Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS. The association expanded in 2003 to become the Northern Nevada Regional MLS, and Shelley served as their VP of Sales and Marketing until 2008 when she transitioned to the role of CEO. Last February she became the CEO of the MIBOR REALTOR Association in Indianapolis, a unique organization that marries the MLS, the association, and a nonprofit arm to impact the community at large. Shelley is involved with NAR on the national level, serving on the MLS Executive Advisory Board. Today Shelley addresses the role of an MLS executive, discussing her own career path and the pros and cons of the position. She shares her take on the fear of disruption in the marketplace, the Upstream initiative, and MLS consolidation. Shelley explains what drew her to the CEO position at MIBOR, describing how the association, MLS, and foundation work in tandem to impact the community. Listen in for insight around using 'MLS' as a catchall term and MIBOR's adoption of the acronym BLC. What's Discussed: Shelley's career path in real estate The role of an MLS executive The fear of disruption in the marketplace Shifting from fear to strategic action Shelley's take on the Upstream initiative No one solution for pain points MLS needs to facilitate choice Other graduates of the 'Merri Jo School of MLS Execs' Why MLS execs often relocate as they advance The extensive travel required of MLS execs The shrinking number of MLSs from 900 to 672 What drew Shelley to MIBOR Economic development piece Opportunity to move community forward MIBOR's unique structure as an association and MLS The challenges of having a new boss every year How MLS execs build relationships with the board The confusion around 'MLS' as a catchall term Why MIBOR uses the term Broker Listing Cooperative Shelley's insight on future consolidation Less important to merge if data flowing Tech like MLS Gridcould facilitate Resources: T3 Sixty MLS Grid CMLS Brings It to the Table MIBOR REALTOR Foundation Connect with Shelley Specchio: MIBOR REALTOR Association MIBOR on Facebook MIBOR on Twitter Shelley on LinkedIn

Real estate professionals spend $9B annually to drive traffic to their websites, but less than 1% of that traffic leads to conversion. What's to blame for this abysmal data? The vast majority of customers are looking to get an answer to a quick question, yet they are met with an aggressive chatbot who demands their contact information before agreeing to provide any information. And even if they do acquiesce to giving a name and email address or phone number, they have to wait several hours for a response. Jatinder Singh and Katie Djurich have built a better chatbot, one that uses scripted AI to engage with customers immediately and understand their needs first. Jatinder and Katie are the visionaries behind Botplan, a chatbot for real estate that is compatible with Facebook Messenger, webchat and SMS. Available 24/7, the machine-learning tool initiates a dialogue with incoming leads, sets appointments and communicates the customer's needs to the agent. Jatinder's extensive background in the retail innovation space and Katie's experience with the real estate industry led to an interest in designing a chatbot that helps agents effectively automate this portion of their business—and enjoy an occasional family dinner! Today Jatinder and Katie explain the problems with the current chatbot solutions on the market and how Botplan addresses those issues. Jatinder explains why Botplan is transparent about being a virtual assistant and the distinction between the questions it can and cannot answer. He discusses Botplan's ability to understand customer needs and communicate those needs with agents and how the team has made adjustments to the platform based on customer interaction. Katie and Jatinder address the reasons why chatbots that demand contact information before providing value tend to be off-putting and ineffective and how Botoplan uses scripted AI to employ the soft sell. Listen in to understand how Botplan is reaching agents and how the platform integrates with Facebook and SMS as well as webchat. What's Discussed: Why Jatinder and Katie built Botplan The problems with current chat solutions Cost prohibitive Poor quality Limited availability How Botplan works with Facebook, SMS and webchat Why Botplan is transparent about being a virtual assistant How chatbots are compatible with a busy lifestyle The questions Botplan can and cannot answer How Botplan works to understand the customer's needs How Botplan communicates with agents How Botplan has made adjustments based on customer interaction Why chatbots that require contact information are off-putting Botplan's use of scripted AI to engage with customers Jatinder's background in the retail innovation space Katie's experience in real estate and virtual tours How Botplan is reaching agents Brokerages Tech platform providers Resources: Botplan Webinar Registration Connect with Jatinder Singh & Katie Djurich: Botplan Botplan on Facebook Botplan on Twitter Botplan on Instagram

