Listing Bits: Recent Episodes
Greg Robertson
Greg Robertson, co-founder of W+R Studios and publisher of Vendor Alley, talks real estate tech with the people who are shaping it.
In this episode of Listing Bits, Greg Robertson sits down with Ben Kinney, CEO and co-founder of Place, to talk about Place’s acquisition of Remine, how Ben built his PropTech empire from the ground up, and what’s next for the platform. Ben shares his personal journey from growing up in rural Washington to building a half-billion-dollar business, and lays out his vision for supporting agents, MLSs, and consumers through technology, services, and long-term stability.
Key Takeaways
- Place Acquires Remine – Ben shares why his team bought Remine out of bankruptcy, what they plan to do with the platform, and how MLSs can expect immediate support.
- A Business Built for Agents – Place focuses on helping top teams across brokerages run more profitable and efficient businesses without trying to replace brokers or compete with their models.
- Three Keys to Product Adoption – Ben breaks down his framework for driving usage: show users how, show them why, and show them others who’ve succeeded.
- From CRM to Services – Place provides agents with everything from CRMs and marketing tools to bookkeeping, HR, title services, and even AI-powered handwritten notes.
- CCP and Cooperation – Ben shares his views on Clear Cooperation and listing exclusivity, emphasizing transparency, consumer benefit, and the importance of cooperation.
- Long-Term Vision – Ben discusses Place’s public company aspirations, upcoming acquisitions, and consumer-focused services like moving support—all while keeping control of the business.
Links
Place.com https://place.com
Active Rain https://activerain.com
Mom’s “No Bake” Cookie recipe
1 stick of butter
2 c sugar
1/4 c cocoa powder
1/2 c milk
3 c oatmeal
1/2 c crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
Stir butter, sugar, cocoa, milk in saucepan until boil. Boil at low for 2 mins. Remove from heat and add in oatmeal, peanut butter, vanilla.
WAV Group Interview: Meet Ben Kinney and Chris Suarez of Place – new owners of Remine - https://www.wavgroup.com/2025/04/22/meet-ben-kinney-and-chris-suarez-of-place-new-owners-of-remine/ Our Sponsors
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
🎙️ Listing Bits Episode: The Amazing Annie Ives
Host: Greg Robertson
Guest: Annie Ives, CEO of The MLS™ / VestaPlus
Duration: ~40 min
👋 Episode Summary:
In this episode, Greg sits down with Annie Ives, a true titan in the world of organized real estate. From her early days immigrating from Tunisia to building and reviving one of the most resilient MLS organizations in the country, Annie shares her personal and professional journey with candor, humor, and a hint of rebellion.
They cover everything from her humble beginnings in Los Angeles, to taking down not one but two formidable adversaries (a rogue MLS and the LA Times), and ultimately building a fully-fledged MLS software company from the ground up — all while raising a family and earning her MBA.
🧩 Key Topics Covered:
• Annie’s Origins: Born in Tunisia, moved to LA in 1967 post-Six-Day War
• First Jobs in the U.S.: Nanny, Bank of America check processor
• Finding Her Calling: Started in accounting for CLAW (Combined L.A. Westside MLS) in 1993
• The CLS Uprising: How Annie resurrected CLAW after a broker-led exodus and competition from the breakaway “CLS”
• Publishing Power Move: Took on LA Times and launched Southern California Homes & Estates, which remains a staple in the market
• Building VestaPlus: Tired of relying on vendors, Annie led the charge to build a proprietary MLS platform — now adopted beyond their core market
• Checkmate™: Her team’s AI-driven compliance tool making waves across the MLS industry
• Team Philosophy: Why taking risks, building a strong team, and staying scrappy still matters
📌 Resources & Mentions:
• The MLS™ / VestaPlus:
• Contact Annie: annie.ives@themls.com
• Compliance tool: Checkmate™, powered by VestaPlus
• The MLS Summit Event: Annual event hosted by The MLS™
🎙️ Listing Bits: Brian Donnellan, CEO of Bright MLS
Host: Greg Robertson
Guest: Brian Donnellan, CEO of Bright MLS
Episode Summary:
Greg sits down with Bright MLS CEO Brian Donnellan for a candid conversation about leadership, music, and the shifting dynamics in real estate. They dive into design, the Clear Cooperation Policy, Wall Street’s influence, and why cooperation—not just compensation—is the heart of MLS value.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why Bright MLS invests so heavily in communication and design
• How playing in bands helped Brian lead complex teams
• The real impact of removing compensation from the MLS model
• Brian’s take on Clear Cooperation and private exclusives
• What Wall Street’s growing role means for brokers and MLSs
Our Sponsors
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board – Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
In this episode of Listing Bits, Greg Robertson is joined by Megan McFarlane from New Mexico MLS and Jeff Allen from CubiCasa to discuss the growing importance of floor plans in real estate listings. They dive into why New Mexico MLS has taken the bold step of requiring floor plans on every listing, how technology like CubiCasa is making this easier, and the industry-wide momentum pushing for more complete and transparent listing content.
Key Takeaways
• New Mexico MLS’s Bold Move: Why they made floor plans mandatory and how it enhances listing accuracy and consumer experience.
• The Tech That’s Changing the Game: How CubiCasa and other solutions make floor plans more accessible for agents and MLSs.
• Overcoming Pushback: Addressing concerns about liability, data privacy, and adoption challenges.
• Consumer Demand is Clear: NAR research shows floor plans are the #1 most requested listing feature.
• Global Trends in Real Estate: Why countries like Finland and Australia have already made floor plans standard—and why the U.S. is catching up.
• The Future of MLS Compliance: How MLSs are using AI and automation to enforce floor plan requirements.
Links & Resources
New Mexico MLS to require floor plans on all listings
https://www.vendoralley.com/2025/01/16/new-mexico-mls-to-require-floorpans-on-all-listings/
MLS Floor Plan Requirement Programs: FAQ 2025
https://www.cubi.casa/mls-floor-plan-requirements-2025/
CMLS Presentation Clip
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE2yYaMPzme/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Our Sponsors
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board – Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Greg Robertson talks with Kevin McCarthy, co-founder and CEO of Real Geeks, about his journey from a small-town tech enthusiast to creating a leading real estate technology company. Kevin shares insights into Real Geeks’ origins, its evolution, and how its all-in-one platform empowers real estate agents. The conversation touches on the early challenges of building a tech company, the role of SEO in the early internet era, and how AI is shaping the future of real estate technology.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The Birth of Real Geeks
• How Kevin’s move to Hawaii led to a partnership with Jeff Manson, Real Geeks’ co-founder.
• The transition from building a single real estate website to creating a scalable product for agents.
- The Real Geeks Platform
• Combining IDX websites with a CRM for seamless lead generation and management.
• The importance of fast, user-friendly software and SEO optimization.
- AI Innovations
• Introduction of “SEO Fast Track,” an AI-powered website builder.
• The future of CRMs: AI taking over repetitive tasks to let agents focus on client relationships.
- The Journey of Growth
• Challenges of starting in Hawaii and expanding operations to Dallas, TX.
• Navigating the sale of Real Geeks to Fidelity National Financial while preserving its mission.
- Advice for Entrepreneurs
• Building a profitable, self-funded business in challenging markets.
• The value of focusing on user experience and sustainable growth.
Quotable Highlights:
• “Fast software is good software. Even milliseconds matter when it comes to user experience.”
• “AI will make CRMs fade into the background, automating tasks agents hate so they can focus on building relationships.”
• “Real Geeks is more than just software; it’s a tool that powers the livelihood of real estate agents.”
Reach Out:
LinkedIn for Kevin McCarthy
Real Geeks - Tools Tailored to Your Ambitions
Our Sponsors
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board – Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
Overview:
Greg Robertson sits down with Carlos Grass and Paul Hethmon, co-founders of Amplify, to discuss their innovative “front-endless” MLS backend platform. This episode highlights Amplify’s unique approach to creating a flexible, adaptable MLS backend designed to empower MLSs with greater control and cutting-edge technology.
Key Takeaways:
- Amplify’s Mission and Flexibility:
• Amplify offers a decoupled backend solution that allows MLSs to use multiple frontends, enabling greater customization, data control, and integration with new technologies.
- Innovative Technology Integration:
• The platform features advanced capabilities like natural language processing and machine learning, allowing users to search MLS data through voice or natural language, while also automating content creation such as audio descriptions and marketing videos.
- Real-Time Changes and Responsiveness:
• Amplify’s backend allows MLSs to make updates and add fields in real-time, drastically improving adaptability and response time compared to traditional MLS systems.
- A New Vision for MLS Accessibility:
• Amplify enables MLSs to extend data access to a broader network, including appraisers, attorneys, and financial institutions, fostering a more collaborative ecosystem.
Reach Out:
Carlos Grass, Co-Founder of Amplify and CEO of Stratus Data Systems
Paul Hethmon, Co-Founder of Amplify
Visit Amplify at ampsystems.us
Download Amplify's new White Paper: Adapting to the post DOJ ruling
Our Sponsors
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board – Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
Overview:
In this episode, Greg Robertson chats with Austin Allison, CEO of Pacaso, about his entrepreneurial journey in real estate, starting with Dotloop and transitioning to his current venture, Pacaso. The discussion covers lessons learned from his early career, how Pacaso is revolutionizing second home ownership, and insights into raising capital through innovative approaches like Regulation A.
Key Takeaways:
- Austin’s Journey in Real Estate:
• Austin Allison started his real estate career early, getting his license at 18. His early experiences selling homes during college inspired him to create Dotloop, which he later sold to Zillow.
• The entrepreneurial lessons from Dotloop, including navigating challenging markets and working with large real estate brands like Keller Williams, set the foundation for his future ventures.
- The Birth of Pacaso:
• After selling Dotloop, Austin co-founded Pacaso, a platform aimed at democratizing second home ownership by enabling people to co-own luxury homes. The idea stemmed from his own experience of buying a second home and realizing most vacation homes sit unused for much of the year.
• Pacaso allows people to purchase a share of a vacation home, creating more efficient and accessible ways to own luxury properties.
- The Challenges of Scaling a Startup:
• Pacaso had rapid growth, especially during the early days of the pandemic when people sought second homes, but faced new challenges in 2023 due to rising interest rates and a cooling real estate market.
• The company has refocused on profitability and expanding its market presence globally, with operations in the U.S., Europe, and Mexico.
- Innovative Fundraising through Regulation A:
• Pacaso recently explored raising capital through Regulation A, a public fundraising method that allows retail investors to buy into private companies. This method democratizes access to investment opportunities typically reserved for institutional investors.
• Austin believes this approach aligns with Pacaso’s mission of making second home ownership more accessible and also raises brand awareness by turning investors into advocates.
- Future of Pacaso and Second Home Ownership:
• Pacaso aims to continue expanding its product offerings and entering new markets. While the current focus is on high-net-worth individuals, Austin envisions future opportunities to lower the entry point for ownership, making the Pacaso model more accessible to a broader audience.
• Austin emphasizes the long-term potential of Pacaso and the importance of scaling the business carefully to meet the demands of a large, untapped market.
Reach Out:
Austin on LInkedIN
Find out more about Pacaso
• Learn more about Pacaso: Pacaso.com
• Explore Regulation A investment opportunities with Pacaso.
Our Sponsors
Trackxi - Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board - Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
I sat down with a long-time friend and former business partner, Maggie Etheridge. Maggie was one of my co-founders at IRIS, a real estate software company we started back in 1992. She is a second-generation real estate agent. Maggie’s mom, Martie, was the inspiration for starting a software company focused on real estate and is likely the reason I have a career today.
This episode began from a series of texts between Maggie and me about her thoughts on NAR, the lawsuits, exclusive listings, and what the pundits are getting wrong. It was a great conversation and a huge reality check for me, making me rethink some of my previous assumptions. It was a discussion that could have gone on for hours; somehow, I think we’ll have to have her on as a guest again.
Reach Out:
Maggie’s website
Maggie's Insta
Greg's website
Our Sponsors
Trackxi - Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board - Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
Listing Bits is back with a great guest, Kevin Shtofman, Global Head of Innovation at Cherre. Cherre is a global real estate data management platform. Kevin is from Texas and comes from a very entrepreneurial family that owned retail stores selling western wear, including honest-to-goodness cowboy boots! Yee-haw! Kevin talks about his journey from Wall Street back to Dallas and Cherre. It’s a great conversation where we dive into the breadth of real estate data available now, housing affordability, real estate myths, and the changing vendor landscape. Kevin is a super smart guy, and I found this conversation very insightful—I know you will too.
Reach Out:
Kevin on LinkedIn
Greg's website
Find out more about Cheere
Cherre.com - Follow your Data
Our Sponsors
Trackxi - Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software
Giant Steps Job Board - Where Proptech gets hired
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
Dan Fortin was one of my favorite people I met working at Lone Wolf. He came over from the Instanet acquisition and has had a front-row seat to see big changes in the industry. From Lone Wolf acquiring 8 companies, 5 of them in less than 9 months, to the challenges of being a forms company during COVID when everyone wanted a specific form, and they wanted it NOW! Sounds familiar, eh?
We discuss Dan's background, the lessons he's learned over the 10 years, and how taking a data-driven approach to making decisions has helped him during his career.
We also get to talk about Lone Wolf's recent announcement on its newest platform, Foundation, and the tremendous amount of work that took. We also delve into product, design, and what the future holds for Lone Wolf.
For more about Lone Wolf Foundation please visit here.
To connect with Dan check out his LinkedIn profile.
What do Willie Nelson and keeping real estate agents safe have in common? You will have to listen to this great conversation with Tether RE founder Scott Martin to find out.
Did you know that in 2020 60,000 real estate agents reported being victims of assault, sexual abuse, robbery or were murdered in the US? In 2023 over 75,000 real estate agents reported being victim of a crime. And there are a ton of more incidents that go unreported.
In this wide ranging conversation with Scott Martin, a serial entrepreneur, we talk about where the idea came from, and the journey that got Scott here. Trust me, it's a wild ride!
Join us for fun and entertaining conversation.
Reach Out:
Connect with Scott
Check out Tether RE
Our Sponsor:
Trackxi – Real Estate’s #1 Deal Tracker
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
I hope you enjoy this great conversation with the co-founders of HŌM, Jeff Zakrzewski and Nhan Vo.
In a wide ranging conversation we discuss their orgin story. Where they came up for the idea of their app and the struggles of going to market with a real estate software solution.
If you are new vendor getting in to the space, an MLS exec, or franchisor professional its worth a listen.
HŌM is a well designed app that is doing a lot of interesting things with data and collaboration with some great people behind it.
Join us!
Find out more about the HŌM experience
homagent.com | myhom.ai
Reach Out:
Connect with Jeff
Connect with Vo
Our Sponsor:
Trackxi - Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracker
Production and editing services by:
Sunbound Studios
"Hotel California", is one of the phrases people attribute to the organized real estate industry, "you can can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave". Kelly Robinson is an industry pioneer in that she co-founded a software company, Realty Plus Online, that created one of the first web-based MLS systems. In my conversation with Kelly we talked about the old days, her journey, and what brings her back to organized real estate game. It's a fun conversation between old friends and talks about the challenges of the MLS vendor business.
The verdict against NAR in the Sitzer lawsuit has organized real estate up in arms.
But Michael Lissack thinks the decision is the best thing to happen to the industry in 100 years.
In fact, he sees the trade association as a criminal enterprise with little value beyond MLS access.
Michael is Managing Broker for The Virtual Realty Group, a 100% commission brokerage that operates in 12 states.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Michael joins Greg to discuss the real issue behind the lawsuits against NAR and describe what he would do to make buyer’s agent commission negotiable.
Michael explains why it’s necessary to decouple the MLS from NAR membership and how that would likely lead to bankruptcy for the trade association.
Listen in for Michael’s provocative take on why associations don’t deserve a way forward in a world where MLS access is open to anyone with a real estate license.
What’s Discussed:
The real issue behind the lawsuits against NAR and several real estate brokerages
What Michael would do to make buyer’s agent commission negotiable
Why the DOJ takes issue with mandatory membership in NAR for MLS access
How decoupling the MLS from NAR would impact everyday REALTORS
What decoupling the MLS from NAR membership would do to the trade association (and what NAR might do to demonstrate its value and rebuild)
What it would take to decouple local, state and NAR membership
Why Michael believes a real estate license should be the only requirement for MLS access
Running MLSs as not-for-profit organizations vs. for-profit entities
Greg’s thoughts on providing a way forward for associations by compensating them for the work of building the MLS
Why bankruptcy might be apt for associations who don’t provide value beyond MLS access
Connect with Michael Lissack:
Michael.Travel
Michael on LinkedIn
Resources:
Sitzer v. NAR
Michael’s LinkedIn Post
Our Sponsors:
Trackxi
In 2020 Ben knew they needed to make a change. So he went to the Black Knight board and made a pitch, “give me the resources to build a modern MLS system”. To his surprise, they said yes. Now, 3 years later, that dream has been realized.
His dream was a mobile-first MLS platform that understands the history of how MLS platforms operate but offers a modern user experience.
That’s exactly what Ben Graboske and Lucie Fortier are working on, and their new product, Paragon Connect, is ready for its close up.
Ben is President of Data & Analytics and Lucie is Executive Vice President of MLS Solutions at Intercontinental Exchange or ICE, the financial services firm that bought Black Knight in September 2023.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Ben and Lucie join Greg to discuss ICE’s history of digitizing complex transactions and explain why its acquisition of Black Knight makes sense.
Lucie shares her motivation for joining the team at Intercontinental Exchange, and Ben describes how ICE’s resources benefit his department in the development of Paragon Connect.
Listen in to understand what differentiates Paragon Connect from other MLS vendors and learn how it simplifies the agent experience by providing an entire MLS platform on both a responsive and native app.
What’s Discussed:
ICE’s history of digitizing complicated transactions and why its acquisition of Black Knight makes sense
How being an MLS vendor supports ICE’s vision for making mortgages easier
Lucie’s journey to joining the ICE team and how technology drives her career decisions
What features differentiate Paragon Connect from other MLS vendors
Why Ben’s team decided not to change Paragon’s name (despite offering an entirely new experience)
How Paragon Connect provides an entire MLS platform in a native app experience
The talented team of designers behind Paragon Connect
How Ben’s team benefits from ICE’s data assets and information security
Lucie’s approach to transitioning existing users to Paragon Connect
How Paragon is introducing a consumer app in Q1 of 2024
Why the rules around marketing to members need to change in an MLS system-of-choice model
What makes Paragon Connect ‘the MLS platform of the future’
Connect with Ben Graboske & Lucie Fortier:
Intercontinental Exchange
Ben on LinkedIn
Lucie on LinkedIn
Email lucie.fortier@bkfs.com
Resources:
ICE Acquisition of Black Knight
Paragon Connect Demo
Damien Huze on Listing Bits EP85
Paragon Connect on Vendor Alley
Our Sponsors:
Trackxi
Listing Bits EP085: A Less, But Better Approach to Real Estate Software Design – with Damien Huze of Lone Wolf Technologies
Among Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of Design is the idea that good design is as little design as possible.
Less, but better.
And Damien Huze believes that the next evolution of real estate software will apply this concept, offering fewer high-quality apps that work together in a fluid system.
Damien is Senior Design Manager and Principal Designer at Lone Wolf Technologies, a software company working to build an end-to-end solution for real estate.
Damien served as Chief Design Officer at W+R studios before the Lone Wolf acquisition, and he is responsible for the design of Cloud CMA, one of the most popular apps in real estate.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Damien explains how making design a priority benefits companies building web-based apps and why he defines design as a skill aimed at problem-solving.
Damien describes how Lone Wolf is working to combine the tools of proptech into a single streamlined experience and shares his team’s user-centric approach to the problem of simplifying real estate.
Listen in for insight on the power of relentless focus and learn about Damien’s vision for designing real estate software that delivers more with less.
What’s Discussed:
What Damien learned from growing up with creative parents who immigrated to the US
How making design a priority benefits companies building web-based apps (and why so few do it)
How Damien thinks about design as a skill aimed at problem-solving
What Lone Wolf is doing to bring several real estate apps together in a single end-to-end solution
Why Damien believes the next evolution in real estate software is ‘less but better’
Lone Wolf’s upcoming announcement at the T3 Technology Summit
What it means for good software to have an opinion vs. being too flexible or customizable
How Damien’s team brings a user-centric, design thinking approach to simplifying real estate
Greg and Damien’s take on the advantage of simple tools that get the job done
The well-designed product that’s had the biggest impact on Damien’s life
Why relentless focus boosts productivity and how Damien applies that tenet to design
Connect with Damien Huze:
Lone Wolf Technologies
Damien on X
Damien on LinkedIn
Resources:
Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design
T3 Technology Summit
Starlink
FaceTime on Apple TV
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Our Sponsors:
Trackxi
In 2021, Vijay Gopalswamy’s real estate business was growing like gangbusters. And at one point, he had 32 active transactions.
Which meant Vijay was spending every morning with his team, going over each transaction and asking, ‘Did you send this? Did you follow up with that? Did this contract get signed?’
But when he looked at the “transaction management” software on the market, Vijay realized that it was built for brokerages, not agents.
So, he set out to solve his own problem.
Vijay is Cofounder and CEO of Trackxi, a deal tracking software platform that helps agents visualize the next step in each transaction and provides full transparency for the consumer.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Vijay discusses his successful career in mechanical engineering and explains how he became an accidental real estate agent.
Vijay describes what differentiates Trackxi from other transaction management solutions and how it serves teams, transaction coordinators and new agents.
Listen in for insight around the visual nature of Trackxi’s tracking system and find out how the app can help you demonstrate your value prop with clients and grow your real estate business!
