Generating Non Dues Revenue

Generating Non Dues Revenue MLSs and Associations of REALTORS® are facing budget woes. The decline in the housing market created a cascading impact on dues revenue.  The number of subscribers to MLS service has retreated to 2006 averages, coupled with membership losses to Associations of REALTORS®. In isolated real estate markets around the country, MLSs and Associations have become creative at building revenue streams outside of subscription fees and membership dues. Advertising is chief among them. As you have read in leading real estate media sources like RE Technology, Inman News and RIS Media, there are a number of [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:39-07:00June 13th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning|Comments Off on Generating Non Dues Revenue

When It’s Good To Lose Control

Business leaders can plan and set strategies but the real key to whether these plans are executed successfully is what their organization does after the plan is released.  Do they embrace the plan?  Do they start strong and then slip back to their old ways?  Do initiatives kick off with great promise and then lose momentum?  Do you find yourself having to continually push the plan rather than seeing full engagement by your staff?  Do you find that some of your staff get on board while others resist change? Here’s the truth! […]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:41-07:00May 31st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning, Suveys and Research|Comments Off on When It’s Good To Lose Control

Making a Change Requires Some Tension

We have always been big believers that most change occurs as a result of some “pain”.   While we all would like to create change in our lives for positive reasons, and we certainly do at times, a good deal of “major” changes in business and personal lives come about as a result of pain or some “tension” in our lives.  It’s the old aspirin vs. vitamins story. We know we should take vitamins; they are good for us right?  But, if you have a really bad headache or muscle ache you are most likely going to take something for it more [...]

WAV Group

WAV Group always begins with a clear understanding of the needs and objectives of the customer as well as the end user.  Our team can help you outline a new strategic direction for growth, product or service improvement. We can help you better understand your member and clients needs by proven research methodology. We can assist you to make wise technology decision and stay with you and drive implementation. In short, we work with your organization to help you successfully reach your specific business objectives! WAV Group always begins with a clear understanding of the needs and objectives of the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 20th, 2011|Our Company, Our Services, Strategic Planning|Comments Off on WAV Group

Move makes a move into Rentals

It is no surprise to anyone in real estate that the rental market has caught fire. Many MLSs are scrambling to expanded offerings to meet the needs of brokers who have focused on growing their property management business to meet demand. “Nobody wants to own a vacant home,” says Amy Gallagher of Century 21 Hometown. “We represent investors in buying rental property, and attract them with our strong property management business - we capture a side or two of the sale, and an ongoing business relationship that lasts years.” One thing that you can always trust consumers to do is vote with [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:56-07:00November 23rd, 2010|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Strategic Planning, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on Move makes a move into Rentals

Can an MLS provide data to third parties without broker consent

The law offices of Larson/Sobotka have written a very good article on their blog about the NAR policy that limits the actions of an MLS to redistribute or repurpose broker (participant) data without the consent of the broker.   Larson writes: “If your MLS is affiliated with NAR and subject to NAR policy, it is bound by NAR Statement of MLS Policy 7.85: Use of listings and listing information by MLSs for purposes other than the defined purposes of MLS requires participants consent. Such consent cannot be required as a condition of obtaining or maintaining MLS participatory rights. MLSs may presume such [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:14-07:00February 10th, 2010|Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning|Comments Off on Can an MLS provide data to third parties without broker consent

MLSs and Transaction Management – Take Small Steps First

Should your MLS provide Transaction Management services? In our recent study on Transaction Management Adoption, it is clear that many of the component parts of full Transaction Management are being used successfully today by a growing number of real estate professionals. The key point is that they are adopting this technology step-by-step.  Some vendors today offer the different component parts of Transaction Management separately, including: Internet Fax Document Management Online Forms/Contracts Transaction Scheduling/Managment Digital Signature Transaction Management technology makes sense for many reasons.   It provides better service to consumers, reduces risk and helps the environment. The problem, however, is that [...]

Paperless Process Comes of Age in Real Estate

WAV Group has been tracking the adoption of online transaction processing software for several years.   In the 2005 WAV Group Transaction Management Adoption Study, we identified a number of factors that were inhibiting adoption of transaction management solutions and recommended steps to improve adoption.  We are seeing encouraging adoption increases throughout the country. The WAV Group 2009 Transaction Management Adoption Study surveyed over 1700 brokers and agents from 22 different MLSs.  In addition, we worked with major Transaction Management vendors to look at their product adoption trends over the last few years.  The result is a much clearer picture of where online transaction processing stands [...]

How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in Your MLS

The MLS industry is in an extremely tenuous position today, feeling pressures from 3rd party vendors, state associations, neighboring MLSs and declining membership.  Like any business channel, multiple entities in the MLS world are competing for a finite number of customers and business space.   To make things even more difficult, a percentage of MLS leadership changes from year to year with election of new officers and directors.  MLS staff has to adjust to different leadership styles while often having to re-educate the new regime on where things stand.  It can be a difficult scenario for staff and the elected leadership.  How can an MLS establish continuity [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:33-07:00March 13th, 2009|Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning|Comments Off on How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in Your MLS

MLSs and Associations

The WAV Group PRO Plan is a comprehensive strategic planning process which helps an organization uncover major opportunities for improvement and then build and execute action plans to achieve these breakthroughs. In order for a strategic plan to be effective, it needs to incorporate both internal and external perspectives.  It needs to examine the Association’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of the internal staff and members as well as home buyers and sellers.  In addition, it needs to compare the organization relative to broader market trends observed from similar associations within the real estate industry and overall real estate [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:49-07:00December 15th, 2007|Strategic Planning|Comments Off on MLSs and Associations

Technology and Service Companies

The WAV Group PRO Plan is a comprehensive strategic planning process which helps a company uncover major opportunities for improvement and then build and execute action plans to achieve these breakthroughs. In order for a strategic plan to be effective, it needs to incorporate both internal and external perspectives.  It needs to examine the company’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of internal structure and processes as well as from the perspective of the company’s customer base.  In addition, it needs to compare the organization relative to broader market trends observed from similar companies within their vertical as well as overall industry market trends.  [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:49-07:00December 12th, 2007|Strategic Planning|Comments Off on Technology and Service Companies