'You can change anything you want to change. People can sit around and complain all they want, or they can do something about it. We're consultants. We want to go do something about it. We're tired of talking about it. Let's just go do it.' Victor Lund is involved in some of the most ambitious initiatives in the real estate industry. From Upstream to Broker Public Portal, Victor is passionate about solving big problems, and whether or not you agree with his approach, you have to respect his willingness to advocate for change. As the founding partner of WAVGroup, he serves as a consultant to large brokerage firms and MLSs with a particular focus on operational effectiveness, communications and strategic planning. Victor is also the founder and CEO of RE Technology, the leading real estate technology and media portal in the US. Today Victor shares how he made the transition from venture capital to real estate consulting. He discusses the role of RE Technology and its unusual practice of inviting companies to read their articles in advance of publication. Victor defends his advocacy for the Upstream initiative, explaining the scope of the project and the many benefits it will provide for industry players. He also speaks to the intent behind Broker Public Portal, clearing up misconceptions around how Homesnap functions as a partner rather than a vendor. Listen in for Victor's insight on tackling difficult challenges in real estate and cooperation as the way forward. What's Discussed: Victor's transition from VC to real estate consulting The role of RE Technology as the CNET for real estate Why RE Technology shares its articles before publication How WAVGroup's research department sets it apart The significant disconnect between brokers and MLSs Victor's participation in controversial initiatives Upstream Broker Public Portal Victor's insight on the benefits of Upstream Ease burden of agent onboarding checklist Instant automation of systems migration Efficiency for vendors to deploy products Data sharing between MLSs and brokerages Facilitates data integration (acquisitions) Automate systems (photographer, records creation) The incredible scope of the Upstream project The timeline for getting Upstream up and running Why Upstream uses Web API rather than RETS Victor's Upstream pitch for small brokerages Premiere information management system Why fear is the greatest challenge for the Upstream initiative The impact of Add/Edit on an MLS and its related market The intent behind Broker Public Portal Reimagine way consumers get info Consumer-facing website, benefit MLS The joint venture between Broker Public Portal and Homesnap How change of control provisions are built into the BPP/Homesnap contract How Homesnap reinvented themselves as an industry partner The concept of a parcel-centric database Resources: WAVes of Change UpstreamRE Broker Public Portal Homesnap Homesnap BPP Connect with Victor Lund: WAVGroup RE Technology RE Technology on Twitter Victor on Facebook Victor on LinkedIn Victor on Twitter

As the saying goes, the best CRM is the one you use. Today's guest has enjoyed great success onboarding agents to his platform, and when brokers with a strong training culture employ his software, agent adoption is as high as 80%--compared to the industry average 6%. So what's his secret? Zvi Band is the co-founder and CEO of Contactually, the leading intelligent CRM for real estate professionals. Agents have seen an average increase in GCI of 42% by staying in personal contact with their networks through Contactually, and the platform has facilitated $3B in deals closed. Zvi is also the co-founder and organizer of DC Tech Meetup, a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, technologists and investors to see demos, launch products and network. Since its inception in 2011, the meetup has grown to a community of 18,000, making it one of the largest tech meetups in the country. Today Zvi explains how his nomadic childhood and an early passion for building things led him to become a software developer. He discusses the significance of relationships in furthering his career and walks us through the way Contactually functions to help real estate agents maintain important business relationships. Zvi shares the thinking behind his decisions to fund Contactually via investors, to offer a multifaceted onboarding process, and to give prospects a 14-day free trial without securing credit card information in advance. Listen in and learn what contributes to Contactually's success within a brokerage and how Zvi addresses agent concerns around sharing their contacts. What's Discussed: Zvi's nomadic childhood in an academic family How the Contactually intelligence CRM serves brokerages and agents Zvi's insight relationships as the most important asset you can have The value of cadence in maintaining relationships Why Zvi chose investors over self-funding The shift from raising capital to building a business Zvi's take on why Contactually enjoyed strong adoption early on Zvi's proposal around pooling capital to solve big problems in real estate tech The initial Contactually customer base of agents and teams How Contactually has evolved to serve brokerages Contactually's multifaceted onboarding process Why Contactually offers a free 14-day trial without requiring credit card info Contactually's growth from three to 70 team members The remote-friendly culture at Contactually What contributes to Contactually's success within a brokerage Provides tech AND systems Integration with other toolsets Open-ended training options How Contactually addresses agent resistance to sharing contacts with brokers Contactually's focus on helping brokers use available data Resources: Nintendo Labo Connect with Zvi Band: Contactually Zvi's Website Zvi on LinkedIn Zvi on Twitter

