Rapattoni has long offered Association websites and MLS consumer property search solutions in the markets that they serve. I believe Rapattoni may have been among the pioneering MLS vendors at offering such a solution. Having said that, there has been little attention paid toward innovating the search component of that platform. In the deployment of the new website, Rapattoni and iHomefinder collaborated to deliver an elegant solution.
This week, the California based Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS (VCCAOR) debuted their new website powered by iHomefinder. Board President Cindy Diaz-Telly spoke with the WAV Group about the site. According to Diaz-Telly, the launch of the new site is the fruition of a strategic goal of their board spanning two years. The Association has long offered a consumer facing website as a member benefit, so this new site is a relaunch rather than a new launch.
Real Estate agents and brokers are supportive of the site as a means of connecting the consumer with REALTORS. The board had made a strategic decision not to publish the site to the MLSCloud Network until the new site was launched.
VCCAOR is also a participant in the Southern California MLS data share called CARETS. CARETS participants are allowed to display all CARETS listings on their consumer facing websites but VCCAOR has chosen not to do so at this time.
Visitors to the new site will immediately notice the user search interface improvements. iHomefinder has introduced a map search based on the Google Maps API. They have also dramatically improved the form based search solution and the listing detail page as compared to the Rapattoni Solution.
At this time, VCCAOR has elected to keep the website clear of advertising like the REALM from Real Estate Digital or the advertising solution from MLSListings.com.
iHomefinder modeled their MLS partnerships with Metrolist MLS in Sacramento, also a Rapattoni customer. iHomefinder seeks to launch additional MLS solutions this year combining their public portal solution with agent IDX and websites offered through the MLS.
Call Victor Lund at 805-709-6696 for any questions about the information in this article.