What’s Discussed:
How Vijay moved to the US to pursue his Master’s in mechanical engineering
Vijay’s successful 20-year career in engineering, finance and sales with Daimler
How Vijay became an accidental real estate agent
How the challenge of managing 32 open transactions inspired Vijay to build Trackxi
The advantage of a dedicated app that does one or two things well
Why Trackxi is a deal tracking software platform (vs. transaction management tool)
What differentiates Trackxi from other transaction management tools
How Trackxi serves teams, transaction coordinators and new agents
How Trackxi’s tracking system provides transparency around the agent’s value
How Trackxi’s visual dashboard delivers a State of the Union of an agent’s business
What to expect from Trackxi’s hands-on onboarding process
Connect with Vijay Gopalswamy:
Trackxi
Email vijay@trackxi.com
Vijay on LinkedIn
Resources:
Trackxi Review in Inman
The Close Picks for Best Transaction Management Software for 2023
Our Sponsors:
Trackxi
MLSs and associations face an issue Nick Gough refers to as RDR, an acronym for REALTORS don’t read.
So, what can these organizations do to communicate more effectively with the members they serve?
Nick is Founder and CEO at NoteRouter, the all-in-one email and texting platform designed to help organized real estate achieve record-high member engagement.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Nick shares his experience in leadership of associations and MLSs, explaining how it drove him to build NoteRouter.
Nick describes how NoteRouter helps users write content that connects with REALTORS individually and discusses why the presentation of your message matters as much as the value you provide.
Listen in for Nick’s insight on leveraging influencer marketing to reach more REALTORS and learn how to humanize your outreach by focusing on the real pains your members face.
What’s Discussed:
Why Nick dropped out of college and became a real estate agent at 18
Nick’s experience in leadership of associations and MLSs and how it drove him to build NoteRouter
How NoteRouter solves the problem of member engagement
Using email and text outreach to help associations and MLSs connect with the people they serve
How NoteRouter helps users write content that connects with REALTORS individually
Why presentation matters just as much as the value you provide
NoteRouter’s expertise in outbound communication through email service and telecom providers
Why NoteRouter is designed around the principle of permission-based marketing
Why it’s crucial for MLSs and associations to learn influencer marketing
The relationship between email open rates and subject lines
The benefit of humanizing your outreach and focusing on real pains members face
How the latest MLS outage impacted Nick and the team at NoteRouter
Connect with Nick Gough:
NoteRouter
Nick on LinkedIn
Email nick@noterouter.com
Resources:
Seth Godin
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Teams are the future of real estate. And one proptech vendor is capitalizing on this trend by helping team leaders run an effective business.
What’s more, most of the teams on his platform double their business every year—even in the current market.
Brian Charlesworth is Founder and CEO of Sisu, an end-to-end real estate platform for teams that streamlines the transaction process, bringing all REALTORS, vendors and clients together.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Brian shares his background in technology and explains how helping his wife build her real estate team inspired the creation of Sisu.
Brian discusses the coaching Sisu offers to help team leaders scale their business and describes how the platform changes the culture of a real estate team.
Listen in to understand how the Sisu client portal works like a ‘pizza tracker’ and get Brian’s advice for other proptech vendors on building for real estate teams.
What’s Discussed:
Sisu’s function as an end-to-end real estate platform for teams
How Brian’s commitment to help his wife build her real estate team inspired the creation of Sisu
The coaching Sisu offers to help team leaders run an effective business
Why Brian believes teams are the future of real estate
What proptech vendors should consider in building for teams
Using the Sisu dashboard to track a team’s progress (e.g.: sales, potential revenue, etc.)
How Sisu integrates with CRMs and other platforms to streamline and automate real estate transactions
How Sisu changes the culture of a real estate team
Why most teams on Sisu double their business every year—even in the current market
How the Sisu client portal works like a ‘pizza tracker’
What Sisu is doing to make sure clients work with the same real estate professionals for years to come
Brian’s advice to proptech vendors on understanding how agents think
What real estate companies can do to solve for agent retention
Connect with Brian Charlesworth:
Sisu
Brian on Instagram
Resources:
Sisu Mastery
Side
PLACE
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Two years ago, NAR policy was updated to give brokers and agents attribution rights, meaning they get to decide how they appear in listings.
But Homes.com employs a ‘your listing, your lead’ model, displaying the listing agent’s contact information.
So, does this comply with NAR’s attribution policy? And what else do we need to think about as companies like Zillow and Homes.com switch to IDX?
On this episode of Listing Bits, Michael Wurzer, CEO of real estate software company FBS, Greg Fischer, Owner of indie brokerage West + Main, and Andy Woolley, VP of Industry Development at Homes.com, join us to consider how ‘your listing, your lead’ jives with NAR’s IDX attribution policy.
Andy explains how ‘your listing, your lead’ differs from the referral model used on other sites, and Greg asks what is changing at Homes.com now that it’s a participant in the MLS.
Listen in for Michael’s insight on the repercussions on policy that come with mixing different use cases for data feeds and find out why it’s important for MLSs to develop a standard way for national portals like Homes.com to license data.
What’s Discussed:
How NAR IDX policy changed to give brokers and agents attribution rights
Whether Homes.com’s ‘your listing, your lead’ model complies with NAR’s attribution policy
Why most brokers aren’t using the ‘attribution source’ field in RESO’s data dictionary
Homes.com’s decision to display the listing agent’s contact information
Why Homes.com made the switch from its original MLS feeds to IDX
What is changing at Homes.com now that it’s a participant in the MLS vs. a media publisher
The potential repercussions on policy that come with mixing use cases for data feeds
What differentiates Homes.com’s ‘your listing, your lead’ from the referral model used on other sites
How Homes.com allows buyer’s agents to protect their relationships on the site
How showing a listing agent on a lead placard compares to seeing their name on a yard sign
The challenge Homes.com faces when it comes to agent responsiveness
Why it’s crucial for MLSs to create a standard way for national portals to license data
Connect with Michael Wurzer:
Michael at FBS
Michael on Twitter
Connect with Greg Fischer:
West + Main
Greg on Twitter
Connect with Andy Woolley:
Homes.com
Andy on Twitter
Resources:
Greg’s Twitter Thread on Your Listing, Your Lead
NAR’s IDX Policy
RESO Data Dictionary
Homesnap Pro
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Lauren Martin began her career in the fashion industry to be among powerful women.
But when she transitioned to proptech, she realized that real estate is the true pinnacle of girl power. And yet, women are not always represented in leadership.
So, when she landed her current role as Senior Account Director of Partnerships at RentSpree, Lauren approached her CEO about creating RENEW, the Real Estate Network for Empowered Women, an initiative that seeks to connect and champion female professionals across all sectors of the industry nationwide.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Lauren shares her journey from the fashion industry to proptech, describing how what she learned in fashion translates to real estate.
Lauren discusses her role at RentSpree, explaining how the platform partners with MLSs and other proptech companies to streamline the rental process—in a way that serves real estate agents and renters.
Listen in for insight on what inspired Lauren to build RENEW and learn how you can get involved in her initiative to elevate women in real estate!
What’s Discussed:
How Lauren was poached from a catering company to work in sales at Remine
What Lauren learned in the fashion industry that translates to real estate and proptech
Lauren’s insight on approaching uncomfortable conversations with humor
Lauren’s experiences working with MLS professionals who champion each other
How RentSpree partners with MLSs and proptech companies to streamline the rental process
The revenue sharing model at RentSpree and how MLSs benefit from it
How REALTORS benefit from building relationships with renters early in their housing journey
Lauren’s role handling both MLS and proptech partnerships at RentSpree
Lauren’s best travel hacks for real estate professionals
What inspired Lauren to start the RENEW initiative to elevate women in real estate
Connect with Lauren:
RentSpree
Lauren on LinkedIn
Email laurenm@rentspree.com
RENEW Initiative
The RENEW Podcast by RentSpree
Resources:
Remine
Project Runway
Vendor Alley
SentriLock
Rent the Runway
Teresa King Kinney & Liz Sturrock on The RENEW Podcast EP001
Betsy Hanson of Markt on Listing Bits EP078
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
From a vendor’s perspective, small MLSs are the most challenging to work with. And that’s no surprise, seeing as how they have fewer resources than the big players in the space.
So, how do we support MLSs with fewer than 400 members in keeping up with NAR rules, for example? Is there a way MLSs might share marketing, support and compliance services in a way that makes the market work better for all involved?
Betsy Hanson is General Manager and General Counsel at Markt, a multi-MLS service organization focused on pooling resources and expertise to serve MLSs, brokers and agents.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Betsy shares her journey from executive assistant at a small association to her current role at Markt, describing how she avoids the attorney’s reputation as the Department of No.
Betsy offers her take on what organized real estate is missing about the life and times of an ordinary REALTOR, why the average agent doesn’t understand the lawsuits facing the industry, and how those lawsuits might change the way we do things moving forward.
Listen in to understand how Markt works as an MLS back-office provider and learn how Betsy and her team are uniquely positioned to help MLSs of all sizes with local market delivery.
What’s Discussed:
Betsy’s journey from executive assistant at a small association to General Counsel at Markt
What differentiates the role of executive assistant from that of chief of staff
How Betsy avoids the attorney’s reputation as the Department of No
Betsy’s experience teaching English in China between undergrad and law school
What organized real estate is missing about the life and times of an ordinary REALTOR
Why the average REALTOR-on-the-street doesn’t know about the lawsuits facing the industry
How public perception of REALTORS remains positive despite lawsuits around compensation
Betsy’s predictions re: how the lawsuits facing organized real estate might play out
How Markt began as a way for MLSs to pool support resources and create efficiencies
Markt’s potential to solve the challenge small MLSs face in keeping up with NAR rules
Connect with Betsy:
Markt
Email betsy@themarkt.com
Resources:
Notorious ROB
Industry Relations Podcast
Turn On by 1000watt
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Most showing management software aggregates data. But how useful is it to get a report at the end of the month?
What if the data was presented in a way that helped agents answer seller questions in real time and make informed choices based on the numbers?
Wes Hartman is CEO of Showingly, a showing management solution that uses data and analytics to guide better decision-making.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Wes walks us through the key metrics Showingly looks at to drive pricing decisions and marketing strategy for a property.
Wes explains how Showingly is aggregating showing, offer and closed data to determine the best day and time to list a home and explores what simple things a seller can adjust to secure more showings.
Listen in to understand how the desire for choice might impact the future of showing management software and find out if Showingly’s approach is right for your brokerage or MLS.
What’s Discussed:
Wes’ background as an aspiring fighter pilot, professional cyclist, real estate agent and tech vendor
How Showingly’s use of data to guide decision-making differentiates it from other showing management solutions
The key metrics Showingly looks at to drive pricing decisions and marketing strategy for a property
What Wes’ team is doing to get honest feedback on a property (and why that’s such a challenge)
How Showingly uses showing, offer and closed data to determine the best day and time to list a home
How sellers might adjust pricing and Open House hours to get more showings
Wes’ take on the future of showing management software
Showing Hub’s solution to the demand for choice in showing management software
Why Wes is focused on building relationships with brokerages, MLSs and other showing management providers
How Wes thinks about MLSs building their own showing solutions and why competition drives innovation
Connect with Wes:
Showingly
Email wes@showingly.com
Resources:
ShowingTime
Showing Hub
TourZazz
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
A solid fan base is what makes a rock band successful, and it’s no different for real estate professionals.
But most of us focus on the individual transaction and miss an opportunity to build long-term relationships with our existing clients and turn them into raving fans.
And that means missed opportunities for referrals and repeat business.
Rivers Pearce is CMO of Milestones, a homeowner management platform that helps agents and lenders turn single transactions into forever clients.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Rivers shares his background as a touring musician and transition to proptech, discussing how he built the lead generation department at BoomTown.
Rivers explains why agents should market themselves as a trusted advisor for all things home and explores how real estate professionals benefit from referring business to home service professionals and other local businesses.
Listen in for Rivers’ insight on nurturing relationships with your existing database and learn how Milestones can help you provide the kind of value that turns one-off clients into lifelong fans!
What’s Discussed:
Rivers’ background as a touring musician and how he transitioned to proptech
How the skills Rivers developed as a performer translate to real estate and proptech
Rivers’ experience in building the lead gen department at BoomTown
How the way proptech supports real estate agents with lead gen has evolved over time
How Rivers thinks about using sphere of influence vs. portal aggregation to generate business
The opportunity to build relationships with homeowners that most REALTORS miss
Why agents should market themselves as a trusted advisor for all things home
The benefit of referring business to home service professionals and other local businesses
How Milestones functions as a homeowner management platform for agents
How Milestones creates a custom maintenance plan for homeowners
How Milestones helps REALTORS nurture relationships with their existing database
Connect with Rivers:
Milestones
Rivers on LinkedIn
Rivers on Twitter
Rivers on Instagram
Email rivers@milestones.ai or ashley@milestones.ai for a 3-month free trial
Resources:
BoomTown
Mark Davison on Listing Bits EP042
Curaytor
CallAction
Agent Legend
Drew Meyers of Geek Estate
Tom Ferry
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Listing Bits is back!
If your role in real estate involves sales demos or any kind of training, you’re likely familiar with the frustration of delivering the same webinar over and over again.
Or worse, preparing a webinar that is either poorly attended or no one shows up.
But what if you could do 100 or even 1,000 webinars a month—without getting in front of a camera?
Melissa Kwan is Cofounder and CEO of eWebinar, a platform that saves people from repeatedly delivering the same webinar by turning videos into automated, interactive webinars.
Prior to eWebinar, Melissa founded and successfully exited the real estate tech startup Spacio, a check-in app for open houses.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Melissa shares her journey as a proptech entrepreneur, describing how she developed her mad sales skills and why she was ready for a new challenge after Spacio.
Melissa discusses how her experience with onboarding and training for Spacio inspired the creation of eWebinar and explains what differentiates the platform from Zoom, YouTube videos and webinar replays.
Listen in for insight around Melissa’s intentional approach to life and learn how your real estate business might leverage eWebinar to get your time back and spend it on things you enjoy!
What’s Discussed:
The initial idea for Spacio and how it evolved into a check-in app for open houses
How Melissa developed her hustle and sales ability out of necessity
Melissa’s successful exit from Spacio after 4 years of running the business
The real estate leadership dinner that launched Melissa’s career as an entrepreneur
What differentiates eWebinar from YouTube, Zoom and webinar replays
How Melissa’s experience with training for Spacio inspired the creation of eWebinar
How brokerages and real estate teams are using eWebinar to qualify leads
The benefit of using eWebinar in terms of video quality and availability of content
eWebinar’s use cases for sales demos, onboarding and training
How Melissa runs eWebinar to reflect her work less, enjoy more philosophy of life
Connect with Melissa:
eWebinar
Melissa on LinkedIn
ProfitLed Podcast
Resources:
Spacio
Inman Connect
Greg’s Post on Melissa in Vendor Alley
SAP
HomeSpotter
*The 4-Hour Workweek* by Timothy Ferriss
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
NAR’s MLS Policy Statement 8.6 goes into effect on September 1, 2022.
So, what tools are available to make the implementation of the new One Data Source Policy easier for MLSs?
Katie Smithson is Director of MLS Relations at Zillow Group, where she leads the team building their MLS data licensing and distribution platform, Bridge Interactive. Prior to joining Zillow, she spent eight years with W+R Studios as Director of Enterprise Sales and Director of MLS Services.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Katie walks us through Policy Statement 8.6, explaining what problems the mandate does solve and why it’s a problem to provide vendors and brokers with data in a single feed.
Katie discusses the Bridge platform’s current functionality and describes the new feature her team is developing to help MLSs implement 8.6, the One Data Source Solution.
Listen in to understand how MLSs can use Bridge to auto-approve certain vendor agreements and find out if the One Data Source Solution is right for you.
What’s Discussed:
How MLS Policy Statement 8.6 requires that MLSs offer participants data in a single feed
The security issue with leaving it up to brokers and vendors to know what data can be used in a VOW, IDX or back-office feed
What problems the new One Data Source Policy does solve
How the Bridge platform alleviates pain points around data distribution for MLSs
What differentiates the Bridge platform from CoreLogic’s Trestle
How Katie thinks about asking MLS boards to give Zillow their data (and pay for the service)
How Bridge gives MLSs a simple way to combine existing data feeds for members
The benefit of adding field-specific tags to MLS metadata via the Bridge One Data Source Solution
How MLSs can use Bridge to auto-approve certain vendors or certain types of data access agreements
Connect with Katie:
Bridge Interactive
Katie on Twitter
Katie on LinkedIn
Email: katiesm [at] zillowgroup [dot] com
Resources:
MLS Policy Statement 8.6
CMLS Implementation Guide—One Data Source Policy 8.6
Lone Wolf Technologies
Trestle by CoreLogic
Marilyn Wilson’s TSA Pre-Check Concept
Inman Connect Las Vegas 2022
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
What if it was easy for an MLS to raise money to develop the data services it needs and run the software its customers use?
Colette Stevenson is CEO of REsides, the premier MLS in South Carolina. Formerly known as Hilton Head MLS, REsides serves REALTORS who represent properties in both South Carolina and Georgia, maintaining the most dependable and powerful data in the marketplace.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Colette shares the story of the rebrand from Hilton Head MLS to REsides, explaining what differentiates her team’s vision from that of the average MLS.
Colette describes how REsides is developing a new business model to address the challenge of raising capital for software development and discusses why she’s open to collaborating with MLSs anywhere in the US.
Listen in to understand Colette’s disciplined way of thinking about potential changes to cooperation and compensation—and learn how REsides is empowering agents and brokers with data in a way that keeps the industry at the center of the real estate transaction.
What’s Discussed:
How Colette’s background in the ticketing industry informs her work at REsides
What REsides is doing to keep the industry at the center of the real estate transaction
The story of the rebrand from Hilton Head MLS to REsides
What differentiates REsides’ vision from that of the average MLS (and how being small benefits Colette’s team)
Where buyers in the Hilton Head market come from and why Colette is open to collaborating with MLSs anywhere in the US
How REsides is developing a new business model to address the challenge of raising capital for software development
Colette’s take on what keeps MLSs from making bold moves (and how REsides is overcoming it)
Colette’s disciplined way of thinking about potential changes to cooperation and compensation
REsides’ mission to empower agents and brokers with data
Connect with Colette:
REsides
Colette on LinkedIn
Resources:
‘Atlanta’s No. 1 Broker Bought Homes for Big Investors From 600 Miles Away’ in The Wall Street Journal
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Approximately 8 million appraisals were conducted in the US last year. By contrast, there are only 40,000 active real estate appraisers. So, it's no surprise that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exploring appraisal modernization initiatives like the desktop appraisal option. But to make these alternatives to the traditional appraisal work, we need data in the form of an accurate floor plan. And we need it at scale.
Jeff Allen is EVP of Innovation Labs Clear Capital, a leading property valuation tech company, and President of CubiCasa, an easy-to-use app for automating the creation of real estate floor plans. On this episode of Listing Bits, Jeff explains how the barrier to entry to become an appraiser has sparked a total transformation of the industry.
He discusses his work helping GSEs test alternatives to the traditional appraisal, describing why floor plans are an essential part of ‘bringing the house to the appraiser’ and how he discovered the CubiCasa technology that automates the process. Listen in for Jeff’s insight on the copyright dispute over real estate floor plans and learn how to support the creative partnerships necessary for CubiCasa to scale.
What’s Discussed:
How Clear Capital serves large financial institutions in the realm of property valuation
How the barrier to entry to become an appraiser has sparked a total transformation of the industry
Jeff’s work helping GSEs test alternatives to the full traditional appraisal
Why floor plans are essential in ‘bringing the house to the appraiser’
How Jeff discovered the CubiCasa tech for automating floor plans and how it works
The creative partnerships necessary for CubiCasa to achieve scale (e.g.: real estate photographers)
How the desktop appraisal option supports CubiCasa’s efforts to scale
The other major appraisal modernization initiatives coming from Fannie and Freddie
Jeff’s take on the current copyright dispute over real estate floor plans
Connect with Jeff:
CubiCasa
Email: jeff [at] cubicasa [dot] com
Jeff on LinkedIn
Clear Capital
Resources:
10K Research and Marketing
Appraisal Subcommittee
Dodd-Frank
Desktop Appraisals
Vendor Alley
FloPlan App
Greg’s Post on FloPlan
Copyright Dispute Over Real Estate Floor Plans
Designworks Homes v. Columbia House of Brokers Realty
CMLS’s Amicus Brief on the Floor Plan Copyright Dispute
NAR’s Amicus Brief on the Floor Plan Copyright Dispute
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
We're baaaaaack!
I spend a lot of time at conferences explaining why MLSs, brokers, and franchisors should let the ‘professionals’ build their technology. And yet, there are real reasons why these stakeholders might want to design their own.
So, when is it appropriate for an MLS to create its own tech stack rather than relying on a vendor? And what does the development process look like?
Faith Geronimo and Colleen Yasuhara are the CEO and COO, respectively, of Hawaii Information Service (HIS), the MLS provider for the islands of Hawaii and Kauai. On this episode of Listing Bits, Faith and Colleen explore HIS’s history of building its own technology and explain their decision to spend the last four years creating a new MLS system.
Faith and Colleen discuss the transition from their initial system, REsearch, to the new HIMLS, describing HIS’s partnership with software developer MEV and their experience working with a team of Ukrainian developers. Listen in to understand why the Russia-Ukraine conflict hasn’t disrupted the development process and learn how HIS leveraged research and user testing to inform the design of HIMLS.
