Comments on: Adventures Revisited – Is Realtor.com brain dead or just dead? http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Antonowsky http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-339623 Mark Antonowsky Sun, 10 May 2009 12:38:54 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-339623 I've been boycotting realtor.com for about 5 years now. To think our own trade group website, given the importance of the internet to real estate, would operate the way it does i.e., blackmail agents to pay extra to have our listings contain OUR contact info, when any other IDX, zillow, yahoo, trulia, etc provides that info without charge, while selling and displaying banner advertising along with our listing content, is despicable! Realtor.com sucks. I’ve been boycotting realtor.com for about 5 years now. To think our own trade group website, given the importance of the internet to real estate, would operate the way it does i.e., blackmail agents to pay extra to have our listings contain OUR contact info, when any other IDX, zillow, yahoo, trulia, etc provides that info without charge, while selling and displaying banner advertising along with our listing content, is despicable! Realtor.com sucks.

]]> By: GAGE MORRIS http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-321905 GAGE MORRIS Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:56:18 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-321905 IT SEEMS THAT THE NWMLS IS BACK ON REALTOR.COM, NO? MAYBE CONSUMER OPINION COUNTS, MORE? IT SEEMS THAT THE NWMLS IS BACK ON REALTOR.COM, NO? MAYBE CONSUMER OPINION COUNTS, MORE?

]]> By: Dear Zillow-meisters – Better start makin’ copies of the Trulia-nator | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-241028 Dear Zillow-meisters – Better start makin’ copies of the Trulia-nator | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:14:46 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-241028 [...] What’s this mean for Realtor.com? I dunno, but it’s increasingly looking like they are going to get HouseValued (yes, I just made that verb up), if they don’t show some brain activity. [...] [...] What’s this mean for Realtor.com? I dunno, but it’s increasingly looking like they are going to get HouseValued (yes, I just made that verb up), if they don’t show some brain activity. [...]

]]> By: Djw http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-172910 Djw Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:33:09 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-172910 As a the tech rep for a number of Real estate brokers, their mls's, and of course the Realtors... From my angle the entire Real estate system is somewhat neurotic, schizophrenic, and overall amusing. One mls provides pipe delimited CSV, another appears to have invented its CSV style entirely from scratch, and then there is just weird stuff... like mls's not telling me what a given field means or doing absolutely no validation on what the Realtors submit ( Straet|ST.|str. or Cities called "Todo"). Further more adding to the fun is how unbelievably hostile some MLS vendors are to their clients (0100 - 0600 ftp time slots, no excuses) or vice versa. As a the tech rep for a number of Real estate brokers, their mls’s, and of course the Realtors… From my angle the entire Real estate system is somewhat neurotic, schizophrenic, and overall amusing. One mls provides pipe delimited CSV, another appears to have invented its CSV style entirely from scratch, and then there is just weird stuff… like mls’s not telling me what a given field means or doing absolutely no validation on what the Realtors submit ( Straet|ST.|str. or Cities called “Todo”). Further more adding to the fun is how unbelievably hostile some MLS vendors are to their clients (0100 – 0600 ftp time slots, no excuses) or vice versa.

]]> By: Robbie http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-164209 Robbie Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:24:35 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-164209 Have you even looked at the <a href="http://images1.e-net.com/theenterprise-feeds/NWMLS-Data-Feed-Specifications-v1.3.pdf" rel="nofollow">NWMLS data feed spec</a>? It says "We will only accept feeds from an automated solution, and reserve the right to suspend feeds that are not being properly maintained." The target audience is clearly IDX vendors that service NWMLS brokers, the IT staff of NWMLS brokers (or somebody else of similar technical sophistication). Given the intended target audience, why create a standard that's more costly/difficult to implement? Even if they did accept a manual solution, I can't imagine a broker would have a member his or her staff update a listing spreadsheet in Excel, export it as TXT, get copies of all updated listing photos, create a zip file of listing photos, and upload the files via FTP every day! Unless NWMLS Locator has a feature to create a Realtor.com feed files that I don't know about, it would probably be labor intensive for a broker to keep the thing updated (get quickly expensive). I suspect what happened is that Realtor.com just documented and re-purposed the feed process that they had in place with the NWMLS since the late-1990s, instead of spending the time to create a superior XML-HTTP based solution. It's less work for them, but more work for NWMLS members. Regardless of the reasons why the NWMLS is no longer sending data to Realtor.com, killing the program wasn't something that was appreciated by the majority of members (not voting board members mind you). The NWMLS stopping the feed, means if you want exposure on Realtor.com, it's now your responsibility to figure out how to get your listings there (instead of the NWMLS's). Although, there is no national movement to leave Realtor.com, there is a growing movement to support Realtor.com competitors (Trulia, Zillow, etc). If Realtor.com starts losing it's competitive edge (site traffic), it'll be very interesting to see if a new pecking order establishes itself. Have you even looked at the NWMLS data feed spec? It says “We will only accept feeds from an automated solution, and reserve the right to suspend feeds that are not being properly maintained.” The target audience is clearly IDX vendors that service NWMLS brokers, the IT staff of NWMLS brokers (or somebody else of similar technical sophistication). Given the intended target audience, why create a standard that’s more costly/difficult to implement?