The vast majority of real estate professionals read the annual Swanepoel Trends Report for its analysis of the top developments shaping the industry. A phenomenal resource for agents, brokerages, associations, MLS firms and vendors, the T3 Sixty report offers in-depth research around what's happening in real estate—from investment in tech innovation to the direct buyer phenomena to the latest brokerage models. Jack Miller is the President and CTO of T3 Sixty, a team of strategic, technological and managerial experts in the residential real estate industry. The premiere consulting firm facilitates solutions for industry players throughout the US and Canada, leveraging their team's vast experience and personal connections. T3 Sixty offers a wide range of support, including strategic development, technology audits, system design, operational improvement and continuous comprehensive market research. Jack has 16-plus years of experience in real estate, previously serving as the CTO of a boutique real estate brokerage that won Inman's Innovator of the Year Award. Today Jack shares his entry into real estate, explaining his role on the Keller Williams software development team as the firm grew from regional player to national franchise. He offers his take on the increasing importance of brokerage culture, the rise of the tech-enabled firm, and the impact of the recent influx of capital in the industry. Jack walk us through several current trends, including the legitimization of the FSBO model, the shifting role of the real estate agent, and the increasing velocity of brokerage expansion. He speaks to the best representations of the newer business models and the momentum of flat fee companies like HomeSmart. Listen in for Jack's insight around T3 Sixty's role in the industry and his advice for agents and brokers in the internet age. What's Discussed: Jack's unique introduction to real estate on Keller Williams' software development team The increasing importance of culture as part of the brokerage value proposition How tech innovation has shifted from consideration to core requirement The potential impact of the billions invested in real estate in 2017 The role of technology in the growing speed of brokerage expansion The legitimization of the direct buyer (FSBO) model Why it's difficult to commodify real estate The changing role of the agent as a consultant, counselor The best representations of the newer business models Redfin, Compass and Opendoor Momentum of flat fee companies (e.g.: HomeSmart) Why T3 Sixty is betting on the trend toward consolidation T3 Sixty's branding as the premiere consulting team for larger, more sophisticated companies Jack's advice for new agents around building relationships How brokerages can recruit a specific audience of agents Resources: Swanepoel Trends Report Books by Stefan T3 Summit T3 Brokerage Accelerator Connect with Jack Miller: T3 Sixty Real Estate Trends on Facebook Jack on Facebook Stefan on Facebook Stefan on Twitter

The concept of the MLS creates a strange contradiction for brokers who are both competing with one another, yet sharing inventory by way of compensation and cooperation. In the middle of it all is CMLS, challenged with refereeing any acrimony between brokers and MLSs, promoting best practices, and supporting its membership of 203 MLS providers representing 1.2 million subscribers. At the helm is Denee Evans, the CEO of this premiere organization dedicated to leading the MLS industry in North America. Denee is a self-proclaimed small-town girl who grew up in Nevada, earning a degree in finance with a specialization in real estate from UNLV. She has always been involved in the industry in some form, doing flips, additions, as well as scrape and builds. Denee spent more than a decade in retail banking, where she dealt with home equity and mortgage loans. Prior to her role with CMLS, Denee was the Executive Director for EnergyFit Nevada, a nonprofit working to make homes more energy efficient. Through EnergyFit's efforts to add sustainability information to the MLS, she learned about the opening for CMLS CEO and threw her hat into the ring. Today, Greg asks Denee the tough questions around how to address MLS's that don't comply with best practices, the best way for CMLS to support its members, and the organization's partnership with NAR. Denee explains the 'blessing and the curse' of taking on the role of CEO as an outsider in the MLS industry and the benefit for consumers when organized real estate's stakeholders collaborate. Listen in and learn about the CMLS initiative to create an interactive tool that would assist MLSs in developing a plan to implement best practices. What's Discussed: How Denee's background in banking informs her understanding of real estate The intense interview process she experienced to become CEO of CMLS The blessing and the curse of being an MLS outsider