What’s Discussed:
HIS’s role as MLS provider for the islands of Hawaii and Kauai
HIS’s history of building its own technology
How Faith & Colleen’s decision to build a new system on their own was influenced by their ability to integrate public records and MLS data
Faith’s take on why Hawaii needs 3 MLS providers
What Faith & Colleen learned in their research on MLS systems and how it informed the design of HIMLS
How the pandemic influenced the development process and allowed for rigorous user acceptance testing
The timeline for the transition from REsearch to HIMLS from 2018 to present
HIS’s partnership with MEV and how they built the portal and web API together before tackling the MLS
Faith & Colleen’s experience working with developers in the Ukraine and why they flew the team to Hawaii early in the process
How Ukrainian developers continue to work on HIMLS despite the Russian invasion and how they’re handling the conflict
Connect with Faith & Colleen:
The Story of HIMLS
Hawaii Information Service
Hawaii Information Service on YouTube
Faith on LinkedIn
Colleen on LinkedIn
Resources:
HIMLS Update on YouTube
Inman Connect New York
CMLS Conferences
Craig Pennington
Paragon
Matrix
Realist
RESO Web API
MEV
Alex Natskovich
Our Sponsor:
Cloud Agent Suite
When Zillow announced its intention to acquire ShowingTime in February of 2021, a slew of companies jumped into the showing solutions space. But Instashowing had already been in business for two years, and despite the fierce competition, its young founder believes that his startup has an edge.
William Schoeffler is the Founder of Instashowing, a software company out of Bend, Oregon, that offers the premiere showing solution for forward-thinking real estate professionals. On this episode of Listing Bits, William shares the experience with an agent that inspired him to build Instashowing and describes the suite of listing agent tools his team is developing.
William explains how he raised $4M on the heels of Zillow’s acquisition of ShowingTime, discussing the expectation to grow that comes with that kind of an investment and the advantages Instashowing has over its many competitors. Listen in to understand the challenge of supporting several showing solutions in a single market and learn how William is forming a syndicate to allow MLSs to invest in Instashowing.
What’s Discussed:
The experience with a real estate agent that inspired William to build Instashowing
How William raised $4M from industry giants Pete Flint and Greg Schwartz
The wave of competitors in the showing solutions space after Zillow’s acquisition of ShowingTime
Why Instashowing started selling to agents and brokers (not MLSs) when it launched in 2019
The advantages Instashowing has over its competitors
How Instashowing’s success in a given market hinges on full integration with its MLS
Why William believes the industry will return to a single showing solution product in each market
The suite of listing agent tools Instashowing is developing
The expanding vision and expectation to grow that comes with a $4M investment
Why William is not planning on adding a call center to the Instashowing offerings
How William is forming a syndicate to allow MLSs to invest in Instashowing
Connect with William:
Instashowing
William on LinkedIn
Resources:
Instashowing’s $4M Raise
Zillow’s Acquisition of ShowingTime
Tomo
Offerpad
BrokerBay
Homesnap Showings
MLS Aligned
SentriLock
CRMLS Glide
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Ask the average consumer what they know about the MLS, and you’re likely to hear about their favorite Major League Soccer team. But CMLS wants to change that, and the organization is on a mission to educate the general public around the benefits of working with a real estate professional and listing a home on the MLS.
Katie Smithson is the Director of Enterprise Sales at Lone Wolf Technologies, and she serves on the Board of Directors for both the Council of Multiple Listing Services and Real Estate Standards Organization. On this episode of Listing Bits, Katie shares CMLS’s new In the Know Campaign, describing how the initiative seeks to convey the importance of the MLS to consumers.
Katie explains why CMLS partnered with 1000watt to develop assets for In the Know and how agents and brokers can use the campaign’s digital content to share the CMLS message with consumers. Listen in to understand how Lone Wolf is integrating In the Know content into Cloud CMA and find out how other vendors can get involved in educating consumers on the value of the MLS.
What’s Discussed:
How CMLS’s Making the Market Work Campaign communicated the value of the MLS to its members
CMLS’s partnership with 1000watt to develop assets for the new In the Know Campaign
How the In the Know Campaign conveys the importance of the MLS to consumers
Why In the Know is not specific to a particular MLS system but advocates for the industry as a whole
CMLS’s hope that brokers and agents will share the campaign’s message with consumers
Why exclusive listings are not a good look for organized real estate in light of Fair Housing legislation
How listing on the MLS gives sellers the best exposure in a given market
How In the Know assets are designed for brokers, agents and vendors to put to use
How the Lone Wolf Technologies team is integrating In the Know content into Cloud CMA Live
Katie’s insight around how other vendors might get involved with the In the Know Campaign
Connect with Katie:
Email ksmithson [at] lwolf [dot] com
Resources:
CMLS’s In the Know Campaign
CMLS
RESO
CMLS’s Making the Market Work Campaign
1000watt
NAR MLS Clear Cooperation Policy
The Fair Housing Act
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Prior to 2003, Supra had a monopoly on the lockbox market. But NAR membership wanted choice, so the trade association invested in its first outside tech company, SentriLock. Today, a similar market dominance exists in showing service solutions, and SentriLock is stepping in once again to compete with the dominant player in the space.
Scott Fisher and Devin Beck are the CEO and Director of Revenue of SentriLock, the first and only combined lockbox, showing service and experience management solutions for real estate. On this episode of Listing Bits, Scott and Devin explain why SentriLock is expanding into the showing service space and how proptech consolidation accelerated industry interest in their new offering.
Scott and Devin share SentriLock’s approach to entering a new market with a dominant player, describing how their partnership with NAR and commitment to customer service differentiate them from the competition. Listen in for insight around the unique features of the SentriKey Showing Service and learn how you can benefit from their lockbox offering, showing service or combination thereof.
What’s Discussed:
How Scott’s telecom background led him to the lockbox space
Devin’s efforts to diversify SentriLock’s portfolio of offerings
What inspired the partnership between NAR and Scott’s team
Why SentriLock is expanding into the showing service space
SentriLock’s approach to entering a market with a dominant player
How Zillow’s acquisition of ShowingTime accelerated interest in SentriLock’s new offering
How SentriLock’s lockbox and showing solutions are designed to stand alone yet work together
Why consolidation causes uncertainty in the MLS community
Why NAR is unlikely to sell SentriLock
How Scott sees their commitment to take care of the member first as SentriLock’s secret weapon
The features that differentiate SentriLock’s showing solution
How competition among vendors brings value to the industry
Connect with Scott & Devin:
SentriLock
Scott on LinkedIn
Devin on LinkedIn
Resources:
The Story Behind SentriKey Showing Service
Supra
CoStar’s Acquisition of Homes.com
REALTORS Relief Foundation
REALTORS Political Action Committee
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
At present, MLS data access is unnecessarily complex. And brokers are calling for a more efficient system with a single set of rules around how the data can be used. In response, the CMLS Data Access Concepts Workgroup drafted the Listing Exchange and Access Policy or LEAP. But does the new policy really solve these problems? Could it be improved in a way that recognizes the changing landscape of the real estate industry?
Sam DeBord is the CEO of the Real Estate Standards Organization, the trade group responsible for developing standards for the industry, and he writes for publications including REALTOR Magazine and Inman News. Michael Wurzer is the CEO of FBS, the leading innovator of MLS technology and one of the most respected real estate software brands, and he covers industry issues on the FBS Company Blog. Both Sam and Michael are active participants in the LEAP debate on Twitter and have written long-form posts on the topic.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Sam shares the goals of the proposed Listing Exchange and Access Policy, describing how it seeks to simplify the rules and make access to MLS data more efficient. Michael discusses his concerns around the draft policy, explaining why licensing should be a part of LEAP and what a usage-based pricing model might look like. Listen in for Sam’s speed limit versus toll road analogy for the issues at play and hear both sides of the debate on whether LEAP solves the fundamental problems brokers face in using MLS data.
What’s Discussed:
LEAP’s goal to simplify the rules and make access to MLS data more efficient
Why Michael sees a problem with how LEAP treats IDX, VOW and Back Office the same
Michael’s argument that the value of aggregated MLS data as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Why Michael believes that licensing and pricing should be a part of LEAP
How the definition of a Participant is evolving and why Michael thinks LEAP should address the shift
Sam’s concerns around using policy to penalize companies who are using data well
Sam’s speed limit vs. toll road analogy for the issues at play in LEAP
Michael’s point that portals would be worth dramatically less without MLS data
The potential to charge licensing fees for MLS data based on usage (with free low-usage plans available)
Sam’s view that MLSs should make local decisions about pricing rather than NAR policy
Connect with Sam:
Real Estate Standards Organization
Sam’s Website
Sam on Twitter
Connect with Michael:
Michael’s Blog on FBS
Michael on Twitter
Resources:
Michael’s First LEAP Post: Look Before You LEAP
Michael’s Second LEAP Post: MLS Content Is Uniquely Valuable, License It Accordingly
Michael’s Third LEAP Post: A Picture Is Worth More Than…
Sam’s Post: LEAP Forward -- Six Questions to Answer on Broker’s MLS Data
Rob Hahn’s Blog on LEAP
Vendor Alley
LeadingRE
The Realty Alliance
CMLS
Draft of the Listing Exchange and Access Policy (LEAP)
Victor Lund on Twitter
FloPlan by FBS
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA for Brokers
Policy may not be sexy, but without standards around how we format real estate data and build technology systems, we simply can’t share data or integrate the tools we need to do our jobs well.
Sam DeBord serves as CEO of the Real Estate Standards Organization, the trade group responsible for developing the open standards that drive efficiency and streamline technology for the industry. His resume includes a wide range of leadership positions in the real estate space, including President’s Liaison for MLS and Data Management at NAR and VP of Government Affairs with Washington Realtors. Sam is also the VP of Strategic Growth for Coldwell Banker Danforth in Seattle and writes for REALTOR Magazine, Inman News and the Swanepoel Trends Report.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Sam describes RESO’s role in the real estate industry, explaining how the standards set by his organization provide certainty for developers and support data shares and tech integrations. He shares the progress RESO has made in the last year, discussing what they have done to streamline compliance certifications and initiate the proposed Listing Exchange Access Policy. Listen in for Sam’s insight on the constraints of the current market (and the new tech that’s emerged as a result) and find out how he thinks about the kerfuffle surrounding the most recent mergers and acquisitions in the real estate space.
What’s Discussed:
What RESO does to create efficiencies and streamline tech for the real estate industry
RESO’s evolution to an independent trade organization and how it relies on thousands of volunteer SMEs to build its Workgroups
RESO’s recent work to streamline its compliance certifications and create a new development guide for vendors
How RESO standards provide certainty for developers and support data shares and integrations
Why Sam is a proponent of creating a single policy for how data is used and displayed (and how that would help brokers)
RESO’s work with the broker community and CMLS to draft the proposed Listing Exchange Access Policy
The progress RESO has made in just the last year to align industry trade organizations, brokers and MLSs around common goals
How RESO standards helped facilitate the NorCal MLS Alliance
Sam’s take on how the artificial constraints of the current market impact agents and the tech facilitating the trend to buy homes sight unseen
How Sam thinks about the most recent mergers and acquisitions in the real estate space
Why proptech companies need to recognize our cultural preference to work with an agent
The potential problems associated with a broker-member of an MLS being paid by that MLS for a technology service
Connect with Sam:
Real Estate Standards Organization
Email sam[at]reso[dot]org
Sam on Twitter
Resources:
RESO Workgroups
RESO Web API Tools & Software
RESO’s Broker Advisory Workgroup
RESO Certification
2020 RESO Certification Updates
Andy Woolley
CMLS
NAR
NAR’s MLS Technology & Emerging Issues Advisory Board
Summary of NAR’s 2021 MLS Policy Changes
CMLS’s Participant Data Access Policy
LeadingRE
The Realty Alliance
CMLS’s CCP Implementation Guide
RESO Compliance Guide
NorCal MLS Alliance
Zillow Economist Jeff Tucker on Industry Relations EP059
CoStar
Zillow’s Acquisition of ShowingTime
Greg on Twitter
RESO’s Unique Organizational Identifier (UOI)
Victor Lund at WAV Group
RESO Remix
RESO’s 2021 Fall Conference
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA
Video marketing is a powerful way for agents, brokers and real estate companies to reach consumers. But how do we get the most mileage out of our videos? How do we maximize the marketing value of the content we create?
Christian Sterner is the Cofounder and CEO of WellcomeMat, the premier platform for managing your real estate video. Christian’s team facilitates successful video marketing campaigns for agents, brokers and companies who are committed to video as a long-term marketing strategy, helping clients leverage video content to generate traffic and engagement on their domain. Christian has been playing in the technology and marketing space since 2000, and he has led WellcomeMat since its inception in 2006.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Christian explains how WellcomeMat maximizes reach for every video in a user’s library and helps them make educated decisions about what videos to create. He offers insight around what kind of content really moves the needle for real estate professionals, sharing his take on the pros and cons of producing humorous or provocative video content. Listen in to understand how WellcomeMat is working to facilitate visual search for the real estate industry and learn how drone automation can be used to create killer listing videos and accelerate the adoption of video marketing among brokers and agents.
What’s Discussed:
WellcomeMat’s mission to make video the most valuable thing agents and brokers can do to market themselves and their properties
What makes WellcomeMat the best way to maximize reach for every video in your library
How WellcomeMat accepts content from any service (and allows users to switch providers at will)
What WellcomeMat does to help users make educated decisions about what videos to create
How WellcomeMat increases site visits by an order of magnitude over using YouTube alone
Why listing videos are best for pushing top line revenue
The value in producing evergreen content like neighborhood tours, agent profiles, etc.
WellcomeMat’s referral database of 5,000 video production companies
Christian’s take on producing provocative and/or humorous video content
The MLS rules around branded and unbranded content + how WellcomeMat offers tools to remove branding for MLS compliance
WellcomeMat’s work to facilitate visual search for the real estate industry
How drone automation facilitates the production of quality video at scale for the real estate space
Connect with Christian:
WellcomeMat
Christian on Twitter
christian [at] wellcomemat [dot] com
Resources:
RE/MAX
Trulia
8z
Booj
CBRE
Revaluate
Homebot
ZAVI Homes
TED
For Sale by Owner
LeadingRE
Luxury Portfolio
Halstead
Semonin Realtors
Wistia
Tim Smith Group on YouTube
Smith Group’s ‘Teach Me How to Duffy’ Marketing Video
Gracenote
Shazam
Cole’s Drone Video
Amazon’s Ring Always Home Cam
Skydio
eWebinar
What can technology vendors do to better connect with the agents and brokers we hope to serve? And what can we learn from the perspective of a computer engineer turned REALTOR about how to approach real estate professionals and what kind of tech solutions they need?
Georgia Purpura is Managing Broker at Urban Nest Realty, a mid-size independent brokerage out of Las Vegas, Nevada, where she specializes in helping agents grow their business. She is also very involved in the local association, most recently serving as Chair of the MLS. Georgia has been a licensed agent for 12 years, acting as broker for Keller-Williams Southwest before joining Urban Nest in 2018. Prior to real estate, she earned her degree in business and information technology and spent eight years working as a computer engineer.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Georgia discusses how her background in IT has served her well in real estate, explaining how she evaluates technology solutions and what vendors can do to market their software more effectively. She offers advice for vendors and brokers on creating a business model that mitigates agent churn, challenging us to focus on producers rather than subscribers—casting a deeper net as opposed to a wider one. Listen in for Georgia’s insight on how modern agents learn about technology tools (and how that’s evolved over the years) and get her take on the top technology needs in the real estate space.
What’s Discussed:
Georgia’s background in computer engineering and how that tech experience has served her well in real estate
How Georgia learned about tech tools early in her career from sales meetings and through the local association
How modern agents learn about tech tools through word-of-mouth on social media
Georgia’s advice for vendors around marketing to top producers who can create influence for you
Why vendors should lead with the problem they’re solving for in pitching agents and brokers
How Georgia evaluates tech based on its potential to shorten the sales cycle and save time or money
Georgia’s criticism of how brokers have gone about increasing profitability by having the biggest army (rather than the best)
How real estate brokerages and software vendors can build a business model that mitigates agent churn
The top technology needs Georgia sees in the real estate space
--Integration among tech solutions (strategic alliances)
--Agent retention and engagement tool for brokers
Connect with Georgia:
Urban Nest Realty
Resources:
David J. Tina
Top Producer
Inman News
Realtor.com
Realtor Magazine
Vendor Alley
Rob Hahn
Joe Versus the Volcano
Our Sponsor:
Cloud CMA
Owning a second home can be an enriching experience, allowing us to make priceless memories with friends and family. But many can’t afford to buy a vacation home, nor does it make much sense to leave a house sitting empty for ten-plus months, even if you can afford it. So, what if you could buy a share of a second home and enjoy true ownership for a fraction of the cost and hassle?
MAKE SURE YOU CONSULT WITH A CPA. THIS PODCAST AND ITS CONTENT ARE NOT INTENDED TO GIVE TAX/INVESTMENT ADVICE ON LOSS/GAIN OF PASSIVE INCOME**
Austin Allison is the Cofounder and CEO of Pacaso, a startup designed to make the dream of second homeownership a reality for more people. The platform allows up to eight people to buy a share of a vacation home for much less—in a way that is seamless, hassle-free, and without risk. Austin’s first venture was Dotloop, the real estate transaction management solution he built in 2008 and sold to Zillow in 2015.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Austin introduces us to the benefits of co-owning a second home through Pacaso over the DIY model, explaining what differentiates a Pacaso from a resort or hotel timeshare. He describes how the platform’s scheduling feature works and why it can actually be better to own a property with people you don’t know versus friends and family. Listen in for Austin’s insight on how his company makes money and learn how you might use Pacaso as a second home buyer, seller or real estate agent.
What’sDiscussed:
How Austin’s frustration with creating and signing documents as an agent inspired the creation of Dotloop
How Pacaso’s mission around second home ownership inspired the company name
The broad range of people Pacaso serves and the potential market for second homes in the US and Europe
What differentiates a Pacaso from a resort or hotel timeshare
--True ownership vs. rights to use
--Single-family home
--Easy to resell
Why Pacaso prohibits short-term rental activity in its properties
How Pacaso’s scheduling feature allows users to reserve dates in a way that corresponds with their ownership level
How Pacaso makes money through a markup on the real estate and asset management fees
What happens if a Pacaso home increases in value
The benefits of owning a home with people you don’t know through Pacaso over the DIY model
The potential tax benefits of owning a second home with Pacaso
How the Pacaso process works for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents
Connect with Austin:
Pacaso
Austin on LinkedIn
Resources:
Dotloop
California Association of Realtors’ Partnership with zipLogix
The a16z Podcast
The a16z Podcast on Joint Home Ownership
Sponsor:
Cloud CMA
It’s easier to gain a seller’s trust when you have the data to back you up. But where can agents and brokers go for real-time buyer data? And how do we turn those numbers into actionable insights to earn new business?
Ashley Terrell is the Executive Vice President of Partnerships at Buyside, a real estate tech platform that helps real estate professionals leverage intelligent buyer data to capture seller leads, win more listings and close more transaction sides in-house. Prior to joining Buyside, Ashley served as the Director of Account Management and Director of Strategic Growth at Constellation Software and the Director of Account Management and Product Marketing at Real Estate Digital.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Ashley explains how Buyside partners with other vendors to procure data and provide its users with seamless product integration. She offers insight around the current buyer landscape, sharing her take on why there’s such a boom in real estate right now. Listen in for Ashley’s insight on the resources available to help agents use the Buyside tools and learn how to leverage buyer data to win your next listing presentation.
What’sDiscussed:
Ashley’s background in tech and how she was introduced to the real estate tech space
How Buyside serves as a seller lead gen tool and helps agents win listing presentations
How Buyside procures data from vendors like Zillow, ShowingTime, etc.
Buyside’s focus on seamless product integration to create the best possible user experience
Ashley’s insight around the current buyer landscape in real estate
Ashley’s take on why there’s such a boom in real estate right now
How agents and brokers can leverage buyer data in a listing presentation
--Help seller price home
--Marketing strategy
--Pool of buyers
How Buyside serves large brokerages vs. small brokerages and large teams
The value proposition for Buyside in a buyer’s market
Ashley’s commitment to building out resources that help agents use the Buyside tools
Connect with Ashley:
Buyside
Ashley on LinkedIn
Resources:
Market Leader
Sharper Agent
Real Living
John Hensley
John Heithaus on Listing Bits EP061
Charles Williams
ShowingTime
RealScout
Cloud CMA
Inman News
‘Existing Home Sales Skyrocket Amid Pandemic, Inventory Down’ in Inman News
ShowingTime’s June 2020 Showing Index Results
Buyside Help Center
Sponsor:
Cloud CMA
The five most stressful life events include the death of a loved one, divorce, major illness or injury, job loss, and moving. But a new proptech platform is working to take relocation off the list with a tool that makes the experience of moving less stressful, less expensive, and more efficient.
John Heithaus is a serial entrepreneur and venture investor with 30-plus years of experience in strategic marketing, corporate strategy, and product development. He has co-founded or served as a founding executive of four real estate startups, generating nearly $100M in successful exits. One of John’s current projects is OK Move Me, a proptech tool that offers consumers a one-stop resource for planning, moving, and settling into a new place.
On this episode of Listing Bits, John explains how OK Move Me works, walking us through the four phases of the moving process and describing the site’s interactive task lists for each. He discusses how the vendors promoted on the platform are vetted and share what the team is doing to provide an outstanding customer experience. Listen in for insight into how OK Move Me generates revenue and find out why the site is looking to partner with traditional real estate agents and brokers.
What’sDiscussed:
John’s unique background in real estate, proptech investing and the music business
What inspired John’s return to building an online marketplace for moving + relocation services
OK Move Me’s four phases of the moving process and associated interactive task lists
--Planning
--Moving
--Move-in
--Settling in
How OK Move Me serves as a referral organization rather than a direct service provider
OK Move Me’s affiliate agreements with vendors on the site
What makes OK Move Me users a coveted cohort
How OK Move Me vendors are vetted and held to a high standard
The potential for OK Move Me to partner with traditional real estate agents and brokers
How OK Move Me is promoting the site through social media ads and content marketing
OK Move Me’s alliance with moving company brands that focus on customer experience
OK Move Me’s Reddit approach to procuring user feedback
Connect with John:
OK Move Me
My OK Move Me
Resources:
Buyside
Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp
SuperStar Factory Productions
Pure Music Nashville
Artisanship Music
Moving.com
Best Places to Live
Jonathan Miller
Sharma Packers and Movers
Edwin Tichenor
Relocation.com
Move.com
Updater
Moove Guru
The Knot
Relocation Stress Syndrome
Broker Public Portal
MILLIE
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
Monster
AARP
Wirecutter
Honey
Opendoor’s Deal with Realtor.com
Zillow’s Partnership with DR Horton
SIRVA
Sponsor:
Cloud CMA Live
Who’s ready to get geeky about MLS?
