Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Kristi Graning is leaving RE/MAX

Kristi Graning
When I first heard the news I was shocked.

After a stunning 21 year career Kristi Graning has announced she is leaving RE/MAX. I’ve written a lot about Kristi on this blog. She is what I call a “triple-threat” in the industry. Having worked with her back when RE/MAX launched their “network of broker IDX websites” (which put RE/MAX as the solid number 1 franchisor on the web) I witnessed first hand the commitment she gave RE/MAX and the huge accomplishments she made during her tenure there.

This move gives me some pause on the state of RE/MAX currently. This departure was clearly Kristi’s decision and makes me wonder what she knows that the rest of us don’t know.

She had posted on Facebook that she has been talking to several companies but decided to spend the summer with her boys.

I wish her nothing but success and know that we will be hearing from her soon enough on her next chapter.

There’s a New MLS Vendor In Town.

Annie Ives, CEO TheMLS/CLAW
17 years ago, TheMLS/CLAW was just an empty office space and had less than 1,700 members. These members sold some of the most coveted real estate in California: Beverly Hills/Los Angeles. Two local brokers were heading an effort, called CLS, to start their own MLS company and had hired all The MLS/CLAW staff.

Then Annie Ives walked in to the building.

The rest, as they say, is history. CLS failed, and TheMLS/CLAW grew back to over 12,000 members. Since then TheMLS/CLAW has built their own MLS system dubbed, THEMLSPRO®, and taken an almost fanatical approach to customer service. Annie is fond of saying “We’ve been successful because we know that we are running a software company and a service organization, and that both are of equal importance,”

Annie isn’t afraid of a challenge either. When the Palm Springs Association of REALTORS (900+ members) decided to look for a new MLS provider Annie knew she could provide the level of customer service that the members of Palm Springs association would demand. Some would think the obvious choice would be CRMLS, the ever growing (70,000 members) MLS provider born from the failed California state-wide MLS effort calREDD. Some might think that, but they would be wrong.

In the end, the Palm Springs Association signed the agreement with TheMLS/CLAW. Which makes two things very clear.

Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight in Beverly Hills and the MLS game in California is far from over.

Cloud CMA launches in Metrolist Marketplace

Two great things about this news. It brings Cloud CMA’s total coverage to over 500,000 real estate professionals around the country (a big milestone for W&R Studios). And I love the trend of these “app portals”. Metrolist Marketplace is a great example of this. I’ve listed other examples where Cloud CMA is featured along with other app portals in which Cloud CMA is featured.

Metrolist Marketplace
http://marketplace.metrolist.com/Cloud-CMA

Coastal Carolina Storefront
http://ccar.lpsmlsstorefront.com/cloudcma/

MLSlistings PERKS
http://portal.mlslistings.com/perks/?p=875

We are in the early stages of these sites but they can be a great win for third party vendors and MLS providers alike. But I would like to see tighter MLS integration to really make them take off.

Full Press Below:
_____________________________________________________________________________

Cloud CMA launches in Metrolist® Marketplace
Award winning tool now offered to members of Colorado’s largest MLS provider.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA (March 26, 2012) – Web-software company, W&R Studios, announced today that its flagship product, Cloud CMA, is now available through Metrolist Marketplace, a new e-commerce platform Metrolist launched late last year.

Cloud CMA is an online report generator designed for real estate professionals to easily create property reports for their buyers and sellers. Reports include a comparative market analysis (CMA), buyer tour, property profile and flyers. These report sets can easily be created and presented on a PC, Mac, iPad or via smartphone.

“We are excited to add Cloud CMA to our growing list of vendor’s products now available through Marketplace.” stated Kirby Slunaker, President/CEO of Metrolist]. “With Marketplace we continue to accelerate the ways third-party vendors, that utilize integration MLS data, can streamline the purchase process of their customers.”

The property reports created by Cloud CMA blend MLS data and photos with content from top websites like Google, Education.com, Walk Score, Panaramio, and Yelp. These property reports are unique and unlike any available in the industry today. Additionally, all report sets in Cloud CMA can be created by just sending an email.

“We are super excited to have Cloud CMA available in the Denver market. We think Metrolist Marketplace is a perfect way for vendors to reach MLS members”, stated Greg Robertson, co-founder of W&R Studios.

For more information about Cloud CMA please visit http://marketplace.metrolist.com/Cloud-CMA

About W&R Studios
Founded in 2008, W&R Studios (http://wrstudios.com) is a privately held web software company co-founded by Dan Woolley and Greg Robertson. W&R Studios focuses on creating simple yet focused web application for the real estate industry. By providing a “less is more” approach to software design, elegant user interfaces, and using the latest in agile programming, W&R Studiosʼ software applications are at the same time powerful, yet accessible to everyone. W&R Studiosʼ products include Cloud CMA a simple online property report generator for real estate professionals.