Even if they did accept a manual solution, I can’t imagine a broker would have a member his or her staff update a listing spreadsheet in Excel, export it as TXT, get copies of all updated listing photos, create a zip file of listing photos, and upload the files via FTP every day! Unless NWMLS Locator has a feature to create a Realtor.com feed files that I don’t know about, it would probably be labor intensive for a broker to keep the thing updated (get quickly expensive).

I suspect what happened is that Realtor.com just documented and re-purposed the feed process that they had in place with the NWMLS since the late-1990s, instead of spending the time to create a superior XML-HTTP based solution. It’s less work for them, but more work for NWMLS members.

Regardless of the reasons why the NWMLS is no longer sending data to Realtor.com, killing the program wasn’t something that was appreciated by the majority of members (not voting board members mind you). The NWMLS stopping the feed, means if you want exposure on Realtor.com, it’s now your responsibility to figure out how to get your listings there (instead of the NWMLS’s).

Although, there is no national movement to leave Realtor.com, there is a growing movement to support Realtor.com competitors (Trulia, Zillow, etc). If Realtor.com starts losing it’s competitive edge (site traffic), it’ll be very interesting to see if a new pecking order establishes itself.

]]> By: uranidiot http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-164154 uranidiot Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:12:23 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-164154 Basically, what you don't understand is that realtor.com has not created a national agregation system here. This was set up just for NWMLS brokers and the target audience is not just IDX vendors, but much less sophisticated user in brokers' office's who have no idea what XML is, but can certainly export a file from excel and zip up and FTP some photos. It is very much a purposely dumbed-down system. Again showing your ignorance, you should also know that the only reason NWMLS no longer sends data to realtor.com is due to one larger broker who basically had a lot of sway. There is no national movement by MLSs to leave realtor.com. In a market like this would member's want to reduce their listings' exposure -- especially to the number one site by far for real estate? Do forget, realtor.com is NAR (the industry)'s official site. Basically, what you don’t understand is that realtor.com has not created a national agregation system here. This was set up just for NWMLS brokers and the target audience is not just IDX vendors, but much less sophisticated user in brokers’ office’s who have no idea what XML is, but can certainly export a file from excel and zip up and FTP some photos. It is very much a purposely dumbed-down system.

Again showing your ignorance, you should also know that the only reason NWMLS no longer sends data to realtor.com is due to one larger broker who basically had a lot of sway. There is no national movement by MLSs to leave realtor.com. In a market like this would member’s want to reduce their listings’ exposure — especially to the number one site by far for real estate? Do forget, realtor.com is NAR (the industry)’s official site.

]]> By: From stirring to digging in one day… | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-136715 From stirring to digging in one day… | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... Fri, 18 May 2007 00:53:46 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-136715 [...] (If I’m refraining from too many opinions on this article, it is because my biases are so numerous I should probably not hit publish… (1) In the past I was “asked” by the NWMLS to take down RCG’s home search because we were not an “agent” site, but rather a marketing vehicle for multiple real estate professionals (It now sites at “http://www.annaluther.com” in order to comply). (2) My employer is having their own set of issues with the NWMLS. (3) Yesterday’s article and comments were probably not well received by the staff at Redfin…) [...] [...] (If I’m refraining from too many opinions on this article, it is because my biases are so numerous I should probably not hit publish… (1) In the past I was “asked” by the NWMLS to take down RCG’s home search because we were not an “agent” site, but rather a marketing vehicle for multiple real estate professionals (It now sites at “http://www.annaluther.com” in order to comply). (2) My employer is having their own set of issues with the NWMLS. (3) Yesterday’s article and comments were probably not well received by the staff at Redfin…) [...]