Collaborations among MLS organizations are usually about sharing data. But MLS Aligned takes collaboration to another level, promoting dialogue among their in-house technology teams and putting the tech tools they have developed to work in each other’s markets.
Matt Consalvo is the CEO at Arizona Regional MLS, Chris Carrillo is the CEO of Wisconsin’s Metro MLS, and Brad Bjelke is the CEO at UtahRealEstate.com. Together, with a few other MLS organizations are principles at MLS Aligned, a collaboration of five forward-thinking MLS organizations that are coming together to change the industry.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Matt, Chris, and Brad share the MLS Aligned origin story and discuss how their in-house tech teams benefit from the ability to share best practices. They introduce us to the MLS Aligned API, describing how it is designed to follow RESO standards while providing additional fields and features for vendors, brokers, and other MLSs. Listen in to understand how MLS Aligned might support smaller MLSs with fewer resources and learn about the organization’s mission to provide high-quality products with a local focus.
What’sDiscussed:
How MLS Aligned grew out of a conversation among MLS CEOs and CTOs
How the tech teams of MLS Aligned members benefit from the ability to share best practices
Examples of MLS Aligned collaborations where tech has been plugged into other markets
The Market Initiative partnership between ARMLS and Metro MLS
Why the MLS Aligned API is designed to avoid data replication
How the MLS Aligned API follows RESO standards while providing additional fields + features
How vendors are using the MLS Aligned API
How MLSs might collaborate to adapt to moving trends prompted by the pandemic
What differentiates MLS Aligned from other MLS collaborations (e.g.: MLS Grid, MLS Roundtable, etc.)
--Collaboration among MLSs with in-house technology teams
--Mission to deliver a high-quality product with a local focus
How MLS Aligned might serve as a lifeboat for smaller MLSs with fewer resources
The focus on inclusivity at MLS Aligned
Why the principals at MLS Aligned are committed to building success before they start selling
Resources:
ARMLS
Metro MLS
UtahRealEstate.com
Monsoon Tax Records System
MLS Grid
Jim Harrison
ARMLS & Metro MLS Market Initiative
The Marquette Airbnb Study of Milwaukee STRs
Sam DeBord at RESO
CMLS
MLS Roundtable
Kurt von Wasmuth
Dave Wetzel
Connect with Matt, Chris & Brad:
MLS Aligned
Email info@mlsaligned.com
Sponsor:
Cloud CMA Live
Most real estate agents look down on rentals, preferring to work solely with clients looking to buy in the next three to six months. What they don’t realize is that there are $12B in leasing commissions available to those agents who are willing to work with renters. And they’re missing out on the opportunity to build relationships with the homebuyers of tomorrow. But how do you find out what rentals are available in your market—when only a small percentage are listed on the MLS?
Ishay Grinberg [pronounced ee-shy] is the Founder and President of Rental Beast, the MLS for rentals. The platform helps tenants and landlords navigate the rental experience and levels the playing field for agents and brokers, giving them access to a comprehensive database of rental listings. Ishay has 20-plus years of experience in the real estate industry, working as an agent and managing broker for firms in New York City and Boston before creating Rental Beast.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Ishay introduces us to the Rental Beast platform and describes the opportunity available to real estate agents who are open to working with renters. He explains how the platform facilitates a fully virtualized transaction that is driven by the agent, exploring what the sales side of our industry can learn about virtualization from rentals. Listen in for Ishay’s insight on integrating Rental Beast with existing MLSs and learn how the platform helps agents earn more by generating transactions on the rental side.
What’sDiscussed:
Why Ishay describes Rental Beast as the MLS for rentals
The 50 unique data points Rental Beast collects for each property
Ishay’s experience in the NYC market where there is no MLS
The $12B in leasing commissions available to agents who are willing to work with renters
How working with renters helps agents build relationships with the homebuyers of tomorrow
What JCHS research reveals about the growing affluence of renters in the US
How Rental Beast facilitates a fully virtualized transaction driven by the agent
How agents can leverage Rental Beast’s AVM for rentals
What the sales side of real estate can learn about virtualization from the rental industry
--Streamline and digitize the closing process
--Touchless showings
Reading the local market to decide whether to hold or flip an investment property
Rental Beast’s vision for embedding themselves in the MLS universe via integration
The positive results brokers are seeing from the use of Rental Beast
Resources:
RESO
Harvard’s JCHS Research
FBS
Invitation Homes
MRED
MRED’s Partnership with Rental Beast
Connect with Ishay:
Rental Beast
Sponsor:
Cloud CMA Live
While we may not be able to predict exactly how the current health crisis will impact organized real estate moving forward, most of us would agree that change is in the air. The kind of change that could transform the way we do business altogether. So, how is the Coronavirus changing the way we think about the spaces where we live and work? And how might this new perspective lead to foundational shifts in our industry?
Jessie Beaudoin is the Founder and CEO of CallAction, a lead engagement automation platform that helps real estate agents capture, track, and respond to leads from online and offline marketing channels. He has 35 years of experience in real estate, working as a mortgage broker for nearly two decades before his interest in efficiency and scale led him to the technology space. Now, Jessie is on a mission to help businesses do more in less time through intelligent sales and marketing automation.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Jessie discusses the foundational shifts in real estate that may come from the Coronavirus pandemic, exploring how the crisis is changing the way we define ‘home’ and why the efficiencies of working remotely might shift the way we do business moving forward. He offers insight into why we lean on technology in moments of crisis and how the virus could impact the housing market in the months ahead. Listen in to understand what mainstream adoption of virtual showings means for real estate agents and get Jessie’s advice on what YOU can do to step up as a leader for your clients and your family in this challenging time.
What’sDiscussed:
Jessie’s background in real estate and segue into the technology space
How the Coronavirus is giving us a newfound appreciation of what home means
How the efficiency of working remotely might change commercial real estate
Why we leverage technology in moments of crisis
The positive foundational shifts that may come from the COVID-19 pandemic
-
Appreciate being together, hyper-focused during appointments
-
Written + verbal communication more clear, poignant and thoughtful
How mainstream adoption of virtual and self-showings could impact agents
Jessie’s insight around how the virus might affect the housing market
The innovations that emerged in the last recession
Jessie’s advice for agents on navigating the current health crisis
- Leverage overcommunication and connection
- Depend on technology to scale efforts
- Step up as a leader for clients and family
How CallAction allows agents to scale their communication via automation
Resources:
Zoom
Real Estate for Millennials vs. Baby Boomers
Gary Vaynerchuk’s Keynote at Inman Connect 2016
Connect with Jessie:
CallAction
Call (323) 741-2255
Jessie’s Blog
Jessie on LinkedIn
Out of 565 Multiple Listing Services nationwide, 82 serve less than 100 brokers and agents. Unsurprisingly, this means that the nation’s 20 largest Multiple Listing Services serve over 50 percent of the nation’s total MLS subscribers. These statistics didn’t exist a year ago, but thanks to the Real Estate Almanac, the disparity is clear. Now that we understand the scale of the issue, how can we make changes to better serve agents, brokers, and their clients?
Clint Skutchan is the vice president of T3 Sixty’s association and MLS division. T3 Sixty is an industry-leading management consultancy and research company that focuses on residential real estate brokerage. Clint has over a decade of experience in the real estate industry and previously served as CEO of a realtor association in Colorado. He established an independent consulting company in 2014. In 2018, he joined T3 Sixty.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Clint discusses T3 Sixty’s latest undertaking: Real Estate Almanac. He explains where the idea for a comprehensive list of MLSs and associations came from and talks about some of the surprises that came out of that list. Listen in for Clint’s insight on the future of the Real Estate Almanac and how the data it consolidates will impact the industry, and the nation as a whole.
What’sDiscussed:
How Clint got involved in T3 Sixty
What the Real Estate Almanac is and what it says about the industry
Why T3 Sixty put the latest MLS and association list together
What issues MLSs and associations are facing nationwide
Whether Clint thinks NAR membership will stagnate, drop, or continue increasing
How the list of MLSs and associations has shrunken in five years
Why MLSs choose not to consolidate
How smaller MLSs might tackle some of the issues they face
What’s next for the Real Estate Almanac
Resources:
T3 Sixty
Real Estate Almanac
Top Associations/MLS
Connect with Clint:
Follow Clint on Twitter
Follow Clint on LinkedIn
According to research conducted by Freddie Mac, there are 83 million mortgage-ready renters in the US! But most grossly overestimate how much they need for a down payment and very few know about the low down payment programs available to low and moderate-income home buyers. How much could a real estate business grow simply by making down payment assistance part of its business development strategy?
Rob Chrane is the CEO of Down Payment Resource, a platform that aggregates down payment assistance program data and connects homebuyers with down payment assistance. Rob has more than 30 years of experience as a top-producing Realtor and mortgage broker, and he has been recognized as a HousingWire Vanguard for his leadership in the housing economy.
On this episode of Listing Bits, Rob discusses who down payment assistance is designed to help and why some agents and lenders are reluctant to incorporate these programs into their workflow. We also discuss the evolution of Proptech as well as the pros and cons of the fractional ownership model. Listen in for insight around how Down Payment Resource shares its data with MLSs, lending companies, and individual agents and LOs—and learn about the massive opportunity available to real estate players with access to down payment assistance tools.
What’sDiscussed:
How Rob connects homebuyers with down payment assistance
What inspired Rob to create Down Payment Resource
Who down payment assistance programs are designed to help
Why agents and lenders are reluctant to use these programs
How Down Payment Resource gets its data to industry players
- MLSs and Associations
- Enterprise solutions for lenders
- Down Payment Connect (individual agents, LOs)
How Down Payment Resource makes money via a subscription model
How Rob thinks about the Proptech fractional ownership model
How DPR’s data shows up for MLS clients vs. individual agents
Resources:
Urban Land Institute
Freddie Mac Housing & Economic Research
Cloud CMA
MGIC
Divvy
Shelley Specchio
Connect with Rob:
Down Payment Resource
Down Payment Connect
Many agents might view Opendoor as a competitor, yet another tech platform out to eliminate their jobs. But what if you could leverage the iBuyer as a partner to build your real estate business?
Shannon Fitzpatrick leads a team of 45 agents at Movoto Real Estate in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, and Tyler Hixson serves as the Director of Real Estate Partnerships and Strategy at Opendoor. In this episode of Listing Bits, Tyler and Shannon explain how agents can leverage Opendoor as a tool to grow their business, bringing cash offers to prospects and tying multiple transactions together.
Shannon speaks to the value of going into a listing presentation with an Opendoor offer, describing how it allows him to do what’s best for the seller, and Tyler discusses why agents can get a stronger offer from the platform by articulating the property’s unique features. Listen in for insight into the misconceptions agents have about Opendoor and learn how to work WITH the iBuyer to serve your clients and generate more leads.
What’sDiscussed:
How Shannon uses Opendoor to bring a cash offer to prospects
Leveraging Opendoor to tie multiple transactions together
The value of going into a listing presentation with an Opendoor offer
Opendoor’s offer valuation process and associated service fees
How Opendoor passes its vendor discounts on to sellers
How Opendoor can serve as a powerful lead gen tool for agents
Why agents can get a stronger offer from Opendoor than sellers
How Opendoor works directly with agents through closing
How Shannon uses Opendoor as a recruiting tool at his brokerage
The advantage to sellers of working with an agent AND Opendoor
The misconceptions agents have about the Opendoor platform
- Quality of offer + fees
- Think it’s out to eliminate agents
Opendoor’s plans to expand to serve all customers, home types
Resources:
W+R Studios
Cloud CMA
Opendoor/CloudCMA
Connect with Tyler:
Opendoor’s Agent Partner Program
Connect with Shannon:Movoto
Shannon’s Website
Shannon on Zillow
When you move fast, you break things. Mark and the rest of Remine’s co-founders are definitely shaking things up in the MLS space. This conversation was recorded at the CMLS Conference in Salt Lake City on October 17th before their recent attempt to launch a new listing portal and Zillow’s decision to cut off access to their Zestimate API As Mark says, in this wide ranging conversation, Remine’s attitude is to “go big or go home.”
In February 2019, Remine raised $30M in private equity to grow its real estate data and analytics platform. A month later, the company announced a painful reduction in force as they shifted focus from upselling agents to partnering with the MLS. So, what prompted Remine’s pivot to an enterprise model? And how are they making the transition from predictive analytics to a next-level MLS system?
Mark Schacknies is the Cofounder and CEO of Remine, a software company that delivers real estate intelligence to more than 825,000 realtors in 40-plus MLS markets. On this episode of Listing Bits, Mark shares the Remine origin story, discussing how the founders started out as competing agents but came together around a shared fondness for data-driven strategies.
Mark speaks to Remine’s pivot from predictive analytics tool to full MLS system, describing what inspired their transition to an enterprise model and how they are addressing their lack of experience in the realm of MLS conversion. Listen in for insight around how Remine’s philosophy differs from legacy incumbents like CoreLogic and learn what success looks like for Mark’s team on their journey to an IPO.
What’sDiscussed:
How the founders of Remine started out as competitors
Leveraging tech to transform real estate from within
How the MLS governs the world’s most important asset class
Why Redfin is at the top of Mark’s list of consumer portals
Balancing privacy with data to empower decision-making
What inspired Remine’s pivot to a full MLS platform
What a day-in-the-life of Mark Schacknies looks like
How Remine is addressing a lack of experience in MLS conversion
The difference in philosophy between Remine and CoreLogic
How Remine’s UI gives control to MLSs re: business rules
What success looks like for Remine + the IPO timeline
Resources:
CMLS 2019
The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future by Alvin Toffler
Cloud CMA
Joe Kazzoun
Connect with Mark:
Remine
Mark on LinkedIn
You can ask Alexa to turn on the lights, show you the forecast, remind you what’s on your calendar today, or give you the score of the Astros game. And now, voice assistants are expanding to the real estate industry, allowing agents to open their business information and even access the MLS—with the sound of their voice alone!
Miguel and Ami Berger are the creators of Voiceter Pro, the conversational search platform that brings real estate and consumers together via conversations with voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home. On this episode of Listing Bits, brought to you live from the 2019 RESO Fall Conference, Miguel and Ami share their mission to provide customized voice technology to the real estate space, affording voice access to websites, MLSs and associations.
Miguel and Ami explain how they came to create the company and describe their vision for Voiceter 2.0, offering insight around potential features and applications that could be added to the platform. Listen in to understand why the Voiceter technology is system agnostic, how industry standards make it easier for small teams to innovate, and what applications Voiceter might facilitate beyond the real estate vertical.
What’sDiscussed:
Voiceter’s mission to provide voice to the real estate industry
How Voiceter affords voice access to MLSs and associations
The potential for Voiceter customization by MLS and agent
How Miguel and Ami came to create Voiceter Pro
Miguel’s vision around potential features for Voiceter Pro
Why the Voiceter Pro team has decided to be system agnostic
How the consumer search works and what info it provides
Voiceter Pro’s intention to integrate with other vendors, APIs
How industry standards support developers like Voiceter Pro
Potential voice applications beyond the real estate vertical
How Voiceter Pro brands to the agent, broker or association
Resources:
Ami’s Voiceter Pro Presentation at RESO
RESO 2019 Fall Conference
FBS
CoreLogic Trestle
Samsung Bixby
Adam Cheyer
The BBC’s Beeb
Cloud CMA Developers Page
ShowingTime
Connect with Miguel & Ami:
Voiceter Pro
Voiceter on Vimeo
Voiceter on Twitter
Voiceter on Facebook
Ami on LinkedIn
Miguel on LinkedIn
Michael Wurzer is 100% confident of one thing: The MLS creates value in the real estate market that doesn’t exist in any other way. No one else has created enough trust to generate that same level of cooperation among competitors. And rather than being a scourge to brokers, Michael argues that the MLS powers the market. That unique value prop is the reason why he believes current trends will prove the value of the MLS—not kill it.
Michael is the CEO of FBS, the leading innovator of MLS technology. He has 22 years at the helm of this highly-respected real estate software brand which was named one of Forbes2019 Small Giant companies. On this episode of Listing Bits, Michael addresses the trend toward off-market listings, sharing his take on why it’s not a threat to the MLS. He weighs in on the potential creation of a ‘vendors association’ that would afford prescreened developers access to real estate data.
Michael also discusses the likelihood of consolidation in the MLS vendor space, tech adoption in the employee versus independent contractor models, and the importance of data in light of high agent churn. Listen in for insight around the value of integration among real estate tech vendors and learn Michael’s take on the role of the MLS in creating choice for its members.
What’sDiscussed:
How standards are key in making software easier to build
The trend toward off-market listings and its impact on the MLS
The idea that pocket listings are a kind of DIY-Upstream
The resilience of the MLS community and its unique value prop
The creation of a ‘vendor’s association’ to prescreen developers
Why ShowingTime’s acquisitions of CSS is a holy shit moment
The likelihood of consolidation in the MLS vendor space
Tech adoption in employee vs. independent contractor models
The importance of data in light of high agent churn
Why SaaS marketing techniques don’t work in real estate
The value of integration among vendors and with the MLS
The role the MLS plays in creating choice for its members
Resources:
Pocket Listings on Industry Relations EP037
Inman Panel on the MLS & iBuyers
Michael’s ‘Death of MLS?’ Blog Post
Andy Woolley at Homes.com
Swanepoel Trends Report
ShowingTime’s Acquisition of CSS
Lone Wolf Technologies
Software is Eating Real Estate on Industry Relations EP029
Cloud CMA Developers Page
BombBomb
Curaytor
Connect with Michael:
FBS
Flexmls
Michael on LinkedIn
“These combinations are fragile. You’re pulling 43 associations together. You’re pulling all these different boards together. You’re pulling all these different things together … so, I suppose you could look at blowing it up and go, ‘Why the hell did you do that?’ [The consolidation of MLSs] was a big deal and was very, very expensive. It really was, both in time and energy and everything involved. But you could also look at it this way: It’s something that had to be done. It really, really did. So, you can take your pain now or later.”
Brian Donnellan is the interim CEO of Bright MLS, a consolidation of nine forward-thinking MLSs in the Mid-Atlantic region that serves 85K real estate professionals and facilitates approximately 250K annual transactions valued at more than $70B. Brian has 13 years of industry experience, serving as CFO and COO of MRIS prior to the merger. On this episode of Listing Bits, Brian shares the challenges of merging different personalities and cultures and explains how the Bright consolidation gave others the courage to follow suit.
Brian also offers insight around the power of relationships in the real estate industry, the factors that influence growing agent attrition, and the value of building a product that helps brokers and agents make better decisions. Listen in to understand why Bright MLS is bringing on new staff from outside the industry and learn how the team’s commitment allowed them to endure criticism during the consolidation and get to a place they can be proud of!
A quick note, due to a microphone issue the sound quality of this isn't that great.
What’sDiscussed:
Brian’s background in information systems and public policy
How we underestimate the relationship aspect of real estate
Brian’s insight on the factors that influence agent attrition
How building a better product supports agent production
The challenge of merging the cultures of MRIS + TREND MLS
The distinction among members, customers and subscribers
The rocky start to the process of consolidating Bright MLS
How the Bright team endured the criticism on social media
The value of bringing in new staff from outside the industry
Brian’s pride in Bright’s progress and vision of the future
Resources:
Inman Connect
Teaching Strategies
Homesnap
Tom Phillips
David Charron
Frank Major
Chris Finnegan
Mike DelGaudio
Connect with Brian:
Bright MLS
Brian on LinkedIn
Ever wonder what happened to all the business cards you’ve handed out over the years? Wish there was a better way to engage with prospects beyond simply giving them your contact information and hoping for the best? The SavvyCard platform affords real estate professionals the opportunity to provide immediate value to new leads, sharing information relevant to their initial conversation with the prospect. And most importantly, SavvyCard gives the agent control of the follow-up!
David Etheredge is the cofounder and CEO of SavvyCard, a lead development platform designed to facilitate proactive, tech-enabled follow-up with prospects. David and his team are committed to helping real estate agents, brokers, associations and affiliates build a direct relationship with buyers and sellers through technology and networking tools that put the customer experience first. Prior to SavvyCard, David managed software development teams for Disney Interactive, Microprose and Hasbro Interactive and cofounded a boutique digital marketing agency.
Today, David shares the origin story behind SavvyCard, explaining the platform’s intent to facilitate proactive follow-up by way of a digital business card. He discusses the SellerShare feature, describing how it can be used to engage sellers in promoting their own listing on social media. David also walks us through best practices for following up with prospects, addressing the data around how quickly agents should follow up and offering ideas for how to provide value. Listen in for David’s insight around the role of advertising in growing a business and learn why real estate professionals should take advantage of social platforms to promote new property listings!
What’sDiscussed:
David’s background managing software development teams
How SavvyCard originated as a better way to engage prospects
How progressive web apps will change the way content is distributed
How SavvyCard facilitates tech-enabled, proactive follow-up
Engaging sellers in promoting their listing on social via SellerShare
The data around following up within 10 minutes of meeting a lead
Following up with a relevant article or service recommendation
Why it’s valuable to post new property listings on Facebook
David’s insight around the role of advertising in growing a business
SavvyCard’s intent to become a part of the real estate toolkit
Resources:
SellerShare
Connect with David:
SavvyCard
David on LinkedIn
“We will never sacrifice service to our existing customers to growth. We just won’t.
