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Participants:

Kevin Boer, Moderator,   3OceansRealEstate.com

Rudy Bachraty, Trulia.com

David Carroll, Softrealty.com

David Harris, FLMS

Brad Nix, Maxsell.net

Discussion:

Why do you want my information on a syndication site?

Rudy frames it as a question of serving your client, it allows you to offer the largest audience available.

David Carroll says that the information should be distributed in the most honest way possible.

David Harris talks to serving the members. If the membership wants the information syndicated it is made available.

Brad talks as the owner of a boutique agency. It is a great leveler of the playing field.

How do you decide who gets your listing information.

Brad , as many as possible. Every site on the internet that is economical works for him

David Carroll, listing syndicators work as the middleman to get the information to the many different sites. Brad has the right to syndicate his listings but has to abide by many rules that the MLS rules if he puts anyone elses information out there.

Rudy talks on how Trulia lets the broker tell them which source will be the authority site that they will accept. When they get multiple listings for  the same house they take the one with the most prominance, unless the broker decides.

Craigslist and Google:

Traffic in the bay area is dependant upon Craigslist. The use of these free and open information is up to the agents. MLS systems will put the informtion up.

Why has the MLS changed it stance on information sharing.

Rudy says Trulia has the ability to add value by their power in the search engines and getting people to your listing.

Brad talks about the sea change in what service agents offer as opposed to being the owner of the listing. The consensus on who owned the listing is that the  broker does, but they have the obligation to getting the information in front of potential buyers.

Hmmm, the David Harris who represents a MLS was a little bothered that other sites are profiting on the data. Rudy says that Trulia has the power to really provide buyers. As a consumer I would much rather they work on getting the information to the correct people.

David Carroll says that agents should be very careful on who has the listing information.

Question on whether  buyers come directly  without a buyers agent. Should their be a discount on the commission. brad says that their is room for many models in the industry.

The advertising model will allow IDX services for free to the consumer. Zillow, Trulia, and other companies have  found this model.

Web 2.0 is a good thing and as Rudy just said, it is helping the industry as a whole.

Brad sees that the market was weakened by Realtor.com being dominant. Now with the competition all are being helped.

Showing Sold information: David Harris says that he is actively looking to help create new information. Brad says true sold comps is very valuable to the customers.

David Carroll says that realtor.com missed it as they failed to serve the consumers they were focused on getting money out of the pocket of realtors.

Interesting comment from lady in the audience saying the consumer is driving the change and they are demanding the power.

Kevin Tomlinson, the Miami Condo King, has a great idea for real estate agents to watch the  listings by using Google Alerts. Excellent point, and that is not only because he bought me lunch today.

Video is one of the most requested features at Trulia and Softrealty

 

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