]]> By: Where should the MLS end and the IDX begin? | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-133466 Where should the MLS end and the IDX begin? | Rain City Guide | A Seattle Real Estate Blog... Thu, 10 May 2007 19:40:40 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-133466 [...] Where should the MLS end and the IDX begin? May 10, 2007 The whole ruckus over the NWMLS no longer sending its member’s listings to realtor.com inspired many unlit pixels of commentary and many more wasted bytes of hard drive space. As I pondered a while ago, the industry appears to have a healthy appetite for technology. However, one of the comments was really insightful…. I still feel that this decision made by the board was wrong. As was the decision last year to disable the client email updates from Locator. We have the technology but are unwilling to use it. I have no love of REALTOR.com but I see no problem with sharing a limited set of data with them and offering our sellers maximum exposure of their listing. In fact, perhaps one of the reasons they discontinued the feed was because as Galen said, “Realtor.com was given the exclusive non-broker feed…” and they were getting pressure from Google and others to get a similar feed. I say give it to them. NWMLS has the ability to provide its members, all of them, with the technology usually reserved only for those with very deep pockets. [...] [...] Where should the MLS end and the IDX begin? May 10, 2007 The whole ruckus over the NWMLS no longer sending its member’s listings to realtor.com inspired many unlit pixels of commentary and many more wasted bytes of hard drive space. As I pondered a while ago, the industry appears to have a healthy appetite for technology. However, one of the comments was really insightful…. I still feel that this decision made by the board was wrong. As was the decision last year to disable the client email updates from Locator. We have the technology but are unwilling to use it. I have no love of REALTOR.com but I see no problem with sharing a limited set of data with them and offering our sellers maximum exposure of their listing. In fact, perhaps one of the reasons they discontinued the feed was because as Galen said, “Realtor.com was given the exclusive non-broker feed…” and they were getting pressure from Google and others to get a similar feed. I say give it to them. NWMLS has the ability to provide its members, all of them, with the technology usually reserved only for those with very deep pockets. [...]

]]> By: Jesse Bilsten http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-133004 Jesse Bilsten Wed, 09 May 2007 15:47:10 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-133004 Do I think Realtors are too stupid to read? No... why would I think that? I was providing an example in response to the post regarding who can sign the petition. It's pretty silly to assume that you have to be a Realtor to weight in considering how easy it is to become one. If we let Realtor's help us make the decision of buying a home (our biggest investment) why wouldn't we allow clients to sign the petition? I'm sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way, but this industry desperately needs to have some more verification for the hard working and deserving Realtors. One of the main problems with our industry is that anyone can become a Realtor in about a weekend. It creates more competition and brings down the likelihood someone will find an experienced Realtor rather than a inexperienced one thus giving good hard working Realtors a bad name. I'm surprised more Realtors don't want to change this. Rather than taking it as an insult why not petition for a higher education requirement? Make the field more valuable. Instead of constantly defending the broken process, agree that it's messed up and work to fix it. Seems fairly logical to me... which is why I try and make as many people aware of it as possible. Do I think Realtors are too stupid to read? No… why would I think that? I was providing an example in response to the post regarding who can sign the petition. It’s pretty silly to assume that you have to be a Realtor to weight in considering how easy it is to become one. If we let Realtor’s help us make the decision of buying a home (our biggest investment) why wouldn’t we allow clients to sign the petition?

I’m sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way, but this industry desperately needs to have some more verification for the hard working and deserving Realtors. One of the main problems with our industry is that anyone can become a Realtor in about a weekend. It creates more competition and brings down the likelihood someone will find an experienced Realtor rather than a inexperienced one thus giving good hard working Realtors a bad name.

I’m surprised more Realtors don’t want to change this. Rather than taking it as an insult why not petition for a higher education requirement? Make the field more valuable. Instead of constantly defending the broken process, agree that it’s messed up and work to fix it. Seems fairly logical to me… which is why I try and make as many people aware of it as possible.

]]> By: Marlow Harris http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-131421 Marlow Harris Sat, 05 May 2007 04:24:08 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2007/05/03/adventures-revisited-is-realtorcom-brain-dead-or-just-dead/#comment-131421 Why would Jesse Bilsten, in comment #23 above, post an off-topic and insulting comment about Realtors when apparently his company, www.vreo.com, is trying to sell software to this very same scorned market? Jesse, do you think Realtors are so stupid, that they can't read? Why would Jesse Bilsten, in comment #23 above, post an off-topic and insulting comment about Realtors when apparently his company, http://www.vreo.com, is trying to sell software to this very same scorned market?

Jesse, do you think Realtors are so stupid, that they can’t read?

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