Our first priority is taking care of our customers.”
Merri Jo Cowen is the CEO of Stellar MLS, the third-largest regional MLS in the US with nearly 60K members in 16 REALTOR Associations throughout Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Formerly known as My Florida Regional MLS, the organization’s recent rebrand is inspired by its reputation as the country’s most customer-focused MLS and intention to design a curated experience for each subscriber. Merri Jo’s resume also includes a 6-year run as CEO of Northern Nevada Regional MLS, and in her 35-plus years in the industry, she served as president of CMLSand played an integral role in the development of the CMLXprofessional accreditation program.
Today, Merri Jo shares her journey from entering listing input at the Reno Board of Realtors to CEO of Stellar, offering insight around the challenges she faced in moving from NNRMLS to MFRMLS in 2008. She discusses her commitment to foster future industry leaders, her involvement in the MLS Grid, and her proactive approach to solving for front-end of choice. Listen in to understand how MFRMLS has grown under Merri Jo’s leadership—without sacrificing service—and learn how the organization is working to create a ‘curated customer journey’ for each of its members.
What’sDiscussed:
Merri Jo’s journey from entering listing input to MLS CEO
Merri Jo’s commitment to foster future industry leaders
Merri Jo’s leadership in developing the CMLX program
The challenges of moving from NNRMLS to MFRMLS
The experience of expanding Stellar to include Puerto Rico
What inspired the rebranding of MFRMLS to Stellar MLS
Stellar’s emphasis on creating a curated customer journey
Why Merri Jo sees value in being part of the MLS Grid
Merri Jo’s proactive approach to solving front-end of choice
Resources:
NNRMLS
CMLS
CMLX
Shelley Specchio
Chris Carrillo
Sean Murphy
T3 Summit
MLS Grid
Flexmls
Matrix
Remine
Cloud MLX
NAR Legislative Meetings
Rapattoni
Connect with Merri Jo:
Stellar MLS
Email: ceo [at] stellarmls [dot] com
Rather than trying to predict the future of real estate and act accordingly, Gene Millman is working to collaborate with brokerages to create the future together. He comes to MLS leadership from a unique perspective, leveraging his experience running a brokerage to find ways to say YES to his members and champion the industry as a whole.
Gene is the CEO of Northern Nevada Regional MLS. With 32 years of experience in the real estate industry, he served as an agent, broker-manager and broker-owner before making the transition to MLS executive. Greg has held key leadership roles with various local, regional and state associations, and his recognitions and honors include Realtor of the Year for the Delaware Association of Realtors and Hall of Fame Inductee at the New Castle County Board of Realtors.
Today, Gene explains how serving on the board at TRENDintroduced him to the MLS world and how working on consolidation ignited his passion for the space. He introduces us to his mission to partner with brokers and create a future together. Gene also offers his predictions around the potential iBuyer market share and shares his take on portals as a broker versus MLS exec. Listen in for insight on creating culture within a team and securing buy-in for your vision—and learn how Gene’s background as a broker influences his approach to running an MLS.
What’sDiscussed:
How serving at TREND introduced Gene to the MLS world
How MLS consolidation ignited Gene’s passion for the space
The differences among governance models from MLS to MLS
Gene’s approach to running the MLS to serve the brokers
Why Gene doesn’t believe that the MLS is under threat
The MLS’s responsibility to secure data, give brokers control
Gene’s aim to partner with brokers + create a future together
How a market correction may impact views toward the MLS
Gene’s take on portals as a broker-owner vs. MLS executive
Gene’s predictions around the potential iBuyer market share
The value in creating culture + getting buy-in for your vision
Resources:
T3 Summit
TREND MLS
Connect with Gene:
Northern Nevada Regional MLS
Gene on LinkedIn
Glenn Kelman has always had the ambition to make real estate better for consumers. But it took him a while to realize that he wasn’t the only one who wanted to do that. He came into the game with an US vs. THEM mentality, assuming that all of Redfin’s competitors were villains and snake oil salesmen. To his relief, it turned out that his industry rivals were actually good people. And while that doesn’t make him any less driven, he does concede that this shift in perspective has made him ‘not quite so insufferable.’
Glenn Kelman is the President and CEO of Redfin, a technology-powered brokerage designed to redefine real estate in the customer’s favor. Prior to Redfin, Glenn cofounded the startup Plumtree Software and served as its VP of Marketing & Product Management until its acquisition in 2005. Glenn has been the CEO of Redfin for the past 13 years, and under his leadership, the company was twice named Innovator of the Year by Inman News. Redfin went public in July of 2017, and today, its market cap is $1.82B.
Today, Glenn explains why he still feels like an underdog, despite Redfin’s success. He weighs in on running a mission-driven company, discussing his aim to ‘do something good for real estate consumers’ whether Redfin makes money or not. Glenn also covers the civil nature of the relationship between Redfin and Zillow, Redfin’s new partnership with Re/Max, and the impetus behind Redfin’s ‘buy without an agent’ feature. Listen in for Glenn’s insight on cultivating agent professionalism and learn how his perception of the competition has changed over time.
What’sDiscussed:
Why Glenn still feels like an underdog despite Redfin’s success
Glenn’s aim to ‘do something good for real estate consumers’
Glenn’s take on the tribal nature of American politics
How becoming a father has made Glenn a better leader
The learning culture Glenn works to cultivate at Redfin
How Glenn’s perspective of his competitors has changed
Glenn’s solutions-based approach to candor with employees
How Glenn is driven by the desire to live up to his potential
The civil nature of the relationship between Redfin and Zillow
How Redfin addresses the idea of agent professionalism
The impetus behind Redfin’s new partnership with Re/Max
What inspired Redfin’s new ‘buy without an agent’ feature
Resources:
T3 Summit
Glenn’s ‘Once and Future King’ Post
Vendor Alley
Andreesen Horowitz Real Estate Stats
Connect with Glenn:
Redfin
Glenn on LinkedIn
“A phone call is worth a thousand emails, and a Slack channel is worth a million conversations.”
RESO’s push for an industry shift from RETS to Web API makes a lot of developers nervous. You can spin your wheels for days trying to figure out how to make the new way to consume MLS data work with your application. But here’s the thing: Somebody else has probably already solved that problem. So, how do we create a platform where developers can team up to move adoption forward? How much does accessibility to the experts serve as a game-changer in the switch to Web API?
Jon Druse is a Senior Developer at W+R Studios, a software company dedicated to building tools for the real estate industry. Prior to W+R, he served as a Software Engineer and Interaction Designer with Socialcast, Sleepy Giant, and Central Desktop and cut his teeth as a Senior Developer at PhishMe, Inc. Jon has 11-plus years of experience in the industry, and he was recently responsible for leading Cloud Agent Suite’s shift away from RETS, making W+R the first vendor to put Web API into production.
Today, Jon explains why direct access to ‘people with answers’ was critical to his success on the project. He describes how Web API is less error-prone and requires fewer requests than RETS yet displays in the same format. Jon also discusses the minimal differences among Bridge, Trestle and Spark when it comes to replication of a data set. Listen in to understand why collaboration among developers is key in moving Web API adoption forward and learn how Jon was able to make the transition happen at W+R in just 6 months!
What’sDiscussed:
How John set up the Web API feed in W+R’s Cloud Agent Suite
Why accessibility to ‘people with answers’ was crucial to Jon’s success
RESO’s push for an industry shift from RETS to Web API
The intention behind RESO’s Replication Workgroup
How Web API outperforms RETS in terms of time and accuracy
How a common schema will solve for maintenance in Web API
The 3 vendor-MLS partnerships delivering data through Web API
The minimal differences among Bridge, Trestle and Spark for replication
Jon’s insight around how to move Web API adoption forward
How Jon taught himself to program working tech support at a high school
Resources:
RESO Conference
Mike Wurzer & Andy Woolley on Listing Bits EP035
Al at CoreLogic on LinkedIn
The Bridge API
Trestle
Spark API
Connect with Jon:
W+R Studios
Email: jon@wrstudios.com
Jon on LinkedIn
Jon on Twitter
In a world where national brands like Zillow and Realtor.com dominate search results, how can individual brokerage websites compete? And how do real estate brokerages stay relevant as the iBuyer market continues to grow? Eric Stegemann believes the firms that adapt and take on alternative options for transacting will be well-placed for the future—and adopting the right real estate tech is a big part of that solution.
Eric is the founder and CEO of TRIBUS, a custom brokerage platform vendor tasked with providing medium and large real estate firms with made-to-order websites, intranet, email marketing, transaction management and CRM systems. Eric became a licensed agent at the age of 18 and started his own tech-oriented brokerage, River City Real Estate, at 21. In short order, River City became the largest independent brokerage in St. Louis due in large part to its real estate tech innovations, which became the framework for TRIBUS. Eric is often called upon to speak at industry events, including Inman Connect and the NAR Annual Conference.
Today, Eric explains why brokerage websites still matter in the age of Zillow and Trulia, discussing what differentiates a TRIBUS site from the national brands. He shares his conservative approach to growth for TRIBUS and offers advice for aspiring vendors in terms of building trust and fixing your mistakes. Listen in for Eric’s insight around the challenges facing brokerages today and get his industry predictions on MLS consolidation, the changing role of the agent, and potential winners in the iBuyer market.
What’sDiscussed:
How Eric started selling real estate to pay for college
What inspired Eric’s shift from broker to software vendor
The meaning behind the company name, TRIBUS
TRIBUS’ aspiration to be a zebra rather than a unicorn
Eric’s take on the challenges facing brokerages today
Eric’s insight on why brokerage websites still matter
How TRIBUS customer sites rank in Google search results
How local content differentiates a TRIBUS site from Zillow
TRIBUS’ pioneering collaborative search mechanism
How brokers can build their own iBuyer programs
Eric’s top advice for vendors on persistence and presence
Eric’s predictions on MLS consolidation + iBuyer success
Resources:
RESO Conference
Doyle Real Estate Team
LeadingRE
Blackstone
Connect with Eric:
TRIBUS
TRIBUS on Facebook
TRIBUS on Twitter
TRIBUS on LinkedIn
Eric on LinkedIn
The Clash. The Police. Journey. Talking Heads. Some of the most well-known bands in recent history also happen to have some of the most powerful names. Names that describe their music and articulate what separates them from everyone else. Just like those bands, the name of your real estate brand has a job to do. So, why are so many of us afraid to break traditional paradigms? Why is every brokerage Insert-Last-Name Realty? And why are so many logos a roofline? What if you liberated yourself from what everybody else is doing and made your own kind of music?
We recorded this podcast live after Marc spoke at the MLS Summit, an event hosted by Annie Ives of The MLS™/CLAW.
Marc Davison is the cofounder of 1000watt, an agency dedicated to helping real estate brokerages, tech vendors, mortgage and title companies, MLSs and associations build better brands through marketing and design. Prior to 1000watt, he served as the Vice President of OnBoard Informatics and founded Access Media. Marc’s resume also includes a long stint in the music business as a musician and manager, and he is the author of All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians.
Today, Marc shares the parallels between building a band and building a company, discussing how his background in music informs his work at 1000watt. He offers insight around the dynamics of the team at 1000watt, describing the unique voice of the company and how its name serves as a differentiator. Listen in for Marc’s challenge around breaking paradigms in branding your real estate organization and learn how your name, logo and messaging can work together (in harmony, of course) to articulate what’s important to you as a company.
What’sDiscussed:
How Marc’s background music relates to his work at 1000watt
The parallels between building a band and building a company
How 1000watt’s unique voice differs from its team members
Marc’s take on real estate as an intoxicating, aspirational business
The significance of thinking of your company as a product
Marc’s insight on the charisma of the name W+R Studios
How names serve as vehicles to create differentiation
Why 1000watt chose to brand itself as an agency vs. consultancy
Marc’s challenge around real estate terminology (i.e.: Team, Realty)
The necessity of alignment among names, logos and messaging
Resources:
The MLS Summit
TheMLS.com
All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians by Marc Davison
‘An Uncommon Brokerage Vision’ in 1000watt
Nick Shivers
The Police - Bring on the night -LIVE PARIS -79.
Connect with Marc:
1000watt
1000watt Blog
Marc on 1000watt
Marc on LinkedIn
This episode was recorded live at the Clareity/Corelogic MLS Executive Workshop in Scottsdale. Art and Josh were good sports when I spotted them at the lobby bar at the Scottsdale Plaza. Also, full disclosure, I think I’ve had at least one drink.
So, what’s it going to take to get vendors to transition away from RETS to Web API?RESO is hoping that both a carrot (providing easy-to-use replication tools) and a stick (large MLSs putting a ‘death date’ on RETS feeds) will facilitate the move.
Art Carter is the Chair of the 2019 RESO Board of Directors and CEO of California Regional MLS. Josh Darnell is the Chief Architect at RESO and Founder and CEO of kurotek, a real estate tech consultancy. Both Art and Josh are committed to RESO’s mission around creating and promoting the adoption of standards to drive efficiency in the real estate industry.
Today, Art and Josh discuss the transition from RETS to Web API and discuss what RESO is doing to rectify the replication issue. Art gives us an update on the progress of RESO’s search for a new CEO, describing the combination of technical skill and evangelism the organization is looking for in a leader. Josh shares his take on independent systems like Trestle and Spark API and walks us through the RESO initiatives that address the separation of listing input. Listen in for insight into the ongoing evolution of real estate standards and learn how you can support RESO’s work to give agents access to the data they need.
What’sDiscussed:
The progress of RESO’s search for a new CEO
What RESO is looking for in a leader for the organization
What the RESO Board is doing to rectify the replication issue
RESO’s understanding that standards will continue to evolve
RESO’s focus on giving agents access to the data they need
Josh’s take on independent systems like Trestle, Spark API
The intent behind RESO’s RCP010 and RCP019 initiatives
Why we will eventually rely on MLSs to handle compliance
The value of working together in an open-source model
Art’s insight on how proprietary systems impact innovation
Why vendors need to accept that RETS is going away
Who Josh would like to see at RESO’s Workgroup meetings
What it will take to get vendors to transition to Web API
Resources:
Mike Wurzer on Listing Bits EP035
OAuth
Trestle
Spark API
RESO on RubyGems
Amy Gorce at RESO
Connect with Art & Josh:
RESO
Josh at RESO
kurotek
Art on LinkedIn
CRMLS
Is it better to develop an all-in-one CRM? Or focus on relationship-management and work with other vendors to create a flexible package of best-in-class offerings? In the ever-evolving world of real estate tech, LionDesk is choosing integrations, leveraging partnerships with top third-party applications to create a CRM that plays well with others—and allows agents to maintain their independence.
David Anderson is the founder and President of LionDesk, a complete sales and marketing solution for real estate agents, broker and lenders. As one of the premiere CRMs, LionDesk makes it easy for sales professionals to connect, communicate and close more leads, and its open API platform integrates with hundreds of the best management tools, allowing professionals to run their entire business from a single system.
Today, David shares the challenge LionDesk faced in designing a CRM flexible enough to accommodate any workflow. He discusses the early days of the startup when he was ‘giving it away for free,’ focusing on individual agents and referral business and developing the subscription business model. David also speaks to Compass’ acquisition of Contactually and how it is impacting his business. Listen in for insight around how LionDesk integrates with other best-in-class real estate systems like Cloud CMA and ShowingTime and learn why agents prefer an independent, third-party system to an all-in-one, broker-led platform.
What’sDiscussed:
How David’s experience building tools for travel translated to real estate
The challenge LionDesk faced in designing a flexible CRM for any workflow
David’s focus on individual agents and referral business in the early days
LionDesk’s recent deal to provide CRMLS members with a full account
How LionDesk integrates with best-in-class apps like ShowingTime + Cloud CMA
Why agents appreciate the freedom and independence of a third-party system
How Compass’ acquisition of Contactually is affecting David’s business
Why David believes an all-in-one brokerage CRM system is the wrong play
The LionDesk SaaS month-to-month subscription business model
Why David discourages new vendors from pursuing the freemium model
The challenge around determining a CRM’s number of active users
Resources:
Greg’s Blog on the LionDesk Partnership with CRMLS
ShowingTime
Cloud CMA
Contactually
‘Compass Acquires Contactually’ Press Release
‘Compass to Acquire Alain Pinel Realtors’ in Inman
MoxiWorks
Connect with David Anderson:
LionDesk
David on LinkedIn
We’ve all heard the rallying cry to drop RETS and move over to the RESO Web API. What’s been less clear is exactly how to go about making that transition. So, what’s step one? How exactly might vendors help make this shift happen?
Rebecca Jensen is the President and CEO at Midwest Real Estate Data, the real estate data aggregator that provides the Chicagoland multiple listing service to more than 45K subscribers. Under Rebecca’s leadership, MRED was named Most Innovative MLS by Inman News. Rebecca also serves as the Board Chair for MLS Grid, a technology company created by MLSs across the country to deliver on the RESO Standards and provide vendors with a single access point for the data of participating MLSs in addition to a unified licensing agreement, standardized business rules and policing processes.
Today, Rebecca explains how the MLS Grid provides both a unified data feed and compliance process. She shares the tech company’s progress in getting the IDX feed and licensing agreements up and running as well as her long-term vision to have all software connect through the platform. Rebecca discusses the cost to vendors to access MLS data through the Grid and walks us through her efforts to facilitate a graceful transition from RETS to Web API. Listen in to understand the opportunity for vendors to test their apps against new systems like MLS Grid and get access to MRED’s step-by-step guide for RESO Web API adoption.
What’sDiscussed:
How the MLS Grid serves as a unified platform to deliver RESO standards
How the Grid provides a unified data feed and licensing agreement
MRED’s step-by-step guide for vendors regarding Web API adoption
MLS Grid’s work to finalize VOW and back office licensing agreements
How MLSs set prices for vendors to access their data through MLS Grid
Rebecca’s long-term vision to have all software connect through the Grid
The benefits of the unified compliance process provided by MLS Grid
Rebecca’s insight on the different ways to approach consolidation
Rebecca’s efforts to transition from RETS to Web API gracefully
How long it may take to convert a RETS infrastructure to Web API
The difference between an API and the data dictionary itself
The need for vendors to test their apps against new systems like MLS Grid
Rebecca’s call for vendors and MLSs to plan for Web API adoption
Resources:
REALTORS Conference & Expo
RESO Conference
Mike Wurzer & Andy Woolley on Listing Bits EP035
MLS RoundTable
RealTracs
Homesnap (BPP)
MLS 2020 Agenda
Trestle
Spark API
MLS Aligned
Bridge API
Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customersby Geoffrey A. Moore
Connect with Rebecca Jensen:
MLS Grid
MRED LLC
Rebecca on LinkedIn
ShowingTime was built to help people buy homes more efficiently by making the process of scheduling a showing much easier. Since it was founded 18 years ago, the company has grown to include a family of technology products that serve MLSs, brokers and agents in the areas of showing management and market statistics.
Mike Lane is the Co-Founder and President of ShowingTime, the most widely used showing management service provider in the market. ShowingTime serves 1M agents and 200 MLSs, scheduling up to 5M showings per month. Mike has been with the company since its inception in 2000, and he continues to head its sales and marketing divisions and serve as the primary contact for MLS clients and large brokers. A former Naval Officer and seasoned athlete, Mike has competed in a number of triathlons, including three IRONMAN races, and he holds an MBA and Master’s in Engineering Management from Northwestern.
Today, Mike explains how ShowingTime facilitates the scheduling of showings by way of its online calendar and call center. He describes the company’s evolution, discussing how they got into market stats as a complement to their core business. Mike covers the ShowingTime Index, explaining how agents might leverage the information and what showing activity reveals about market demand. Listen in for insight on ShowingTime’s business model and learn what the company is doing to reach brokers and agents, remove the hurdles to ordering online, and navigate the complexities of bundling—and unbundling—its products and services.
What’sDiscussed:
How ShowingTime facilitates online scheduling of showings
How the ShowingTime call center unburdens brokers/agents
How Mike got into the real estate software business
ShowingTime’s acquisition of 10K Research and RBI MRIS
How agents might leverage the ShowingTime Index
How showing activity reveals demand in the market
Mike’s insight on the predicted turn in the market
ShowingTime’s focus on supporting mobile adoption
ShowingTime’s ability to facilitate reverse prospecting
How ShowingTime serves MLSs, brokers and agents
How to reach brokers and agents via online marketing
Vendor efforts to remove the hurdles to ordering online
The complexities of bundling products/services for REALTORS
Resources:
RESO Conference
Cloud Agent Suite
10K Research
RealEstate Business Intelligence
Greg’s Blog on MarketView
ShowingTime’s Showing Index
Zillow Research
Connect with Mike Lane:
ShowingTime
Mike on LinkedIn
Tim Dain has a reputation for being the ‘mad scientist’ of the MLS world. He is not afraid to challenge established systems and ask WHY things are done a certain way. Tim facilitates innovation by assigning a creative writing piece, commissioning a study or building a spreadsheet—and then implementing the best ideas with a commitment to being of service.
Tim is the President and CEO of MARIS MLS, a multiple listing service out of St. Louis that serves 13 REALTOR associations, 58 counties and more than 13K members. A seasoned MLS executive with a unique resume, Tim spent two years running the Austin Board of REALTORS and four years as Executive Director of SIR/MLS prior to joining MARIS. Tim has a background in information technology, and he has served the real estate industry in multiple roles since 2006.
Today, Tim explains why he is not afraid to disrupt established systems and shares the improvise-adapt-overcome leadership mantra he learned in the Marines. He offers insight around the redesign of the MARIS MLS website in collaboration with 1000watt, describing the skills development video library featured on the site. Tim addresses his work to rebuild the infrastructure at MARIS, offering insight on his essentialist approach to technology tools and his commitment to service over shiny objects. Listen in for Tim’s take on the current plight of the broker and learn about his dedication to facilitating an honest dialogue around industry challenges—and publishing the unscripted answers.