About Metrolist
Metrolist is the largest MLS in the state of Colorado, supporting the largest network of Realtors with the most comprehensive database of real property listings throughout the Front Range. Realtor-owned since 1984, Metrolist provides leading technology solutions to real estate agents and brokers to better serve buyers and sellers. More information about Metrolist is available at www.metrolist.com. Metrolist provides a broad database of real property listings for real estate brokers to better serve buyers and sellers. Metrolist serves five Realtor® associations: Aurora Association of Realtors, Douglas/Elbert Realtor Association, Mountain Metro Association of Realtors, South Metro Denver Realtor Association, and the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.

Contact:
Greg Robertson
greg at wrstudios dot com
855-977-8834 Ext 2

Fun in Beverly Hills….

There is a trend I’m beginning to see with MLS providers. MLS providers are beginning to host what I call the “mini conference”. Not a full blown trade show but smaller event that are based on presentations and a few vendors.

Lisa Powell

It’s hard to pull these off, you need to get the members excited about coming (this means lots of good food) and few good speakers.

I’m at the “MLS Madness” event today, hosted by The MLS/CLAW. Lisa Powell and her team have done a great job of putting together a fun event. They even got Katie Lance of Inman News to speak!

The last two “trade shows” we have attended have been complete duds. I had to pay for a power drop, carpet, waste paper basket, etc… So, I’m hoping this mini-conference trend continues.

Silent Bob and Jay meet The Porcupine.

Spencer Rascoff
I’m told by a friend, who has been there, that in Spencer Rascoff’s (the CEO of Zillow) cubicle (yes, it seems Spencer likes to keep it real) he has 3 flat panel screens set up. One dedicated to Twitter, one dedicated to Stock Market information and the other to the web and email. To me this makes perfect sense. Why?

Spencer is famously known for Tweeting out responses to criticism about Zillow. Spencer has even responded to a few of my Tweets about Zillow. Mostly to clarify a point I was making. Which doesn’t make me special in any way, he does this all the time…to anybody. It seems Spencer’s skin is not so much thin, but translucent.

But now he has added two new arrows (quills?) to his quiver, a very respected MLS professional, Bob Bemis and a successful broker Jay Thompson that is also a great writer and “gets” social media and technology. Two great choices, especially if you want to silence a lot of critics.

The more I think about Zillow the more possibilities come up for what it can do, what it can be.

A friend of mine and I were discussing Zillow this morning, he said something really smart. “To me, what gets me excited is Zillow’s over valuation. Now have a lot of cash to make a lot of things real, and be worth the valuation.”

Exactly.

So Spencer keep in mind “haters always hate”, so just play on player, play on. Or if you prefer, allow me to quote a great ex-president.

“THE MAN IN THE ARENA
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know. -Theodore Roosevelt”

Why I love ARMLS

Posted on Facebook:

Luke Glass of ListHub, shares their intentions with REN in a special guest post on Vendor Alley.

This is a guest post from Luke Glass General Manager of ListHub….

REN

There has been a lot of productive discussion lately within the industry about the role that syndication plays in today’s real estate experience. The decision to syndicate property listings ultimately lies with the broker who is entrusted with acting in the best interests of the listing agent and the selling client.

At Move we believe managed syndication benefits both home sellers and home buyers, providing each with the widest range of options available.

I wanted to share our intentions in providing the ListHub solution, and why we recently launched The Real Estate Network.

The ListHub platform is focused on 3 principles: (a) Controlled access to listing data – the brokers have the ability to choose where they advertise their listings; (b) a Managed Marketplace – the brokers have access to information on how their listings will be used; and (c) Tools and Reports – providing brokers visibility into the effectiveness and benefits of their advertisements.
ListHub is a platform that provides brokers with a complete solution for managing the advertisement of their listings on real estate websites. ListHub does this by connecting to MLS listings and offering a point-and-click dashboard for brokers to syndicate listings. This dashboard contains the list of publisher sites, tools to help brokers make informed decisions – including a scorecard that clearly shows where publishers stand on key usage issues, and access to reports to help brokers determine the effectiveness of their advertisement activities.

Recently, ListHub launched The Real Estate Network (the REN). The Real Estate Network is an array of websites operated by real estate franchise organizations and similar broker organizations that are now available to brokers in the ListHub platform. The REN is a natural extension of our vision to support brokers’ ability to effectively market listings and connect with consumers. Brokers will have the opportunity to participate with no paperwork and no fees, using the same ListHub dashboard that they use to send their listings to an array of other real estate search websites.

Last year, we all followed the changes to the MLS IDX policy that set the stage for The Real Estate Network. For years, franchises and similar organizations have been operating their websites under strict rules that did not give them the ability to utilize IDX listings as an MLS participant is able to do. This has compromised their ability to maximize SEO value and provide a first class consumer search experience, both of which are necessary to compete and attract consumers.