Denee's take on the 'us v. them' mentality of industry stakeholders The dichotomy around brokers competing, yet sharing inventory The challenge for MLS execs to make diverse stakeholders happy The benefit for consumers when stakeholders cooperate Denee's role as an advocate for MLS execs Denee's contention that pain points exist in MLS's of all sizes The 'wall of shame' identifying who hasn't complied with CMLS best practices Greg's proposal to offer free CMLS memberships to non-compliant MLSs CMLS's plans to create a best practices interactive tool - Developed at last CMLS strategic planning session - Could grow into certification necessary for membership How CMLS should provide support to its members - Education v. leadership/advocacy - Study of industry initiatives to identify needs (e.g.: Upstream) The controversy around CMLS's partnership with NAR - CMLS members assigned seats on NAR committees - Speak as national voice for CMLS Resources: White Paper 7.42 2017 CMLS Best Practices Survey Brief Connect with Denee Evans: The Council of Multiple Listing Services Denee on LinkedIn Denee on Twitter

Katie Smithson picks her battles. Even well-meaning colleagues occasionally make insulting or offensive comments, and a professional woman has to decide what she can brush off and what she simply cannot accept. Though the lines can be blurry, nine years in the industry have taught Katie how to establish boundaries and present herself as a professional. Katie grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, and went to school at Tennessee Technological University. Discouraged by the boys' club that was electrical engineering, she changed her plans and pursued a degree in marketing. Her first foray into sales and customer service was at a Sprint/Nextel store back in Franklin, where she saw the first MLS searches on a Blackberry. After a move to Knoxville, Katie worked in marketing for a local mortgage company that happened to use CRS Data for tax purposes. Tired of spending her days in a cubicle, she noticed an opening for a trainer at CRS. Katie won them over and secured her first job in real estate. After four years working with agents, realtors and MLS execs to implement the use of CRS products, Katie had a conversation with Greg in a lobby bar at CMLS Boston, and the rest is history. She has worked at W+R Studios for five years, serving as Director of MLS Services since 2016. Today she shares the details of her activism through the Georgia Women's Policy Institute, the challenges for women in the real estate industry, and her advice around establishing professional boundaries. What's Discussed: Why Katie gave up on electrical engineering to pursue a marketing degree Katie's early sales and customer service experience at Sprint/Nextel How Katie got involved with the real estate industry Katie's role as Director of MLS Services at W+R Studios The shift from training to sales Katie's work with the Georgia Women's Policy Institute - Issues affecting women, children - Get in front of legislators The challenges for women in the real estate industry How Katie establishes boundaries as a professional woman The complications of alcohol as part of industry culture How Katie's reputation in the industry has improved her experience with sexism Katie's advice for women coming up in the industry - Keep your head on straight - Maintain professionalism - Have a buddy The challenge of dressing appropriately for women in a business environment Katie's recommendations around resources for sales executives Resources: CRS Data Arianna Huffington on Repeating Outfits 'The Rock' Test for Sexual Harassment Inc. Magazine Connect with Katie Smithson: W+R Studios Georgia Women's Policy Institute Katie on LinkedIn

By 2009, mobile users could do a lot with smartphone apps—get directions, listen to music, take pictures, play games, even film a video. Aaron Kardell thought that you ought to be able to add 'look for a house' to the growing list of applications, and he founded HomeSpotter with the intention of doing just that. Aaron grew up in rural Nebraska in a family of entrepreneurs. He started writing software programs in high school, and went on to earn a BS in computer science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He originated several businesses, including Altona Ed, an ed tech student information system that was acquired by Pearson School Systems in 2004. Aaron's first experience with location-based iPhone applications came along in 2009 when he created iGarageSale. Very shortly thereafter, a broker contacted Aaron about building an app to complement the firm's successful lead generating website. Aaron retained intellectual property rights, and Mobile Realty Apps was born. The company rebranded as HomeSpotter in 2015, and today they have offerings for MLSs, brokers and agents. On this episode, Aaron joins Greg live from CMLS in Austin to discuss HomeSpotter's business model, the latest capabilities around mobile listing input, and HomeSpotter's recent launch of Boost, an automated digital marketing system with trackable ROI. What's Discussed: Aaron's entrepreneurial family How Aaron developed an interest in writing software programs The genesis of HomeSpotter - Created iGarageSale app - Realtor asked to