What’sDiscussed:
Tim’s reputation as the mad scientist of the MLS world
MARIS’s marketplace approach to the board structure
Why Tim is not afraid to disrupt established systems
Tim’s improvise-adapt-overcome leadership mantra
The redesign of MARIS’s web presence with 1000watt
- Related content to continue learning process
- Video library tied to skills development
Tim’s work to rebuild the infrastructure at MARIS MLS
Negotiating price vs. subsidizing tech for small brokerages
The essentialist approach to MLS technology tools
Tim’s commitment to make basics available at a low cost
Why service should be the Holy Grail of the MLS
AMP’s origins in a thought exercise re: small MLSs
Tim’s view of the consumer as the ‘lion over the hill’
How the MARIS Asksseries facilitates an honest dialogue
Resources:
RESO Conference
1000watt
Cloud Agent Suite
Bright MLS
Clareity DASH
Salesforce
Tim’s Infrastructure Spreadsheet
The Buckminster Fuller Institute
Bill Chee’s ‘Lions Over the Hill’
MARIS Asks
Connect with Tim Dain:
MARIS MLS
Tim on LinkedIn
Let’s say you have your heart set on a kitchen with hardwood flooring, natural light and an island. Imagine having the ability to search images on the MLS for those specific features. With advancements in artificial intelligence, it is possible to have software read the images, identify the room type and even recognize the objects in it! There are an infinite number of use cases for the real estate industry and Restb.ai is quickly becoming a leader in the space.
Dominik Pogorzelski is the Vice President of Product and Operations for Restb.ai, a machine learning computer vision company specializing in visual recognition for real estate. The company’s plug-and-play solutions employ AI to automatically tag and classify property photos with industry-specific information. Dominik earned his MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona.
Today, Dominik discusses the societal shift to consume information in a digital way, explaining Restb.ai’s ability to filter images by room, features and amenities. He offers insight around the potential use cases for AI in real estate and the technology’s ability to unlock the data available in images and create value in a number of ways. Dominik describes how the pain points in the online ecosystem differ between Europe and the US, and he addresses the decision to apply Restb.ai’s technology to historical data or active listings. Listen in for insight on how an MLS might establish a partnership with Restb.ai and learn why AI is the next big thing in real estate technology.
What’sDiscussed:
Restb.ai’s niche as an AI company playing in the real estate space
Dominik’s path to Barcelona and his role as VP at Restb.ai
Restb.ai’s client base in Europe, Canada and the United States
How Restb.ai’s AI filters images by room, features and amenities
The societal shift to consume digital information in a visual way
The potential applications of AI tech for real estate professionals
AI’s ability to unlock the data available in images and create value
How Restb.ai could automate the compliance review process
The moral obligation AI companies have to the industries they serve
The horizontal players in the space vs. the specialists like Restb.ai
How the online ecosystem in Europe differs from that of the US
- No central source in Europe like US MLS
- Duplicate listings, competitor watermarks
The technical aspects of establishing a partnership with Restb.ai
The decision to apply Restb.ai to active listings vs. historical data
Resources:
RESO Conference
MLSOK
TLCengine
Connect with Dominik Pogorzelski:
Restb.ai
Email: dominik@restb.ai
As real estate professionals spend less and less time in the office and real estate offices host fewer and fewer walk-ins, you might start to question the merit of spending top dollar for office space in a high-rent district. What if you saved that money and reinvested it in agent services? What if you could build a full-service brokerage in the virtual world, conducting business and meeting with colleagues in VR?
Cameron Paine is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at eXp Realty, the world’s most successful virtual, full-service brokerage. eXp invests the money saved by having very few offices into the technology that helps its agents stay relevant. In his role as Senior VP, Cameron is responsible for seeking collaboration opportunities with MLSs, Associations, brokerages and technology partners. Camron’s resume includes 15-plus years combined experience as top executive for an MLS and Association, and he has been recognized by Inman Newsas one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate.
Today, Cameron shares eXp’s decision to invest in change rather than fight it. He explains how a progressive MLS facilitates a broker’s ability to do business and offers insight around the innovative joint system between Arizona Regional and Metro MLS. Listen in to understand how eXp helps its agents build wealth by investing in the company and learn how the brokerage is creating a virtual world for its employees and partners!
What’sDiscussed:
eXp’s decision to invest in change rather than fight it
How eXp serves as a virtual, full-service brokerage
How eXp agents build wealth by investing in the company
The benefits of running a brokerage without office space
Cameron’s background in MLS and Association leadership
How a progressive MLS facilitates a broker’s ability to do business
The innovative joint system between Arizona Regional and Metro MLS
Greg’s argument for a New Jersey and Palm Beach MLS data share
Cameron’s responsibilities as SVP of Industry Relations at eXp
- Collaborations with other brokerages
- Opportunities with tech vendors
How eXp was designed for agents as a tech-forward brokerage
How eXp has created a virtual world for employees and partners
Resources:
Russ Bergeron
ARMLS|Metro MLS
Connect with Cameron Paine:
eXp Realty
Cameron on LinkedIn
Talk of standards adoption at the recent RESO conference in Milwaukee sounded much like the conversation last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. So, how do we move beyond discussing the reasons for converting to Web API and begin to execute on that plan? What might vendors do to help facilitate a little less talk—and a lot more action?
Mike Wurzer is the President and CEO of FBS, a leading innovator of MLS technology and one of the most respected real estate software brands. Andy Woolley is the VP of Industry Development for Homes.com, one of the nation’s top online real estate destinations and provider of tech solutions for the industry. In addition, Mike is the Vice Chair of RESO, and Andy serves on the Board of CMLS. They join Greg live from RESO Conference 2018to discuss the need for a shift in the conversation from the WHY of RESO standards adoption to actual implementation.
Mike explains how the platinum data-dictionary certification stands in the way and addresses the need for education around how to access the credential manager. Andy describes what his team is doing to facilitate the transition to Web API, sharing his intention to publish a follow-up to the whitepaperdetailing the first few conversions. They also cover the complexities around efforts to do away with replication and their responsibilities as established vendors to promote Web API adoption. Listen in for insight around developing a plan for conversion and learn how trusted vendors might work together to help their customers move forward—faster.
What’sDiscussed:
Greg’s frustration with the panel on standards at the RESO conference
How MLS platinum data-dictionary certification is a barrier to adoption
The need to move past a discussion of the WHY to implementation
The need for education around how to access the credential manger
What Andy’s team is doing to facilitate the shift to Web API
Mike’s solution to the issue of renegotiating licensing agreements
Andy’s case study of the first few conversions + the proposed follow-up
The complexities around efforts to do away with replication
- Other methodologies better than Web API
- Software developers expect copy of data
The responsibilities of established vendors in promoting API adoption
- Serve customers, push MLSs to make feeds available
- Implementation = fewer maintenance, data quality issues
Mike’s insight on how the API makes lead data available in all apps
Why every established vendor should have a plan for conversion
The pros and cons of creating a deadline when RETS will stop working
Resources:
RESO Conference
CoreLogic Trestle
Spark API
Black Knight
Andy’s Case Study
Connect with Mike Wurzer:
FBS IDX Solutions
Mike on LinkedIn
RESO
Connect with Andy Woolley:
Homes.com
Andy on LinkedIn
CMLS
How do MLS executives make decisions around which technology solutions work best for their REALTOR-members? What motivates leadership to establish a system of choice? Are there benefits to offering agents options when it comes to MLS solutions? And what are the challenges associated with giving members more alternatives?
DaVina Lara is the CEO of the Oakland/Berkeley Association of REALTORSand bridgeMLS. Her career in real estate began working for Russ Bergeron at SoCalMLS in 1993. Since then, she has served as an association executive with both the Hemet San Jacinto and Palm Springs Regional Association of REALTORS. DaVina took on the role of OBAR CEO in August of 2015 and added the MLS leadership responsibilities in April of 2016. She is committed to providing members with access to reliable data through innovative technology, offering subscribers access to 10-plus MLSs across California.
Today, DaVina shares her extensive industry resume, discussing her early years as the office manager for SoCalMLS through her current role as MLS and association executive. She explains the thinking behind her decision to implement a system of choice and what impressed her about the dynaConnections’ connectMLS system. Listen in for DaVina’s insight around the pros and cons of offering members additional technology options and learn more about the trend to separate listing input from MLS systems.
What’sDiscussed:
DaVina’s early years as the office manager for OCMLS
DaVina’s extensive resume in the real estate industry
Why DaVina is establishing a system of choice
DaVina’s goals as the CEO of bridgeMLS
- Change name, reputation
- Improve governance structure
- More advanced technology
The advantages of dynaConnections’ connectMLS system
- Give members options
- Great mobile site
- Phenomenal service
How data is shared in SoCal vs. the Bay Area
DaVina’s plan to provide connectMLS training
The trend to separate listing input from MLS systems
The relationship between choices and support challenges
Resources:
Cloud MLX
dynaConnections
connectMLS
Bridge Interactive
Paragon
BOOST MLS Staff Summit
Connect with DaVina Lara:
DaVina on LinkedIn
bridgeMLS
Oakland/Berkeley Association of REALTORS
How does design impact a real estate brokerage? Does it go beyond aesthetics to influence processes? How does quality design shape the user experience? And what are the benefits of an in-house creative team?
Matt Beall is the CEO and Principal Broker at Hawai’i Life, the state’s largest listing brokerage with over $25M in annual revenue across 13 commercial locations. He founded Hawai’i Life in 2008 to solve for representation of properties in marketing and digital technology, and now the firm does thousands of transactions each year, representing approximately $1B in sales. Matt also produces the Worthshop Series, a unique industry event designed to facilitate content and conversation among real estate’s brightest minds, and he serves as the cohost of HGTV’s popular reality show Hawaii Life.
Today, Matt shares his diverse experience in real estate, discussing how his background in sales, investing and running a traditional brokerage inspired him to found Hawai’i Life and what differentiates the company from other firms in the space. He explains the value of design in creating a clean and simple user experience and his decision to employ a full-time team of creatives and engineers. Matt also describes the benefits of being featured on HGTV in terms of brand awareness and credibility. Listen in for a preview of this year’s Worthshop at Mauna Kea Resort and learn how the design focus at Hawai’i Life contributes to its company culture.
What’sDiscussed:
Matt’s background running a traditional brokerage
What inspired Matt to found Hawai’i Life in 2008
Hawai’i Life’s recent merger with Joy International
Why Matt employs a full-time creative design team
Hawai’i Life’s focus on simplicity in user experience
The benefits of being featured on HGTV
The aim of Hawai’i Life’s annual Worthshop Series
What differentiates Worthshopfrom other conferences
The key aspects of Hawai’i Life’s company culture
How an ‘ethos of reset’ influences the tone of Worthshop
Resources:
Wake Interactive
Hawaii Life on HGTV
Worthshop Series
CMLS 2018
Connect with Matt Beall:
Hawai’i Life
Matt on LinkedIn
Worthshop 8
How does a tech company maintain a startup mentality after nearly five decades in the real estate space? Rapattoni has held on to its spirit of independence since its inception, embracing change and demonstrating a pride of ownership that is rare in the tech industry.
Brian Tepfer is the Executive Vice President and CTO of Rapattoni, a 48-year-old startup that offers a suite of innovative software products and services designed specifically for real estate associations and MLSs. In his role, Brian is responsible for shaping the future vision of the company’s MLS and AMS software platforms and keeping Rapattoni’s products relevant and useful. He has been with Rapattoni since 2003, serving as Technical Operations Manager and Business Processes Manager before his 2014 promotion to the C-suite.
Today, Brian shares his background in computer science and business administration, explaining how he got his start in MLS tech support at Rapattoni. He describes the startup mentality at the company, its distinction as one of the first internet-based MLS systems, and Rapattoni’s decision to focus on the real estate vertical. Brian walks us through the latest developments in the organization, including the new Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS, recent updates to every piece of their MLS software, and Rapattoni’s drag-and-drop custom report writer. Listen in for Brian’s take on hot button industry issues like the front-end of choice model and the Upstream initiative—and learn how Rapattoni is working to provide one of the best MLS experiences in the rapidly changing real estate market.
What’sDiscussed:
Brian’s background in computer science and business
Rapattoni’s function as an MLS and AMS software service
Brian’s initial role in MLS tech support with Rapattoni
Brian’s affinity for the startup mentality at Rapattoni
How pride of ownership inspires Rapattoni’s independent path
Why Rapattoni ultimately chose the real estate vertical
How the company dealt with the passing of Andy Rapattoni
The advantages of the new Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS
Rapattoni’s focus on updating every piece of its MLS software
How the custom report writer helps agents stand out
Brian’s belief in the front-end of choice model
- ‘Makes everybody better’
- Requires separate listing input
Brian’s take on Upstream and its lack of cohesive messaging
Rapattoni’s intention to provide one of the top MLS experiences
Resources:
Rapattoni Magic-Cloud AMS
Cloud AMS
Cloud Streams
Rapattoni’s Custom Report Writer
Greg’s Blog on Rapattoni
Cloud CMA
Cloud MLX
Gary Keller at Inman Connect 2018
Connect with Brian Tepfer:
Rapattoni
Brian on LinkedIn
‘Defy mediocrity and deliver extraordinary experiences.’
Century 21 has been in business for the past 47 years, and in that time, the branding has remained virtually unchanged. When Nick Bailey took the reins, however, he moved quickly to rebrand the company in a way that reflects the consumer-driven movement in the industry, engenders multi-generational appeal, and inspires his global team to deliver extraordinary experiences.
Nick took on the role of CEO and President of Century 21 in August 2017, and he is responsible for the organization’s 8K offices and 118K independent contractors in 80 countries around the world. He has 21 years of experience in the industry, earning his real estate license at the age of 21. Nick served as the VP of Growth and Development at RE/MAX World Headquarters for 12 years and VP of Broker Relations for Zillow Group for five years. He is a leader in franchising, brokerage management and technology, and Nick is known for increasing margins while mitigating the impact of economic change.
Today Nick explains how his diverse background allows him to see issues through different lenses, including that of the consumer. He walks us through the Century 21 rebrand, discussing the company’s new motto around delivering extraordinary experiences and the positive response to its new brand identity. Nick speaks to Century 21’s reputation for training, his take on new models like iBuyers, and the consumer-driven movement in real estate. Listen in for Nick’s insight on the necessity for open network, mobile-first technology and the healthy competition between Century 21 and Realogy.
What’sDiscussed:
How Nick’s diverse real estate background helps create clarity
The consumer-driven movement in the real estate industry
Nick’s insight on the core of Century 21’s business
- Help affiliates grow companies
- Help agents get closings
Century 21’s new motto around delivering extraordinary experiences
The positive response to Century 21’s new brand identity
- Cross-functional (mid-priced AND high-end)
- Multi-generational appeal
How a brand’s design impacts consumer trust
Century 21’s reputation for training and education
Nick’s take on new models like Redfin and iBuyers
How the process of finding buyers and sellers has evolved
The difference between home search and home shopper
How agents remain essential to consumers despite industry disruption
Nick’s preference for integrated, open network technology
The healthy competition between Realogy and Century 21
Century 21’s international presence
Connect with Nick Bailey:
Century 21
Century 21 on YouTube
Century 21 on Twitter
Nick on LinkedIn
88 MLSs serve 80% of REALTORS. The remaining 20% are served by the rest—that’s nearly 600 MLSs! We know that consolidation will make it much easier for brokers to serve consumers, but what is the best way to approach the issue? How can we work to understand the 20% in rural, small town and resort communities and bring that group in to alignment with the 80%?
Kevin McQueen is the President of the T3 Sixty MLS Division. He joined the firm with the express purpose of facilitating MLS consolidations, mergers and collaborations. Kevin has been a real estate consultant since 2000, when he founded Focus Forward to help MLSs and associations navigate the evolution of the industry. Prior to consulting, Kevin spent nine years as the CEO of Realcomp and eight years running technical operations for BORIS Systems.
Today Kevin shares his path to consulting, from his early days with BORIS to his experience consolidating MLSs in Michigan at Realcomp. He explains the role of a consultant in facilitating strategic thinking and what led to his collaboration with T3 Sixty. Listen in to understand Kevin’s mission to pick up the pace of MLS consolidation, addressing problem areas individually with a quiet, flexible approach.
What’sDiscussed:
Kevin’s early experience with MLS technical operations
How Kevin transitioned to MLS leadership at Realcomp
Kevin’s insight on the benefits of consulting
Why Kevin chose the name Focus Forward
The role of a consultant in facilitating strategic thinking
- Discussion about what’s possible
- Organizational assessment
Why Kevin sought a partnership with T3 Sixty
The value of accurate data in decision-making to supercede emotion-based decision making in boardrooms
The shrinking number of MLSs from 2000 to 2018
Kevin’s mission to pick up the pace of MLS consolidation
- 88 MLSs serve 80% of REALTORS
- 20% served by the rest (nearly 600)
Kevin’s take on NAR initiatives as dividing vs. unifying
Kevin’s Do’s and Don’ts of MLS consolidation
- Be flexible, modify business model
- Don’t go into takeover mode
Paul Prince’s quiet and respectful approach to consolidation
How Kevin’s MLS map initiated a conversation
T3 Sixty’s approach to addressing problem areas individually
Resources:
Number of MLSs By State
Paul Prince Case Study
T3 Summit
Connect with Kevin McQueen:
T3 Sixty
Email kevin@t360.com
Kevin on LinkedIn
Kevin on Facebook
What do you think of when you hear the term ‘MLS’? The software vendors? The providers? The database itself? What about MLS executives? We tend to use the label as a catchall for all of those things, which can get problematic.
Shelley Specchio has a handle on all aspects of the MLS system. In 1994, Shelley began her professional career publishing a home magazine for the Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS. The association expanded in 2003 to become the Northern Nevada Regional MLS, and Shelley served as their VP of Sales and Marketing until 2008 when she transitioned to the role of CEO. Last February she became the CEO of the MIBOR REALTOR Association in Indianapolis, a unique organization that marries the MLS, the association, and a nonprofit arm to impact the community at large. Shelley is involved with NAR on the national level, serving on the MLS Executive Advisory Board.
Today Shelley addresses the role of an MLS executive, discussing her own career path and the pros and cons of the position. She shares her take on the fear of disruption in the marketplace, the Upstream initiative, and MLS consolidation. Shelley explains what drew her to the CEO position at MIBOR, describing how the association, MLS, and foundation work in tandem to impact the community. Listen in for insight around using ‘MLS’ as a catchall term and MIBOR’s adoption of the acronym BLC.
What’sDiscussed:
Shelley’s career path in real estate
The role of an MLS executive
The fear of disruption in the marketplace
Shifting from fear to strategic action
Shelley’s take on the Upstream initiative
- No one solution for pain points
- MLS needs to facilitate choice
Other graduates of the ‘Merri Jo School of MLS Execs’
Why MLS execs often relocate as they advance
The extensive travel required of MLS execs
The shrinking number of MLSs from 900 to 672
What drew Shelley to MIBOR
- Economic development piece
- Opportunity to move community forward
MIBOR’s unique structure as an association and MLS
The challenges of having a new boss every year
How MLS execs build relationships with the board
The confusion around ‘MLS’ as a catchall term
Why MIBOR uses the term Broker Listing Cooperative
Shelley’s insight on future consolidation
- Less important to merge if data flowing
- Tech like MLS Gridcould facilitate
Resources:
T3 Sixty
MLS Grid
CMLS Brings It to the Table
MIBOR REALTOR Foundation
Connect with Shelley Specchio:
MIBOR REALTOR Association
MIBOR on Facebook
MIBOR on Twitter
Shelley on LinkedIn
Real estate professionals spend $9B annually to drive traffic to their websites, but less than 1% of that traffic leads to conversion. What’s to blame for this abysmal data? The vast majority of customers are looking to get an answer to a quick question, yet they are met with an aggressive chatbot who demands their contact information before agreeing to provide any information. And even if they do acquiesce to giving a name and email address or phone number, they have to wait several hours for a response. Jatinder Singh and Katie Djurich have built a better chatbot, one that uses scripted AI to engage with customers immediately and understand their needs first.
Jatinder and Katie are the visionaries behind Botplan, a chatbot for real estate that is compatible with Facebook Messenger, webchat and SMS. Available 24/7, the machine-learning tool initiates a dialogue with incoming leads, sets appointments and communicates the customer’s needs to the agent. Jatinder’s extensive background in the retail innovation space and Katie’s experience with the real estate industry led to an interest in designing a chatbot that helps agents effectively automate this portion of their business—and enjoy an occasional family dinner!
Today Jatinder and Katie explain the problems with the current chatbot solutions on the market and how Botplan addresses those issues. Jatinder explains why Botplan is transparent about being a virtual assistant and the distinction between the questions it can and cannot answer. He discusses Botplan’s ability to understand customer needs and communicate those needs with agents and how the team has made adjustments to the platform based on customer interaction. Katie and Jatinder address the reasons why chatbots that demand contact information before providing value tend to be off-putting and ineffective and how Botoplan uses scripted AI to employ the soft sell. Listen in to understand how Botplan is reaching agents and how the platform integrates with Facebook and SMS as well as webchat.
What’sDiscussed:
Why Jatinder and Katie built Botplan
The problems with current chat solutions
- Cost prohibitive
- Poor quality
- Limited availability
How Botplan works with Facebook, SMS and webchat
Why Botplan is transparent about being a virtual assistant
How chatbots are compatible with a busy lifestyle
The questions Botplan can and cannot answer
How Botplan works to understand the customer’s needs
How Botplan communicates with agents
How Botplan has made adjustments based on customer interaction
Why chatbots that require contact information are off-putting
Botplan’s use of scripted AI to engage with customers
Jatinder’s background in the retail innovation space
Katie’s experience in real estate and virtual tours
How Botplan is reaching agents
- Brokerages
- Tech platform providers
Resources:
Botplan Webinar Registration
Connect with Jatinder Singh & Katie Djurich:
Botplan
Botplan on Facebook
Botplan on Twitter
Botplan on Instagram
‘You can change anything you want to change. People can sit around and complain all they want, or they can do something about it. We’re consultants. We want to go do something about it. We’re tired of talking about it. Let’s just go do it.’