The MLS Policy Committee ultimately decided that the rules would stand as they apply to franchise organizations being non-participants. As an alternative, NAR spoke out in support of syndication as an option for franchise organizations – as well as brokerage networks – to display listings, as long as brokers can opt-in and opt-out freely.

The Real Estate Network makes this vision a reality. REN participants will be able to operate their websites more effectively and with fewer restrictions. We see real estate franchises as part of our real estate family, and now we look forward to providing them with a model for acquiring listing information that gives them a stronger footing for connecting with consumers.
From the MLS perspective, the REN provides a no-cost, plug-and-play solution for offering members the NAR-recommended option to syndicate listings for display on franchise and brokerage network websites. Our MLS partners have looked to us for a solution, and we are responding to their immediate need for an engine to support syndication to franchises. More than 350 MLSs participate in ListHub today in order to provide a flexible and reliable platform for advertising member listings. MLSs who currently partner with ListHub will automatically gain access to REN.

The key to success of REN is use of a standard set of display rules [www.listhub.net/networkrules.html]. REN was created to enable brokers and franchises to better compete in the online marketplace through differentiation in the consumer experience they offer. There is no difference in the terms and rules surrounding the display of syndicated listings among the REN participants. We have accepted a vast amount of input from industry participants including MLS leadership, franchise leadership, and consultants to assemble a set of display rules that satisfy needs of the multiple parties. The Real Estate Network participant sites, franchises, brokers, and MLSs can all participate in REN with a clear-cut understanding of the exchange of value between all parties, including consumer usage metrics from all sites receiving listings from the Network.

We believe everybody is a winner here. Franchises benefit from the ability to create a better experience for consumers. MLSs benefit from having a utility that immediately supports their ability to implement the NAR IDX rules, and brokers benefit from the ability to have more choice when it comes to advertising their listings online. The ultimate goal remains the same, to produce the greatest amount of transactions so that home buyers can find a home they will love to live in and home sellers get a fair price for their home within a reasonable amount of time. The Real Estate Network is designed to serve both these purposes while leaving control with the listing brokerage. We look forward to continuing to conversation on this within our ever-evolving industry.

Editor’s Note: If you would like to write a guest post please don’t hesitate in contacting me. – gr

RE/MAX selects Homes.com

This is a wonderful story. It’s a story only a few people in the industry can fully appreciate. I’m glad I’m one of them.

Both RE/MAX and Dominion Enterprises have gone through a lot in the past few years and its great to see when the good guys win.

It all began when Dave Liniger made the statement that the industry was being besieged by companies that were “bring nothing but a fork to the potluck”. Then in 2005 RE/MAX announced a bold new strategy where RE/MAX International would create a “network of broker idx sites” under remax.com and give all the leads free to RE/MAX associates. They selected eNeighborhoods as their vendor and with Kristi Graning leading the effort on the RE/MAX side they went on a roll that solidified RE/MAX as the top innovator in the online real estate market for the next several years.

I was leading the sales and marketing division at eNeighborhoods when we signed the deal with RE/MAX but the real credit goes to Andy Woolley for recognizing the opportunity and leading the effort to make it come to life.

A lot has happen since. eNeighborhoods had been bought by Dominion Enterprises, and then Dominion Enterprises tried to sell itself unsuccessfully. And of course the real estate crisis took over the country. Both companies retrenched. In the case of Dominion Enterprises they consolidated most of the companies they acquired and formed Homes Media Solutions. And who can blame them? Homes.com is a true player in the online real estate space. It made sense for them to finally do the hard work on integrating all the companies under one platform.

RE/MAX has also dealt with internal struggles as well. Independent brokers have asserted their independence from the mothership with mixed results. But with this partnership it appears that RE/MAX corporate has regained some of their footing. And ask any vendor in the industry what franchisor would be number one on their list to partner with? The answer is RE/MAX. Why? Despite the fascination with “agent count” anyone that really knows this industry knows that RE/MAX has consistently the most productive agents in the business. Period.

So congratulations all around. RE/MAX is hosting their annual convention in Las Vegas right now and I’m sure Andy, Kristi, Marnie, Staci and the rest of the crew are celebrating over some good food and great wine (chosen expertly by Andy ‘natch!).

Cheers!

Full Press Release Below:
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Homes.com and RE/MAX® Launch New Online Strategic Partnership

Homes.com selected to power remax.com and create new mobile apps suite

(Norfolk, VA, March 6, 2012) —Homes.com and RE/MAX®, LLC, announced today the launch of a major new online marketing partnership. RE/MAX has selected Homes.com to power the new remax.com website and the newly released suite of RE/MAX mobile applications for Apple and Android mobile devices. The two organizations will also be launching collaborative efforts to market Homes.com local advertising products and the new Homes Connect marketing platform to RE/MAX Sales Associates throughout North America.