build app as consultant - Retained intellectual property rights The tactical mistakes HomeSpotter made early on Why Aaron chose to take the native mobile route How Aaron built a business in the 99¢ app store world - Relied on SaaS model - White label broker offering HomeSpotter's service offerings - White label platform for brokers - MLS member access on-the-go - Boost (automated digital marketing with trackable ROI) How high agent adoption in MLS markets led to the introduction of additional products The new capabilities around mobile listing input - Ability to edit listings (corrections, status changes) - Update photo support capabilities How Aaron funded HomeSpotter - Personal capital sustained first three years - Angel investors in Minneapolis/St. Paul The particulars of HomeSpotter's newest offering, Boost - Automated system - For agents, teams, brokers - Creates Facebook/Instagram ads for each new listing - Targets prospective buyers and seller - Helps average agent be more effective with marketing Greg's hesitance to get into the 'advertising business' Why agents are willing to spend more for advertising than tools The scalability of an app like Boost How HomeSpotter is upselling current subscribers to try Boost - Partnering with brokers, franchises, MLSs - Email agent when listing added - Brokers pay for initial week in some cases How Aaron's team generates ideas for new products Cloud CMA's deal with Tom Ferry The pros and cons of a pay-per-listing pricing model The difference between HomeSpotter's free and premium versions for MLS Resources: Cloud CMA's Listing Presentation Kit by Tom Ferry Zillow's Report on Trends in Residential Relocation Connect with Aaron Kardell: HomeSpotter Aaron on LinkedIn

If you feared more of the same when Bob Goldberg was named CEO of NAR, take heart. The rhetoric of our new leadership is focused on engagement, openness and transparency—knocking down the façade of the 'Ivory Tower' and facilitating dialogue with members, even those who disagree. Bob Goldberg has been a senior executive with NAR since 1995, and his accomplishments include the launch of the REALTOR Benefits Program, the introduction of the top-level domain initiative, and the expansion of NAR's technology partnerships via Second City Ventures and its REach Technology Accelerator. Prior to NAR, Goldberg served as senior vice president with PRC Realty Systems. Bob is lauded for his leadership, recently named one of the 2017 Swanepoel Power 200 and Inman News Real Estate Influencers of 2017. Bob has forged his career on designing programs and partnerships to strengthen the REALTOR organization and drive success for its 1.2 million members. Today, he explains his approach to ushering in a new era at NAR, discussing his pursuit of transparency through social media, interviews and opportunities for Q&A. He also addresses his intention to serve members via a 'flipping the pyramid' model of leadership, and how he plans to empower his team with the authority to drive change. Listen to understand why Bob is an advocate of tech initiative partnerships, and how NAR can tackle the issue of professionalism among its members—with both consumers and fellow agents. What's Discussed: Bob's pursuit of openness and transparency How Bob plans to connect directly with NAR members Bob's interview with Andrew Flachner of RealScout How Bob and the panel approached Q&A at the NAR Leadership Summit Bob's intention to facilitate honest discussion about industry issues Bob's mission to break down the façade of the 'Ivory Tower' Message was controlled in past Initiate dialogue with dissenting voices Bob's 'flipping the pyramid' concept Think from member perspective first Encourage member engagement The upcoming NAR organizational design study Greg's characterization of Bob as having a 'vibe of inclusiveness' Bob's aim to be a different kind of leader Visionary Empower team with authority to drive change Bob's background in MLS technology with PRC How Bob plans to assess the value prop of tech initiatives Cost of product Member use The NAR budget process How NAR decides to sunset a program that's run its course Why Bob does not advocate for a national MLS Not NAR's core competency NAR doesn't have funding to compete Better to seek partnerships with experts Bob's take on NAR's role in raising the bar for agents Professionalism with consumers and fellow members The complexity of addressing professionalism in the industry Bob's willingness to be embrace social media The world-class talent at NAR The network effect of engagement Resources: NAR Leadership Summit on Facebook Live RealScout Interview with Bob Goldberg RealScout on Facebook Connect with Bob Goldberg: Bob on Facebook Bob on LinkedIn NAR Leadership Team on Facebook NAR Leadership on Twitter

