“Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?”
-Abraham Lincoln

The disconnect or “hatred” big brokers have for MLS providers is something I’ve heard for years, and years, and years.

“Leveling the playing field”, “not your role”, blah, blah, blah.

Unfortunately this is the same narrative that’s also reflected in our current national politics. Shut it down. Whether its Obamacare, or MLS public facing websites. I want my way or just Shut It Down!

They give their list of demands and set a deadline. “Brinkmanship” is the new term of the day.

Well last week, whether intended or not, The Realty Alliance (TRA) got the attention of the MLS community. On stage Craig Cheatham, CEO of The Realty Alliance (talk about a tough gig!), delivered his message, “You’ve got 10 days”. After this tense panel discussion the hallways outside of the general session were smattered with MLS execs making hasty calls back home.

“Bullshit posturing” was my first take. But this time, I’m hearing, it will be different. The Realty Alliance is going to do something, not just talk the talk, but walk the walk!

But from my eyes I don’t see anything that can’t be fixed. And they need to be fixed by working with MLS providers not against them. Because if they decide to work against MLS provider I see disastrous consequences for TRA and will only serve to make MLS Providers “more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”

TSA, here’s your nightmare scenario. The scuttlebutt I hear is you are planning of pulling out of IDX from local MLS providers and then provide your own quasi-MLS.

Here’s the consequences.

1. You will lose a ton of talented agents. Agents, like most people, hate change. It won’t matter if your solution is better. They hate change. I know many franchisors that are literally licking their chops. Knowing, if you do this, it will create a HUGE recruitment opportunity for them.

2. Your quasi-MLS solution will fail. This is not your core competency. This will be a huge distraction to you just as the real estate market is recovering. A distraction, I might add, that your competition will not face. First rule of getting out of a hole you dug is to stop digging!

3. When you fail you will have to go back to your local MLS providers with your tail tucked between your legs. That smile on the MLS execs face as you come walking in the door is hiding the thoughts crossing his/her mind, “Who’s your Daddy now bitch?”

So what’s a big broker to do?

Stop listening to the consultants you’ve hired. Stop drafting new business plans. Go sell a ton of real estate. You have the MLS community attention. Take advantage of it.

Don’t lose this opportunity.

You only have 6 days!