“We’re thrilled that RE/MAX has selected Homes.com to power the most important elements of their online marketing efforts. Remax.com is clearly a leading property search destination and is the cornerstone of the RE/MAX online strategy,” says Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com. “By combining our proven search technology with the powerful reach of our Homes.com website and mobile applications, we’ve developed a complementary approach to ensure traffic and leads from both websites are delivered efficiently and directly to RE/MAX Sales Associates.”

Key aspects of the Homes.com and RE/MAX partnership include:

Homes.com will build and host the new remax.com, leveraging the same innovative technology that powers Homes.com and Homes Connect.
The new RE/MAX mobile application suite for Apple and Android devices was developed by and is hosted on the Homes.com platform. Versions for other devices will be available soon.
RE/MAX listings will also be showcased on Homes.com, driving new traffic to remax.com and leads downstream to RE/MAX offices and Sales Associates.
A RE/MAX co-branded version of Homes Connect is being marketed by the two companies to RE/MAX Broker-Owners and Sales Associates throughout North America.
“The selection of Homes.com as our preferred online marketing partner is the result of a two year evaluation, and considerations of a variety of approaches and potential partners,” said Marnie Blanco, RE/MAX Vice President of eBusiness. “In the process, it became clear that the best approach was to leverage the powerful technology of a national listing portal that could lead consumers to remax.com. Homes.com provides RE/MAX all the components and the clearest path to making this complementary approach a reality.”

“With all the negative attention lately surrounding syndication, it’s important the Homes.com brand and mission avoid getting caught up in that fray,” added MacLean. “We offer brokers and franchisors a unique approach, combining our innovative technology services with our vast consumer reach. When a technology strategy is in line with a marketing strategy, as it is with this new RE/MAX partnership, the two complement each other beautifully.”

About Homes.com

Homes.com, part of the Homes Media Solutions division of DominionEnterprises, is a leading provider of real estate marketing and media services, including brand advertising, property listing exposure and syndication, search engine marketing and instant response lead generation. Homes Connect by Homes.com offers the real estate industry’s first-ever all-inclusive marketing platform for agents and brokers featuring single-login convenience. Homes.com is visited by over 10 million consumers each month to search nearly 4 million properties for sale or rent, to locate real estate agents in their area and to find useful home buying tips. For more information, visit www.Homes.com.

About Dominion Enterprises

Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services and publishing company serving the automotive, recreational and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, employment, parenting, travel, and daily deals industries. The company’s businesses provide a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, website design and hosting, and data management services. The company has more than 60 market-leading websites reaching more than 20.9 million unique visitors monthly, and more than 280 magazines with a weekly circulation of 2.4 million. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., the company has 3,300 employees in more than 186 offices in the United States, Canada, England and Italy. For more information, visit www.DominionEnterprises.com.

About the RE/MAX Network

RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, real estate industry visionaries who still lead the Denver-based global franchisor today. RE/MAX is recognized as one of the leading real estate franchise companies with the most productive sales force in the industry and a global reach of more than 80 countries. With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $120 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other charities. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. For more information about RE/MAX, please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremax.com.

FBS leads pack on Overall End-User Satisfaction. Marketlinx slips. Rapattoni and LPS make gains.

11th Annual MLS Customer Satisfaction Survey

FBS beat it second place rival Matrix MLS system (now owned by Marketlinx) in the “Overall End-User Satisfaction” by a wide margin (170 to 145). The annual survey, released today, was conducted by Clareity.

Both Rapattoni and LPS made gains in overall customer satisfaction from previous years.

I think the story being told her is pretty obvious. FBS without the distractions of acquisitions, multiple platform support and leadership drama has been able to focus. That focus is a win for their customers.

Marketlinx’s problem is loss of focus. They just acquired Martix last year, that made it a total of 5 different MLS systems they need to support (if you count Fusion). Aye caramba! The stretch of resources is beginning to show in other areas such as the recent stability problems of their new Flash based Reallist tax system.

Rapattoni after surviving a rough patch last year seems to found some stability. After divesting themselves of the broker agent division (now called RED) and implementing a successful migration to Paragon 5 it seems LPS has also looking ahead. It will be interesting to see how reInsight is received in the market.

I like the approach Clareity took this year with the survey. They added much need context to the data instead of a bunch of charts and graphs. You can check out full survey here.

Best Swag Ever!

Everyone at the Clareity MLS Executive Conference got these ultra-chic-cool pull over Nike jackets from Homes.com. I have to say this is the best swag item I’ve seen in years. Nice job Andy!

Andy Woolley, GM of Homes Media Solutions
Sponsored By Paragon Connect