The Upstream Pivot with FBS CEO Michael Wurzer I had a chance to sit down with Mike Wurzer again at NAR Midyear to discuss the recent announcement about Upstream, well not really doing upstream anymore. This was recorded before NAR announced the details to their additional funding. More on that in a later blog post. The first step of problem-solving is to assign blame. Right? That seems to be part of Upstream's tactics in explaining their delayed progress at NAR's May Legislative Meeting in DC. They succeeded in raising the heartrate of today's guest – by implying that a lack of cooperation from vendors is to blame for the snail's pace of the project. Upstream also made a big announcement regarding what they term as a pivot, but may be more appropriately called a 180. Michael Wurzer is the President and CEO of FBS, an employee-owned company committed to exceeding customer expectations. Their signature product, Flexmls, is a standards-driven technology platform connecting real estate professionals to their customers with collaboration tools that deliver timely and accurate information. FBS products serve 185 organizations and 2,000-plus agents in the real estate sector. Under Wurzer's leadership for the past 20 years, FBS has worked to constantly evolve and embrace change. They were among the first to build a web-based system, striking a balance between the stability of being an established company and creating a culture of innovation. Today he examines the Upstream pivot in detail, discussing how the Upstream messaging has evolved over time, the pain points the initiative was working to address, and the need to foster collaboration among industry players. What's Discussed: The major players in the Upstream initiative How the Upstream messaging has evolved over time The major Upstream pivot announced at NAR's Legislative Meetings How the pivot was influenced by feedback from experienced MLS professionals Greg's take on the fundamental change in premise of the Upstream initiative The pain points the Upstream project was working to address Ability to sync listings Integration with third party products The buy-in for Upstream from big brands Upstream's explanation for its delayed progress The need to foster collaboration among industry players rather than assigning blame All focused on solving broker problems The CMLS campaign to highlight the value of the MLS The controversy over RPR's team of developers The confusion re: the meaning of a 'live demo' The ability to enter a listing from third-party system as a RESO objective The evolution of technology in the real estate software space 'We're building the airplane as we're flying it' Success stories in MLS system consolidation The beauty of competition in shaping market dynamics Zillow's next steps in light of the Upstream pivot The need for clarity of communication re: syndication What the Upstream pivot means for AMP Wurzer's prediction of what's next in real estate tech innovation Upstream as 'another option' rather than a revolution Resources: Realtor Magazine Article "Upstream Returns to Earth" by Matt Cohen Connect with Michael Wurzer: Email [email protected] Twitter Blog

Henry Ford is credited with saying, 'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.' True innovation provides you with the tools you didn't even know you needed. Today's guest understands the challenges of the real estate industry, and he created a platform that provides a unique solution tailored to the work we do. A solution that will make you wonder how you ever did without! Tyler Gordon is the CEO and Founder of Agent Inbox, an all-in-one communications platform that empowers MLSs to launch a market-wide platform that allows every agent to communicate with every other agent about any listing, from any device, within any product. Agent Inbox seeks to build the messaging infrastructure so that everyone involved in the real estate transaction (including vendors) can effectively communicate via one system. After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in finance, Gordon went to work for Grooveshark, an on-demand streaming music service, where he built their data products and market research team, boasting a research panel of over 300,000 participants. From there, he joined the family business, a real estate brokerage in south Florida. Realizing just how difficult it was to be a real estate agent, Gordon set out to solve some of the problems he encountered – and Agent Inbox was born. Today, Gordon explains the nuts and bolts of Agent Inbox, sharing how the tool works with any app under the MLS umbrella. Listen and learn the benefits of a single communication system that connects all the stakeholders involved in the real estate transaction! What's Discussed: The shift in how people communicate Agents have migrated away from phone/email The idea behind Agent Inbox Create market-wide messaging platform Every agent can communicate with every other agent The installation of Agent Inbox Integrated directly into MLS link App is available to download, but not necessary to use the service How to access Agent Inbox How the Agent Inbox infrastructure might be used to include other industry stakeholders MLS Association Vendors The benefits of Agent Inbox Sits on top of any product in MLS Allows for live, contextual conversation How Agent Inbox was conceived The trend toward specialized products Where Agent Inbox is already up and running The user-friendly nature of Agent Inbox The benefits of messaging (vs. email) 99% of people open, 95% respond Socially acceptable to wait several days before responding to email Resources: Intercom Customer Messaging Platform Slack Team Messaging Connect with Tyler Gordon: Agent Inbox Email [email protected]