Victor Lund is involved in some of the most ambitious initiatives in the real estate industry. From Upstream to Broker Public Portal, Victor is passionate about solving big problems, and whether or not you agree with his approach, you have to respect his willingness to advocate for change. As the founding partner of WAVGroup, he serves as a consultant to large brokerage firms and MLSs with a particular focus on operational effectiveness, communications and strategic planning. Victor is also the founder and CEO of RE Technology, the leading real estate technology and media portal in the US.
Today Victor shares how he made the transition from venture capital to real estate consulting. He discusses the role of RE Technology and its unusual practice of inviting companies to read their articles in advance of publication. Victor defends his advocacy for the Upstream initiative, explaining the scope of the project and the many benefits it will provide for industry players. He also speaks to the intent behind Broker Public Portal, clearing up misconceptions around how Homesnap functions as a partner rather than a vendor. Listen in for Victor’s insight on tackling difficult challenges in real estate and cooperation as the way forward.
What’sDiscussed:
Victor’s transition from VC to real estate consulting
The role of RE Technology as the CNET for real estate
Why RE Technology shares its articles before publication
How WAVGroup’s research department sets it apart
The significant disconnect between brokers and MLSs
Victor’s participation in controversial initiatives
- Upstream
- Broker Public Portal
Victor’s insight on the benefits of Upstream
- Ease burden of agent onboarding checklist
- Instant automation of systems migration
- Efficiency for vendors to deploy products
- Data sharing between MLSs and brokerages
- Facilitates data integration (acquisitions)
- Automate systems (photographer, records creation)
The incredible scope of the Upstream project
The timeline for getting Upstream up and running
Why Upstream uses Web API rather than RETS
Victor’s Upstream pitch for small brokerages
- Premiere information management system
Why fear is the greatest challenge for the Upstream initiative
The impact of Add/Edit on an MLS and its related market
The intent behind Broker Public Portal
- Reimagine way consumers get info
- Consumer-facing website, benefit MLS
The joint venture between Broker Public Portal and Homesnap
How change of control provisions are built into the BPP/Homesnap contract
How Homesnap reinvented themselves as an industry partner
The concept of a parcel-centric database
Resources:
WAVes of Change
UpstreamRE
Broker Public Portal
Homesnap
Homesnap BPP
Connect with Victor Lund:
WAVGroup
RE Technology
RE Technology on Twitter
Victor on Facebook
Victor on LinkedIn
Victor on Twitter
As the saying goes, the best CRM is the one you use. Today’s guest has enjoyed great success onboarding agents to his platform, and when brokers with a strong training culture employ his software, agent adoption is as high as 80%--compared to the industry average 6%. So what’s his secret?
Zvi Band is the co-founder and CEO of Contactually, the leading intelligent CRM for real estate professionals. Agents have seen an average increase in GCI of 42% by staying in personal contact with their networks through Contactually, and the platform has facilitated $3B in deals closed. Zvi is also the co-founder and organizer of DC Tech Meetup, a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, technologists and investors to see demos, launch products and network. Since its inception in 2011, the meetup has grown to a community of 18,000, making it one of the largest tech meetups in the country.
Today Zvi explains how his nomadic childhood and an early passion for building things led him to become a software developer. He discusses the significance of relationships in furthering his career and walks us through the way Contactually functions to help real estate agents maintain important business relationships. Zvi shares the thinking behind his decisions to fund Contactually via investors, to offer a multifaceted onboarding process, and to give prospects a 14-day free trial without securing credit card information in advance. Listen in and learn what contributes to Contactually’s success within a brokerage and how Zvi addresses agent concerns around sharing their contacts.
What’sDiscussed:
Zvi’s nomadic childhood in an academic family
How the Contactually intelligence CRM serves brokerages and agents
Zvi’s insight relationships as the most important asset you can have
The value of cadence in maintaining relationships
Why Zvi chose investors over self-funding
The shift from raising capital to building a business
Zvi’s take on why Contactually enjoyed strong adoption early on
Zvi’s proposal around pooling capital to solve big problems in real estate tech
The initial Contactually customer base of agents and teams
How Contactually has evolved to serve brokerages
Contactually’s multifaceted onboarding process
Why Contactually offers a free 14-day trial without requiring credit card info
Contactually’s growth from three to 70 team members
The remote-friendly culture at Contactually
What contributes to Contactually’s success within a brokerage
- Provides tech AND systems
- Integration with other toolsets
- Open-ended training options
How Contactually addresses agent resistance to sharing contacts with brokers
Contactually’s focus on helping brokers use available data
Resources:
Nintendo Labo
Connect with Zvi Band:
Contactually
Zvi’s Website
Zvi on LinkedIn
Zvi on Twitter
The vast majority of real estate professionals read the annual Swanepoel Trends Report for its analysis of the top developments shaping the industry. A phenomenal resource for agents, brokerages, associations, MLS firms and vendors, the T3 Sixty report offers in-depth research around what’s happening in real estate—from investment in tech innovation to the direct buyer phenomena to the latest brokerage models.
Jack Miller is the President and CTO of T3 Sixty, a team of strategic, technological and managerial experts in the residential real estate industry. The premiere consulting firm facilitates solutions for industry players throughout the US and Canada, leveraging their team’s vast experience and personal connections. T3 Sixty offers a wide range of support, including strategic development, technology audits, system design, operational improvement and continuous comprehensive market research. Jack has 16-plus years of experience in real estate, previously serving as the CTO of a boutique real estate brokerage that won Inman’s Innovator of the Year Award.
Today Jack shares his entry into real estate, explaining his role on the Keller Williams software development team as the firm grew from regional player to national franchise. He offers his take on the increasing importance of brokerage culture, the rise of the tech-enabled firm, and the impact of the recent influx of capital in the industry. Jack walk us through several current trends, including the legitimization of the FSBO model, the shifting role of the real estate agent, and the increasing velocity of brokerage expansion. He speaks to the best representations of the newer business models and the momentum of flat fee companies like HomeSmart. Listen in for Jack’s insight around T3 Sixty’s role in the industry and his advice for agents and brokers in the internet age.
What’sDiscussed:
Jack’s unique introduction to real estate on Keller Williams’ software development team
The increasing importance of culture as part of the brokerage value proposition
How tech innovation has shifted from consideration to core requirement
The potential impact of the billions invested in real estate in 2017
The role of technology in the growing speed of brokerage expansion
The legitimization of the direct buyer (FSBO) model
Why it’s difficult to commodify real estate
The changing role of the agent as a consultant, counselor
The best representations of the newer business models
- Redfin, Compass and Opendoor
- Momentum of flat fee companies (e.g.: HomeSmart)
Why T3 Sixty is betting on the trend toward consolidation
T3 Sixty’s branding as the premiere consulting team for larger, more sophisticated companies
Jack’s advice for new agents around building relationships
How brokerages can recruit a specific audience of agents
Resources:
Swanepoel Trends Report
Books by Stefan
T3 Summit
T3 Brokerage Accelerator
Connect with Jack Miller:
T3 Sixty
Real Estate Trends on Facebook
Jack on Facebook
Stefan on Facebook
Stefan on Twitter
The concept of the MLS creates a strange contradiction for brokers who are both competing with one another, yet sharing inventory by way of compensation and cooperation. In the middle of it all is CMLS, challenged with refereeing any acrimony between brokers and MLSs, promoting best practices, and supporting its membership of 203 MLS providers representing 1.2 million subscribers.
At the helm is Denee Evans, the CEO of this premiere organization dedicated to leading the MLS industry in North America. Denee is a self-proclaimed small-town girl who grew up in Nevada, earning a degree in finance with a specialization in real estate from UNLV. She has always been involved in the industry in some form, doing flips, additions, as well as scrape and builds.
Denee spent more than a decade in retail banking, where she dealt with home equity and mortgage loans. Prior to her role with CMLS, Denee was the Executive Director for EnergyFit Nevada, a nonprofit working to make homes more energy efficient. Through EnergyFit’s efforts to add sustainability information to the MLS, she learned about the opening for CMLS CEO and threw her hat into the ring.
Today, Greg asks Denee the tough questions around how to address MLS’s that don’t comply with best practices, the best way for CMLS to support its members, and the organization’s partnership with NAR. Denee explains the ‘blessing and the curse’ of taking on the role of CEO as an outsider in the MLS industry and the benefit for consumers when organized real estate’s stakeholders collaborate. Listen in and learn about the CMLS initiative to create an interactive tool that would assist MLSs in developing a plan to implement best practices.
What’s Discussed:
How Denee’s background in banking informs her understanding of real estate
The intense interview process she experienced to become CEO of CMLS
The blessing and the curse of being an MLS outsider Denee’s take on the ‘us v. them’ mentality of industry stakeholders
The dichotomy around brokers competing, yet sharing inventory
The challenge for MLS execs to make diverse stakeholders happy
The benefit for consumers when stakeholders cooperate
Denee’s role as an advocate for MLS execs
Denee’s contention that pain points exist in MLS’s of all sizes
The ‘wall of shame’ identifying who hasn’t complied with CMLS best practices
Greg’s proposal to offer free CMLS memberships to non-compliant MLSs
CMLS’s plans to create a best practices interactive tool
- Developed at last CMLS strategic planning session
- Could grow into certification necessary for membership
How CMLS should provide support to its members
- Education v. leadership/advocacy
- Study of industry initiatives to identify needs (e.g.: Upstream)
The controversy around CMLS’s partnership with NAR - CMLS members assigned seats on NAR committees - Speak as national voice for CMLS
Resources:
White Paper 7.42
2017 CMLS Best Practices Survey Brief
Connect with Denee Evans:
The Council of Multiple Listing Services
Denee on LinkedIn
Denee on Twitter
Katie Smithson picks her battles. Even well-meaning colleagues occasionally make insulting or offensive comments, and a professional woman has to decide what she can brush off and what she simply cannot accept. Though the lines can be blurry, nine years in the industry have taught Katie how to establish boundaries and present herself as a professional.
Katie grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, and went to school at Tennessee Technological University. Discouraged by the boys’ club that was electrical engineering, she changed her plans and pursued a degree in marketing. Her first foray into sales and customer service was at a Sprint/Nextel store back in Franklin, where she saw the first MLS searches on a Blackberry. After a move to Knoxville, Katie worked in marketing for a local mortgage company that happened to use CRS Data for tax purposes. Tired of spending her days in a cubicle, she noticed an opening for a trainer at CRS. Katie won them over and secured her first job in real estate. After four years working with agents, realtors and MLS execs to implement the use of CRS products, Katie had a conversation with Greg in a lobby bar at CMLS Boston, and the rest is history.
She has worked at W+R Studios for five years, serving as Director of MLS Services since 2016. Today she shares the details of her activism through the Georgia Women’s Policy Institute, the challenges for women in the real estate industry, and her advice around establishing professional boundaries.
What’s Discussed:
Why Katie gave up on electrical engineering to pursue a marketing degree
Katie’s early sales and customer service experience at Sprint/Nextel
How Katie got involved with the real estate industry
Katie’s role as Director of MLS Services at W+R Studios
The shift from training to sales
Katie’s work with the Georgia Women’s Policy Institute
- Issues affecting women, children
- Get in front of legislators
The challenges for women in the real estate industry
How Katie establishes boundaries as a professional woman
The complications of alcohol as part of industry culture
How Katie’s reputation in the industry has improved her experience with sexism
Katie’s advice for women coming up in the industry
- Keep your head on straight
- Maintain professionalism
- Have a buddy
The challenge of dressing appropriately for women in a business environment
Katie’s recommendations around resources for sales executives
Resources:
CRS Data
Arianna Huffington on Repeating Outfits
‘The Rock’ Test for Sexual Harassment
Inc. Magazine
Connect with Katie Smithson:
W+R Studios
Georgia Women’s Policy Institute
Katie on LinkedIn
By 2009, mobile users could do a lot with smartphone apps—get directions, listen to music, take pictures, play games, even film a video. Aaron Kardell thought that you ought to be able to add ‘look for a house’ to the growing list of applications, and he founded HomeSpotter with the intention of doing just that.
Aaron grew up in rural Nebraska in a family of entrepreneurs. He started writing software programs in high school, and went on to earn a BS in computer science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He originated several businesses, including Altona Ed, an ed tech student information system that was acquired by Pearson School Systems in 2004.
Aaron’s first experience with location-based iPhone applications came along in 2009 when he created iGarageSale. Very shortly thereafter, a broker contacted Aaron about building an app to complement the firm’s successful lead generating website. Aaron retained intellectual property rights, and Mobile Realty Apps was born. The company rebranded as HomeSpotter in 2015, and today they have offerings for MLSs, brokers and agents. On this episode, Aaron joins Greg live from CMLS in Austin to discuss HomeSpotter’s business model, the latest capabilities around mobile listing input, and HomeSpotter’s recent launch of Boost, an automated digital marketing system with trackable ROI.
What’s Discussed:
Aaron’s entrepreneurial family
How Aaron developed an interest in writing software programs
The genesis of HomeSpotter
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Created iGarageSale app
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Realtor asked to build app as consultant
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Retained intellectual property rights
The tactical mistakes HomeSpotter made early on
Why Aaron chose to take the native mobile route
How Aaron built a business in the 99¢ app store world
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Relied on SaaS model
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White label broker offering
HomeSpotter’s service offerings
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White label platform for brokers
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MLS member access on-the-go
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Boost (automated digital marketing with trackable ROI)
How high agent adoption in MLS markets led to the introduction of additional products
The new capabilities around mobile listing input
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Ability to edit listings (corrections, status changes)
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Update photo support capabilities
How Aaron funded HomeSpotter
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Personal capital sustained first three years
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Angel investors in Minneapolis/St. Paul
The particulars of HomeSpotter’s newest offering, Boost
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Automated system
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For agents, teams, brokers
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Creates Facebook/Instagram ads for each new listing
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Targets prospective buyers and seller
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Helps average agent be more effective with marketing
Greg’s hesitance to get into the ‘advertising business’
Why agents are willing to spend more for advertising than tools
The scalability of an app like Boost
How HomeSpotter is upselling current subscribers to try Boost
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Partnering with brokers, franchises, MLSs
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Email agent when listing added
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Brokers pay for initial week in some cases
How Aaron’s team generates ideas for new products
Cloud CMA’s deal with Tom Ferry
The pros and cons of a pay-per-listing pricing model
The difference between HomeSpotter’s free and premium versions for MLS
Resources:
Cloud CMA’s Listing Presentation Kit by Tom Ferry
Zillow’s Report on Trends in Residential Relocation
Connect with Aaron Kardell:
HomeSpotter
Aaron on LinkedIn
If you feared more of the same when Bob Goldberg was named CEO of NAR, take heart. The rhetoric of our new leadership is focused on engagement, openness and transparency—knocking down the façade of the ‘Ivory Tower’ and facilitating dialogue with members, even those who disagree.
Bob Goldberg has been a senior executive with NAR since 1995, and his accomplishments include the launch of the REALTOR Benefits Program, the introduction of the top-level domain initiative, and the expansion of NAR’s technology partnerships via Second City Ventures and its REach Technology Accelerator. Prior to NAR, Goldberg served as senior vice president with PRC Realty Systems.
Bob is lauded for his leadership, recently named one of the 2017 Swanepoel Power 200 and Inman News Real Estate Influencers of 2017. Bob has forged his career on designing programs and partnerships to strengthen the REALTOR organization and drive success for its 1.2 million members. Today, he explains his approach to ushering in a new era at NAR, discussing his pursuit of transparency through social media, interviews and opportunities for Q&A. He also addresses his intention to serve members via a ‘flipping the pyramid’ model of leadership, and how he plans to empower his team with the authority to drive change. Listen to understand why Bob is an advocate of tech initiative partnerships, and how NAR can tackle the issue of professionalism among its members—with both consumers and fellow agents.
What’s Discussed:
Bob’s pursuit of openness and transparency
How Bob plans to connect directly with NAR members
Bob’s interview with Andrew Flachner of RealScout
How Bob and the panel approached Q&A at the NAR Leadership Summit
Bob’s intention to facilitate honest discussion about industry issues
Bob’s mission to break down the façade of the ‘Ivory Tower’
- Message was controlled in past
- Initiate dialogue with dissenting voices
Bob’s ‘flipping the pyramid’ concept
- Think from member perspective first
- Encourage member engagement
The upcoming NAR organizational design study
Greg’s characterization of Bob as having a ‘vibe of inclusiveness’
Bob’s aim to be a different kind of leader
- Visionary
- Empower team with authority to drive change
Bob’s background in MLS technology with PRC
How Bob plans to assess the value prop of tech initiatives
- Cost of product
- Member use
The NAR budget process
How NAR decides to sunset a program that’s run its course
Why Bob does not advocate for a national MLS
- Not NAR’s core competency
- NAR doesn’t have funding to compete
- Better to seek partnerships with experts
Bob’s take on NAR’s role in raising the bar for agents
Professionalism with consumers and fellow members
The complexity of addressing professionalism in the industry
Bob’s willingness to be embrace social media
The world-class talent at NAR
The network effect of engagement
Resources:
NAR Leadership Summit on Facebook Live
RealScout Interview with Bob Goldberg
RealScout on Facebook
Connect with Bob Goldberg:
Bob on Facebook
Bob on LinkedIn
NAR Leadership Team on Facebook
NAR Leadership on Twitter
The Upstream Pivot with FBS CEO Michael Wurzer
I had a chance to sit down with Mike Wurzer again at NAR Midyear to discuss the recent announcement about Upstream, well not really doing upstream anymore. This was recorded before NAR announced the details to their additional funding. More on that in a later blog post.
The first step of problem-solving is to assign blame. Right?
That seems to be part of Upstream’s tactics in explaining their delayed progress at NAR’s May Legislative Meeting in DC. They succeeded in raising the heartrate of today’s guest – by implying that a lack of cooperation from vendors is to blame for the snail’s pace of the project. Upstream also made a big announcement regarding what they term as a pivot, but may be more appropriately called a 180.
Michael Wurzer is the President and CEO of FBS, an employee-owned company committed to exceeding customer expectations. Their signature product, Flexmls, is a standards-driven technology platform connecting real estate professionals to their customers with collaboration tools that deliver timely and accurate information. FBS products serve 185 organizations and 2,000-plus agents in the real estate sector.
Under Wurzer’s leadership for the past 20 years, FBS has worked to constantly evolve and embrace change. They were among the first to build a web-based system, striking a balance between the stability of being an established company and creating a culture of innovation. Today he examines the Upstream pivot in detail, discussing how the Upstream messaging has evolved over time, the pain points the initiative was working to address, and the need to foster collaboration among industry players.
What’sDiscussed:
The major players in the Upstream initiative
How the Upstream messaging has evolved over time
The major Upstream pivot announced at NAR’s Legislative Meetings
How the pivot was influenced by feedback from experienced MLS professionals
Greg’s take on the fundamental change in premise of the Upstream initiative
The pain points the Upstream project was working to address
- Ability to sync listings
- Integration with third party products
The buy-in for Upstream from big brands
Upstream’s explanation for its delayed progress
The need to foster collaboration among industry players rather than assigning blame
- All focused on solving broker problems
The CMLS campaign to highlight the value of the MLS
The controversy over RPR’s team of developers
The confusion re: the meaning of a ‘live demo’
The ability to enter a listing from third-party system as a RESO objective
The evolution of technology in the real estate software space
- ‘We’re building the airplane as we’re flying it’
Success stories in MLS system consolidation
The beauty of competition in shaping market dynamics
Zillow’s next steps in light of the Upstream pivot
The need for clarity of communication re: syndication
What the Upstream pivot means for AMP
Wurzer’s prediction of what’s next in real estate tech innovation
Upstream as ‘another option’ rather than a revolution
Resources:
Realtor Magazine Article
“Upstream Returns to Earth” by Matt Cohen
Connect with Michael Wurzer:
Email mwurzer@flexmls.com
Blog
Henry Ford is credited with saying, ‘If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.’ True innovation provides you with the tools you didn’t even know you needed. Today’s guest understands the challenges of the real estate industry, and he created a platform that provides a unique solution tailored to the work we do. A solution that will make you wonder how you ever did without!
Tyler Gordon is the CEO and Founder of Agent Inbox, an all-in-one communications platform that empowers MLSs to launch a market-wide platform that allows every agent to communicate with every other agent about any listing, from any device, within any product. Agent Inbox seeks to build the messaging infrastructure so that everyone involved in the real estate transaction (including vendors) can effectively communicate via one system.
After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in finance, Gordon went to work for Grooveshark, an on-demand streaming music service, where he built their data products and market research team, boasting a research panel of over 300,000 participants. From there, he joined the family business, a real estate brokerage in south Florida. Realizing just how difficult it was to be a real estate agent, Gordon set out to solve some of the problems he encountered – and Agent Inbox was born. Today, Gordon explains the nuts and bolts of Agent Inbox, sharing how the tool works with any app under the MLS umbrella. Listen and learn the benefits of a single communication system that connects all the stakeholders involved in the real estate transaction!
