What’s the Real Value of Portal Marketing?

A recent survey of over 120 broker-owners and senior leaders at some of the top real estate firms in the U.S. and Canada revealed an apparent disconnect between revenue goals and business strategies. According to the survey, 85% of brokerages focus their marketing investments on lead generation activities– despite the fact that nearly two-thirds of sales are the result of repeat clients and past client referrals. Clearly, agents and brokers are spending too much time and money marketing on portals when long-view strategies produce a better return-on-investment. While lead generation is an undeniably important tactic for targeting specific market segments, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:05-07:00September 19th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Marketing, Product Management|Comments Off on What’s the Real Value of Portal Marketing?

Intermountain MLS Job Posting

WAV Group is excited to announce a really exciting job opportunity for progressive MLS leaders.  Intermountain MLS, located in Boise, Idaho is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer. I have worked with this organization for awhile now and they are one of the best run MLSs out there.  And for those of you who went to CMLS when it was hosted in Boise, Idaho you know what an AMAZING place it is!  I would love to talk to you to any of you that may be interested in learning more about the position. Also if you would like to [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:06-07:00September 14th, 2016|MLS Insights, Recruiting|Comments Off on Intermountain MLS Job Posting

NAR created a new position to work with CMLS, MLSs, RESO, and associations.

We would like to share that the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) is accepting applications for its newly created Manager, Multiple Listing Service position.We are looking forward to working with this individual and believe this role will help to grow our cooperative relationship, inform policy development, and keep the MLS perspective part of the discussions.Know the perfect candidate? Help identify the individual that will maximize the potential of this position by passing along this information. A complete job description can be found below along with the link to the NAR job portal where candidates can apply.   Position: Manager, Multiple Listing Service Reports To: Vice President, Board [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:10-07:00August 1st, 2016|Recruiting|Comments Off on NAR created a new position to work with CMLS, MLSs, RESO, and associations.

UpstreamRE, NAR, and Real Estate Standards Organization Join xDTM Standard Advisory Board

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/– Reflecting the strategic and operational importance of eSignature and Digital Transaction Management (DTM) across the real estate, property management and mortgage industries, thought-leaders Alex Lange from UpstreamRE, Bob Goldberg from National Association of REALTORS®, and Jeremy Crawford from the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) today added their expertise to the xDTM Standard Association’s advisory board. The xDTM Standard provides in-depth guidelines and best practices that Digital Transaction Management vendors should address to create a trusted online environment for their customers, including data ownership, transparency, security and the ability for data integration across applications. This is [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:10-07:00July 29th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off on UpstreamRE, NAR, and Real Estate Standards Organization Join xDTM Standard Advisory Board

How Much Does It Cost to Recruit an Agent?

The National Association of REALTORS® hosted a Power Broker Roundtable and their recent topic was about agent recruiting and training. What I really like about the large broker roundtable is that you typically get some relatively pure information. I think that is the case here. The roundtable members for this discussion included representatives from some of the finest brokerage operators in America – Nick D’Ambrosia, Broker of Record, The Long and Foster Companies; Lennox Scott, CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate Seattle; Chad Ochsner, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Alliance Denver; and Linda Sherrer, President and CEO of BHHS Florida Network. [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 20th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Marketing|1 Comment

Worried about missing the RESO Web API Mandate on June 30th?

As you probably know MLS Policy requires that every MLS gain certification for the RESO Web API by June 30th, 2016. For those that are do not live, eat, sleep and breathe technology, even the words Web API can be confusing and even a little intimidating! CMLS recognizes the need for all of us to get a better handle of the important goals that putting a Web API in place can solve for MLSs, brokers and technology companies. RE Technology is proud to help CMLS host a webinar in June 14th to help MLSs better understand this important next stage [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:14-07:00June 2nd, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Worried about missing the RESO Web API Mandate on June 30th?

WHAT’S THE POST NAR MIDYEAR BUZZ? Join Industry Leaders this Thursday, May 26th and Find Out!

WAVES OF CHANGE QUARTERLY INDUSTRY UPDATE is just around the corner! Reserve your organization’s seat at the table by signing up for the series TODAY! WAV Group Hosts NAR Recap / Industry Update Webinar on Thursday, May 26th Your subscription provides an opportunity for your members to participate in an online recap of NAR Midyear policy issues, announcements and news as well as important industry updates and best practices. Thought-provoking topics to share with your leadership, brokers and staff. HOT TOPICS • CMLS – DMCA November Ruling Update: Clarification Listing Content • How to get Free Web API Certification by [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:14-07:00May 24th, 2016|WAVes of Change|Comments Off on WHAT’S THE POST NAR MIDYEAR BUZZ? Join Industry Leaders this Thursday, May 26th and Find Out!

Smart Home Certification for Residential Properties

Today, we had our Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home automation experience installed. From a single controller or mobile device, anyone in our family can controls connected lights, locks, thermostats, home entertainment devices, and even schedule when devices turn on or off. Everything is connected. Smart Homes May Add More Value This week, Coldwell Banker Real Estate and CEDIA announced a collaboration to develop a smart home curriculum for real estate sales associates. Coldwell Banker and CNET, the world’s largest and most trusted online source of consumer technology news and reviews, also developed the definition of a smart home which is illustrated [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 18th, 2016|Product Management, Sales Advisory|Comments Off on Smart Home Certification for Residential Properties

Clareity’s New Dashboard Review

Clareity Security is staging the release of their best Single Sign-On dashboard ever. As a quick primer, Clareity Security was born to prevent password sharing and other unauthorized access to the MLS system. The MLS has confidential fields that must be protected and Clareity’s software also prevents theft of service and provides revenue assurance to the MLS. Over the years, they extended the platform to ensure that valid MLS users could securely access other licensed solutions offered by the MLS. This “Single Sign-On” convenience not only manages authorized access, but also relieves the agent’s stress of remembering more usernames and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:15-07:00May 10th, 2016|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Clareity’s New Dashboard Review

Drip Training

I love a morning call with a report of success. A broker that I am working with moved their chips around the board, renewing a core vendor agreement and adding five new services without any incremental costs. Bust out the champagne, right? Not so fast. The panic moment hits you when you understand that you will be launching five new products. A few of them are background products that support the operation of the brokerage – accounting type stuff. But a few of them are consumer launches and agent launches. Put the champagne away and start to whiteboard out the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:17-07:00April 28th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Drip Training

7 Surprising Facts from NAR’s Newest Research on Buyers and Sellers

Each year, the National Association of REALTORS releases a study of homebuyers and sellers, which is my favorite REALTOR research publication. The NAR Research Group publishes publishes excellent research  -- including its superb daily Economists' Outlook -- but this one is especially chocked full of golden statistical nuggets, which is ideal for a data junkie like me. These are the kinds of facts I love to pull from research because these data points are what help tell a story, and that’s a great way to earn the attention of a reporter who covers our industry. Here are seven facts from [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:28-07:00November 11th, 2015|Broker-Agent Information, Main category|2 Comments

5 Hot Trends in 2016 to Look for at NAR

This year’s REALTORS® Convention & Expo in San Diego traces its origins to the first Chicago meeting of the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges held May 12-14, 1908. One hundred and seven years later, some 20,000 real estate professionals will visit the San Diego Convention center where more than 400 organizations will display their offerings and pitch their products. 2016 promises to be a pivotal year of rapid adoption of sweeping innovations and the emergence of new powerhouses in the residential real estate matrix. Here are five hot trends to look for and listen at the workshops to learn [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:29-07:00November 11th, 2015|Main category, Marketing|Comments Off on 5 Hot Trends in 2016 to Look for at NAR