Broker-Agent Information Archives

RE/MAX Expands Marketing Technology Platform: New Integrated Solutions Deliver a “Digital Upgrade” to the RE/MAX Design Center

January 16, 2013 (New York, NY)– RE/MAX agents will be getting a “digital upgrade” to their Design Center with the ability to create mobile-ready Single Property Websites, YouTube enabled videos, and dozens of professionally written marketing campaigns for email, print and mail, and social media. This new suite of products, which will be available to over 70,000 RE/MAX agents in the U.S. and Canada beginning in January, delivers advanced mobile-enabled technology and engaging consumer content to help agents sell more homes and develop their personal brands. RE/MAX agents can use the new automated marketing campaigns to target first-time homebuyers, move- [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:42-07:00January 30th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Press Releases|Comments Off

PCMS positions for growth in 2013

Atlanta, GA (January 29, 2013) - PCMS founder and chief visionary, Jose Perez, today announced several key personnel decisions designed to support expansion plans in 2013. The company plans to leverage the success it has experienced since its founding in 2008 to provide a higher level of value and support to its clients and the industry in general. Former Realogy Regional Vice President, June Huber, recently joined PCMS as Vice President of Business Development for the Western United States. Based in Southern California, Ms. Huber brings over 20 years of real estate, mortgage and title experience to PCMS. "I had [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:43-07:00January 29th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Press Releases|Comments Off

Time is Running Out!

RE Technology is hosting an exciting 60-minute webinar with Cartavi and DocuSign on: January 29, 2013 at 10:00 am PST, 12 pm CST, 1 pm EST to learn how you can leverage your iPad and become mobile and paperless agent. The presenters of this interactive webinar will show you how to take advantage of the cloud, your iPad and technology such as DocuSign and Cartavi to better serve your clients from wherever you are. Take your business to the next level by saving time, saving money and providing your clients with an exceptional level of service when and where they [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:24:43-07:00January 25th, 2013|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off

MOVE, INC. ACQUIRES eFROGPOND, INC. ASSETS TO EXPAND MARKETING SOLUTIONS

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 14, 2013 – Move, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE) today announced the expansion of its suite of free marketing tools with the acquisition of certain assets of eFrogPond, Inc. an integrated communications and marketing solutions provider best known for its Housing Trends eNewsletter. This acquisition signifies an enhancement to the Move, Inc. series of industry-leading marketing solutions. Move, Inc. is the operator of TOP PRODUCER Systems and REALTOR.com. The Housing Trends eNewsletter will continue to function in its present form and Top Producer Systems CRM subscribers can distribute Housing Trends eNewsletters automatically to their customers. Going forward, subscribers can [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:43-07:00January 15th, 2013|Broker-Agent Information, Marketing, Press Releases|Comments Off

Broker Profitability POD concept

This may be the real future of real estate brokerage. You will need to endure a series of short product stories to understand the POD concept for real estate brokerage. The coffee industry hit a home run with coffee pods. As it turns out, consumers would be happy to pay more for coffee if they do not need to deal with filters, scoops, and cans. The coffee pod industry was able to sell less coffee for a higher price by offering convenience. The pod revolution did not end with coffee. The rather smart dudes and dudettes at P&G took one [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:44-07:00December 20th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Strategic Planning|1 Comment

Adding Broker and Agent Branding to Syndication

The gray skull of shame is the single most tarnishing factor of an agent’s online reputation. Yet today, more than 30% of listings on leading third party websites are missing photos or display incorrect contact information about the agent. There is absolutely no reason for this to happen. Today, listing syndication service providers and MLSs can fix this with ease. In truth, no change in real estate data is easy. Unless there is profit motivation, change takes place at a very sluggish pace. In order for agent and broker branding to be added to syndication, standards need to be developed. [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:47-07:00November 28th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off

Zillow expands rental offering with Hotpads acquisition

Market leading real estate publisher Zillow expanded their footprint by entering into an agreement to purchase Hot Pads today. The strategy behind the acquisition seems squarely aimed at conquering a larger audience of real estate consumers, namely consumers interested in rental properties. In October, Hotpads had nearly 2.8 Million Unique Visitors. Depending on how you add up traffic to Zillow and their other sites like realestate.yahoo.com, it adds up to less than a 5% increase in traffic. Moreover, Zillow picks up highly skilled staff that understand the real estate portal business, and how to manage data. Although Zillow already has [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:47-07:00November 26th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Data Only Brokers
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Data Only Brokers

Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing, MLS Insights

Data Only Brokers

There are lots of brokers who subscribe to MLS services. They are called participants, and as participants they are provided data rights beyond agents, and way beyond vendors or third parties. Moreover, participants are the nucleus of reciprocal offers of compensation, an agreement that if one broker represents a willing buyer and the other broker represents a willing seller, they will share compensation. There is a new brokerage model that has entered the MLS sphere, and I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I will call this type of brokerage a "Data Only Broker" or [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:47-07:00November 20th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Marketing, MLS Insights|9 Comments

Attention Brokers – Learn how to take back the web from third parties!

While brokers have lots of technology tools at their fingertips today, a high impact website is still a critical tool driving success for any size real estate company. Third parties continue to gain traction and traffic with consumers because they know what consumers are looking for and they deliver on their needs consistently! If brokers want to become THE source for real estate consumers, they need to find ways to enhance and re-invent their own web presence. Brokers also need to learn about how to use their online presence to nurture new customer relationships for their agents. RED and RE [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:48-07:00November 1st, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category|Comments Off

Point2 encourages publishers to play nice

Yardi subsidiary, Point2 is changing its data distribution policies to align with what it believes to be the interests of MLSs, Associations, Brokers and agents in the US, similar to what it has introduced in Canada with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Since Yardi purchased Point2, they have renewed determination to protect the data rights of agents, brokers, and their partner Associations of REALTORS(r) and MLS. In the past, the default distribution setting for Point2 has been broker-opt out rather than broker opt-in. WAV Group has never been in favor of Broker Opt-out programs. Broker opt-out means that unless notified [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:48-07:00October 31st, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|1 Comment

How MLSs and MLS vendors are failing brokers
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How MLSs and MLS vendors are failing brokers

Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights

How MLSs and MLS vendors are failing brokers

Let me begin by saying that the remarks that follow do not apply to all MLSs. There are many that do an excellent job at servicing the data needs of brokers. The focus of this article is to talk about some of the common failures seen by WAV Group consultants trying to help brokers fix complex data problems. There is a fundamental understanding of the MLS which has been lost. Although MLS systems provide excellent services through the MLS software, many are failing at providing data services to the brokers and agents to power the many applications that live outside [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:48-07:00October 31st, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Today, a new brand was born - Berskshire Hathaway Real Estate. Brookfield, Real Living and Prudential have combined forces with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to create our industry’s newest national brand. This seems to be the first time the Berkshire Hathaway brand will be used in a consumer facing industry. I am pretty sure that this network of brokerages has a significant market share in every metropolitan city in America. Why this is important: Some of the Prudential Franchises were a little disturbed when they learned about the Sunset of the Prudential Real Estate brand - they are smiling ear to ear now. Moreover, some of the [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:24:48-07:00October 30th, 2012|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Press Releases|2 Comments