What’sDiscussed:
The shift in how people communicate
- Agents have migrated away from phone/email
The idea behind Agent Inbox
- Create market-wide messaging platform
- Every agent can communicate with every other agent
The installation of Agent Inbox
- Integrated directly into MLS link
- App is available to download, but not necessary to use the service
How to access Agent Inbox
How the Agent Inbox infrastructure might be used to include other industry stakeholders
- MLS
- Association
- Vendors
The benefits of Agent Inbox
- Sits on top of any product in MLS
- Allows for live, contextual conversation
How Agent Inbox was conceived
The trend toward specialized products
Where Agent Inbox is already up and running
The user-friendly nature of Agent Inbox
The benefits of messaging (vs. email)
- 99% of people open, 95% respond
- Socially acceptable to wait several days before responding to email
Resources:
Intercom Customer Messaging Platform
Slack Team Messaging
Connect with Tyler Gordon:
Agent Inbox
Email tyler@agentinbox.com
LIVE from the RESO Spring Conference 2017
‘…You’re building a new infrastructure. You’re building a brand new interstate, and one of the hardest things is the off ramp and the on ramp.’
RETS has been a solid technology standard for fifteen years, and many vendors are resistant to make the change to API. But as the needs of mobile shift the industry, a new ‘interstate’ is necessary. Today’s guest is prepared to discuss the details of this controversial pivot.
Jeremy Crawford is the CEO of RESO, the organization responsible for the creation, promotion and adoption of standards in the real estate industry. RESO seeks to fuel innovation and help streamline the real estate transaction. Crawford has been involved with RESO since 2010, serving on its Board of Directors and co-leading the Education and Outreach Workgroup. He has a unique combination of talent and experience, with an extensive background in information technology and corporate management. After graduating from East Tennessee State University with a degree in computer science, he landed an IT position with Safeco Insurance. From there, he worked in network management for BB&T Corporation and MarketLinx (a division of CoreLogic). His resume also includes leadership roles as CIO of SANDICOR, CIO and COO of MLSListings, and COO of Aculist.
Crawford explains the need for a pivot away from RETS to API, the benefits of saved search portability, and the progress of the transition to date. Listen in to understand the steps being taken to improve the permissioning process and who might play a role in further advances.
What’sDiscussed:
The controversial pivot to API
- Resistance from traditional vendors
- Interstate analogy (on and off ramps)
- Shifting needs require API
- Parallel uses of both RETS and API likely
The progress of the move to API
- Distribution piece complete
- Updates component under development
The vendors who are taking advantage of API capabilities
The benefits of switching to API for established vendors
- API built to access data on the fly
- Can still replicate data, but have option not to
- Saved search portability
Progress with regard to the challenges of permissioning
- Standardized data licensing agreements
- NAR turnaround time policy for IDX access
- Access to developmental data feeds to facilitate product development
Who is responsible for permissioning process
- RESO R&D Workgroup drafting best practices
- Brokers must help shepherd process along
Resources:
AgentSquared
Agent Inbox
Connect with Jeremy Crawford:
RESO
LIVE from the RESO Spring Conference 2017!
In a world where your every move is tracked via geocode through your Starbucks orders and Instagram posts, there is an abundance of data. And those who know how to interpret that information can learn an awful lot about a person and her behavior, using it to either market or serve … or both. The world of real estate is no different, and there is much buzz in the industry regarding an innovative new data solutions product for agents.
Remine is a Big Data company that delivers predictive analytics to real estate professionals exclusively through their MLS. They analyze property records, transactional history and consumer data to determine someone’s propensity of buy, sell or refinance a home. Their user interface utilizes heat maps and other visualizations to help real estate professionals contextualize data, identify new leads and win more business. The team is comprised of successful agents who understand the needs of real estate professionals.
Jonathan Spinetto is the COO of Remine, and he has been a licensed agent since 2002. Using his own custom technology systems, Spinetto has completed over 3,000 single family residential transactions. As both a practitioner and a technologist who offers unique insight into industry trends, he delivers keynotes internationally around Big Data in real estate.
Lucie Fortier is the newly appointed VP of Product. She brings an understanding of the MLS space and a great deal of implementation experience to the Remine team. Fortier spent the last five years as Senior Director of Operations at CoreLogic, where she was accountable for the support and execution of a suite of Real Estate web-based applications delivered to 600,000-plus agents in the US and Canada.
Spinetto and Fortier articulate the specifics of the Remine product and how it ties together property attributes with data about people in order to provide meaningful insight for agents. Listen and learn how Remine is different from other companies that offer predictive analytics and why they chose to partner with MLSs.
What’sDiscussed:
How Remine employs data to help agents find prospects
Why Remine doesn’t fit into a particular product category
The types of data Remine has aggregated and linked to MLS data
- Contact info
- Property data
- Mortgage data
- Airbnb data
- Predictive analytics
- Individual stats about residents
- Parcels
Why Fortier joined the Remine team
The beauty of providing meaningful insight that agents can use
The difference between Remine and other companies that offer predictive analytics
- MLS-centric (available to all members)
How Remine democratizes the data to help agents be proactive
How Remine fills a gap in the real estate tech space
Why Remine chose to partner with MLSs rather than sell directly to agents
The importance of face-to-face demos
The necessity of stewardship when it comes to data sharing
- Privacy concerns
- Shift in societal norms
The responsibilities of a company like Remine to share appropriate personal information
- Controlling product delivery via coordination with MLS systems helps stop bad actors
The Remine implementation schedule
What Fortier brings to the table as VP of Product
- Understanding of MLS space and how agents use applications
- Experience in implementation
How Remine adjusts predictive analytics to localize to a given area
How Remine is funded
Connect with Jonathan Spinetto and Lucie Fortier:
Remine
Pioneering Innovation in Real Estate Tech with WolfNet CEO Joel MacIntosh
LIVE from the RESP Spring Conference 2017!
Talk about being at the forefront of new technologies… Today’s guest was working to develop ecommerce in the mid-1990s, streaming video in 1998, and consolidating MLS data in 2000.
Joel MacIntosh is the CEO of WolfNet Technologies, a real estate tech pioneer offering highly configurable IDX and VOW property search applications, MLS data standardization services, and property search API services. WolfNet accesses data from 600-plus MLSs in North America, offering the most accurate and up-to-date MLS data in the business, and the company serves national franchises, brokers, agents and MLSs.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management with a BS in Entrepreneurship and Business Management, MacIntosh founded WolfNet in 1996 as a work-for-hire web development company. WolfNet moved into the real estate space in 2000 when a broker approached the firm with an interest in "Broker Reciprocity", and they have been developing groundbreaking products and services for the industry ever since.
MacIntosh was recently named one of the 200 Most Powerful People in Real Estate for a reason, and today he shares how WolfNet stays on the cutting-edge of real estate software innovation. Listen and learn about their flagship products and services as well as projects in the works around photo image categorization and AI.
What’sDiscussed:
WolfNet’s journey from work-for-hire web development to real estate tech
WolfNet’s flagship products
Why MacIntosh favors the consulting aspect of his work in the data space
How WolfNet pioneered data sharing among MLS systems
- Up and running in Minnesota since 2001
- Big growth from 2008-2012
- Just added 635th MLS
Why most bigger players prefer direct database access over RETS
The benefits for WolfNet of building their own API
The two main WolfNet customer profiles
- Established companies who want the data
- Newer ‘bootstrap’ firms who want a transactional API
The ‘magic number’ of MLS markets at which point a company benefits from aggregating the data itself
How the numbers validate the concept of consolidation
- Fewer than 10 MLSs have more than 100,000 active listings
- 118 MLSs have 25,000-plus active listings
- It takes 234 MLSs to get to 90% of the listing inventory
- 500 MLSs comprise roughly 8.6% of the inventory and just 3,000 listings
WolfNet’s client base
How the data services component of WolfNet was conceived and productized
The built-in permissioning WolfNet offers
How WolfNet’s additional features connect data points to add significant value
- Photo processing to generate thumbnails
- Address data processing
- Acquiring public records data
What is involved in WolfNet’s image categorization and tagging project
- Identifies the category of room pictured in a photo (i.e.: kitchen, mudroom)
- Distinguishes specific attributes (e.g.: white kitchen with stainless steel appliances)
- Utilizes technology trained via neural network and human tools
- 100,000,000 photos processed
- MacIntosh anticipates release at the end of next quarter
WolfNet’s new data loader product
Vendors introducing AI in the real estate software space that impress MacIntosh
Connect with Joel MacIntosh:
WolfNet Website
“If the MLS industry had a face, that face would have a facial tick – because it’s always threatened by something or someone.”
With such constant scrutiny, you’ve got to have a pretty thick skin in the MLS business. And if your goal is to consolidate, let’s say the listings for the entire state of California, you’d better be even tougher. Today’s guest on Listing Bits faces such across-the-board resistance daily as he works to convince real estate professionals that giving up a little local control is worth it in the long run.
Art Carter is the CEO of California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRMLS), providing products and services to over 82,000 subscribers. CRMLS works to connect real estate professionals throughout the state of California via access to the most data at the lowest cost possible.
Carter spent nine years working for the Pacific West Association of Realtors as they pushed the envelope on innovation and brought the association world to a new level before moving to CRMLS in 2005. For the past 11 years, he has been dedicated to making a difference in the daily lives of Real Estate Professionals. He is best known for leading the data share revolution in Southern California.
Carter has been named one of Inman News’ 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders twice, and he is a member of the Dr. Almon R. “Bud” Smith, RCE, AE Leadership Society in recognition of dedicated service and commitment to advancing the association management profession. Listen in as he shares the progress CRMLS has made toward listings consolidation in California.
What’sDiscussed:
The disparity between consumers and agents/brokers when it comes to data access
How agents and brokers respond to the prospect of listings consolidation
The unraveling of calREDD
The history of CARETS
The advantages of data shares over an aggregated database
Why CRMLS seeks to consolidate listings for the entire state of California
The politics preventing consolidation
Where the resistance to consolidation comes from
The progress CRMLS is making toward consolidation
- From 21,013 members in 2005 to 82,037 today
- Working to grow another 10% this year
The benefit of implementing a ‘system of choice’
- Eliminates the need to convert
- Allows agents to access data with the tool they prefer
Solutions for the permissioning issue
- Unified contracts
- Online process
Why the MLS industry itself should resolve the permissioning issue
The primary purpose of the MTP Project
Carter’s advice for MLSs seeking to consolidate
- Build relationships
- Consider every ‘no’ a ‘not yet’
Connect with Art Carter:
CRMLS Website
Sifting through listing data is no one’s idea of a good time. But both brokers and technology providers spend a lot of time and money managing information from multiple MLSs. Would you be interested in a tool that could offer you a competitive edge by way of data access and control? Trestle might be the tool for you.
Kevin Greene is a real estate tech executive with expertise in business partnership development, strategy and product management. He has worked on both sides of the real estate aisle, serving as a broker for two years before crossing over to the vendor side of the industry ten years ago. He joined the team at CoreLogic this past July, where he serves as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and New Initiatives at the leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider.
Greene attended Auburn University, then served as paratrooper in the Army to pay for college. He received his degree in business administration from Jacksonville University and had a stint as a textbook sales rep with Prentice Hall before going to work for discount brokerage Help-U-Sell. In 2007, he got a lead through Monster.com for a job in real estate tech sales with what was then Fidelity National Financial. Greene rose through the ranks to become VP of MLS Solutions and then Senior Vice President of Business Development at Real Estate Digital before landing at CoreLogic. Today he discusses his new role and the potential of CoreLogic’s new Trestle initiative.
What’sDiscussed:
CoreLogic’s current objectives
- Partnerships with core services
- Conversion to Matrix platform
- Upgraded version of Matrix
The Trestle initiative
- Connect data (MLS) to tech providers/brokers
How Trestle was conceived
- RESO compliance
The benefits of an aggregated feed
Permissioning challenges
How a tool like Trestle might facilitate the shift to APIs
The default agreements available through Trestle
Trestle’s pricing model
The cost-benefit analysis of utilizing Trestle vs. in-house staff
The phases of the Trestle launch
- Enroll MLSs
- Register tech providers
- Ecommerce platform
- Broker access
- Listing input
Resources:
Trestle Initiative
Connect with Kevin Greene:
CoreLogic Website
Amy Gorce is the President of Clareity, the leading provider of security products and single sign-on services for the real estate industry. Their innovative products service over 850,000 agents daily and directly serve the majority of MLSs, associations and brokerages across North America.
Gorce entered the real estate industry in 1997 when she was hired by Intermountain MLS because of her experience in getting systems online. During her stint there, Gorce grew the organization from 2000 to 5000 members and tripled the listing data coverage area. As CEO, she received the Idaho Association of REALTORS Presidential Award for contributions in MLS leadership and technology.
In 2004, Gorce was approached to join the team pioneering data security company Clareity, and she transitioned to the vendor side of real estate technology. Her initial position with the company was as COO, then she moved to Executive VP before becoming President in early 2016. In her current role, Gorce works to design a vision for Clareity built on strategic thinking about the future of the company and the real estate industry in general. On this episode of the podcast, she outlines upcoming Clareity workshops and discusses industry issues from API integration to permissioning. Listen and learn what Clareity offers agents and brokerages and the company’s role in real estate tech moving forward.
What’sDiscussed:
The agenda for Clareity’s upcoming MLS Executive Workshop in Scottsdale
- Controversial Customer Satisfaction Survey
The consolidation of brands within Clareity
The intention of the Clareity Developer’s Workshop
- Develop thought leadership around APIs and integration
- Foster collaboration among cooperative competitors
Gorce’s career
- Intermountain MLS
- Clareity Security
Gorce’s role as President of Clareity
The value proposition of Clareity for agents
- Security – assuring subscribers are legitimate
- Dashboard products
- Highly customized notification system
Gorce’s take on the permissioning process
How traditional vendors might evolve as new apps drive traffic away
- Levels of access model
Resources:
Clareity Developer’s Workshop
Connect with Amy Gorce:
Clareity Website
Rebecca Jensen is very busy. She's the President and CEO of Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED), the real estate data distributor for the greater Chicago area. She also serves on the boards of Broker Public Portal (BPP), a national consumer-facing property search experience powered by MLS data, and the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), the trade association dedicated to strengthening the MLS industry.
Jensen began her career working the tech support line for what is now UtahRealEstate.com. She rose through the ranks by creating her own positions in the small company, eventually serving as CEO at the age of 29. Under her leadership, the company developed a new in-house MLS platform, including an integrated public-facing website and mobile apps.
Jensen also served a full term of six years on the board of the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO), acting as Board Chair from 2011 to 2015. During her tenure, the organization went from being a project within the NAR to a standalone nonprofit with support across the industry. On this episode of the podcast, she shares her journey from tech support to CEO. Click and listen to find out what drives Jensen, her take on the role of organizations like RESO, COVE and CMLS, and the direction of the MLS industry.
What’s Discussed:
- How implementing best practices from other fields can enhance your business
- Jensen applied principles of Agile product development to identify priorities
- How “creating the opportunity to say no” helped Jensen land her gig at MRED
- The restructuring of RESO during Jensen’s tenure on the board
- Jensen’s aspirations regarding the direction of CMLS
- Cultivate think tank atmosphere to generate ideas
- Add policy creation arm to implement solutions
- What drives Jensen to achieve
- The promise of big data in real estate tech
- Jensen is intrigued by a remine product that correlates data to drive better business decisions
- Jensen’s take on the future of MLS and real estate tech
- Integrated software and business entities
- Streamlined electronic transactions
- The non-traditional partnership between BPP and Homesnap
Resources:
Remine Website
Connect with Rebecca Jensen:
MRED Website
Michael Wurzer is the President and CEO of FBS, Creators of Flexmls. FBS is a 100% employee-owned company, and every employee-owner is committed to exceeding customer expectations. Flexmls is a standards-driven technology platform connecting real estate professionals to their customers with collaboration tools that deliver timely and accurate information. Their products serve 185 organizations and 2,000-plus agents in the real estate sector.
Before taking over for his father at FBS, Wurzer enjoyed a seven-year career in law, primarily defending publicly traded companies in class action litigation. He also worked as the Assistant General Counsel for Aveda, a botanically-based hair and skin care manufacturer for beauty professionals. The method of thinking employed in legal analysis and writing provided unique preparation for his eventual work in the field of real estate tech.
Under Wurzer’s leadership for the past 20 years, FBS has worked to constantly evolve and embrace change. They were among the first to build a web-based system, striking a balance between the stability of being an established company and creating a culture of innovation. On this episode of the podcast, Wurzer examines the staying power of the MLS, real estate software product integration and the implementation of industry standards. Listen in to find out how building relationships provides the foundation for FBS’s success.
What’s Discussed:
- How a law background benefits Wurzer in the real estate tech industry
Talent in writing and communicating have been integral to his work with FBS - The evolution of real estate tech community-building online
- The continued need for integration among real estate software programs
- Wurzer’s take on new initiatives like AMP and Upstream
- The source of anti-MLS sentiment
- The challenge of implementing standards in real estate tech
- How to solve the industry’s permissioning problem
- Wurzer foresees expanding agreements so that belonging to one MLS will provide access to a broader pool of data that can then be used
As long as the broker has permission, the vendor should have permission - The necessity of reinventing yourself in the real estate tech business
FBS is actively developing leadership that embraces change
Connect with Michael Wurzer:
Email mwurzer@flexmls.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/mwurzer
Blog https://www.flexmls.com/blog/
The Notorious R.O.B., Robert Hahn, is Managing Partner of 7DS Associates, a real estate consulting firm that specializes in developing and implementing corporate strategy including product management, brand marketing and social networking.
Hahn has a wide range of experience. His holds a BA in Philosophy from Yale and a graduate degree from NYU School of Law. After working briefly for a firm, he took a 98% pay cut to work as a magazine editor. Hahn’s diverse resume also includes positions at USA Networks, Inc., Kinesis Marketing and Realogy.
Hahn launched his consulting career in 2009 with the formation of 7DS Associates. He also writes a popular real estate blog, The Notorious R.O.B., and co-hosts the real estate podcast Trialogues which addresses technology, marketing and leadership in the real estate industry.
Hahn is a sought-after keynote speaker and change agent who thrives on speaking his mind and shaking things up in the real estate industry. On this episode of the podcast, he speaks to the nature of his consulting work, his candid approach to identifying industry challenges and the impending mood shift regarding standards for agents and brokers. Listen and learn what’s next for Hahn as makes an exclusive announcement about a new venture.
What’s Discussed:
- The pros and cons of consulting
The “eat what you kill” model means you must continually prove value - The differences between commercial and residential real estate
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The “tyranny of politeness” in the industry and why Rob and Greg feel a responsibility to speak their minds
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Hahn’s take on the biggest issue in real estate
The preamble to the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics outlines the fiduciary responsibility of agents and brokers - Why it’s difficult for consumers to evaluate realtors
Lack of transparency
Infrequent contact - How realtors themselves can help raise standards
- What’s next for Hahn and the details of an upcoming partnership
Connect with Robert Hahn:
Website
Damien Huze is the Chief Design Officer at W+R Studios. He was born in Paris and grew up in a creative environment, watching his parents design ads on the floor of their home office. When Huze was ready to apply his own talent, the internet was just taking off. He found his medium in building websites, first for his band and then his father.
Huze has known W+R co-founders Greg Robertson and Dan Woolly since the inception of the company in 2008 when they connected over a shared approach to software design. At the time, he was running a design shop called Wake Interactive where his small team did design work for tech-driven companies including Verizon, Target and even Jennifer Lopez. Huze consulted for W+R studios, designing their corporate identity and contributing to the UI/UX of their flagship product, Cloud CMA.
Wake Interactive’s bread and butter was designing usable websites, but Huze eventually wanted to shift his focus to product design. When the opportunity came along to join the W+R team in 2015, he was ready to lead their rebranding effort and apply his talent to design from a product standpoint. On this episode of the podcast, Huze addresses the creative process, the benefits of creative thinking in business and how to view processes as a design task.
What’sDiscussed:
-What the creative process entails
-Generating ideas can be frustrating and ugly
-The aha moment when you find a solution is addictive
-Why Boulder is a best case environment for software design
-The level of work happening in the field there is tremendously motivational
-The potential for transformation in the real estate industry
-How businesses benefit from creative thinking
-Design goes beyond simply shaping the way things look
-Processes are a design task, i.e.: hiring, support, etc.
-How Huze approached the rebranding effort at W+R
-A brand survey revealed that the name was the most valuable element of Cloud CMA’s identity
-The rebrand was based on the word “cloud” and employs a very simple mark
-Huze’s team developed Cloud Agent Suite with complementary products identified by color
-Why continuity is the key to a polished image
-An internal transformation was required for W+R to be well-managed from a brand guidelines standpoint
-The changing value proposition of real estate agents
-Agents continue to provide crucial representation as they assist buyers in navigating the process of putting in an offer
-Agents provide local knowledge for buyers who will be joining the community
-Why focusing on one aspect of an agent’s job that is underserved is the best approach to software design
-A product that tries to do too much for too many people is a product that is not great at any specific thing
-The best way to reign in a product manager who is adding too many features
-The goal is to build a product that fixes a problem
-The designer’s job is to figure out if the product manager’s assumptions are correct by asking a lot of questions (Why?)
Connect with Damien Huze:
@huze
Renwick Congdon is the CEO and founder of Imprev Inc., a trend-setting marketing technologies company based in Seattle. He began his career in the 1980’s as a top-producing loan officer, helping the agents he worked with create personalized marketing fliers and eventually developing software to automate the process. A serial innovator, Congdon went on to write code for the PC and Mac desktop software program Flyerware, which instantly created personalized real estate flyers for agents and brokers.
In 2000, he built Imprev in his garage (literally!), and the company has flourished. Imprev designed the first Enterprise marketing technology solution for real estate brokerage firms, the first multilingual real estate marketing application, the first private-label Marketing Center for a leading franchise, and helped to pioneer MLS integration for automated, data enabled marketing materials. No real estate marketing technology corporation works with more agents or brokers.
An authority in the industry, Congdon speaks regularly on marketing trends and technology. He was an Inman News Innovator Award finalist in both 2004 and 2011, and he serves on the board of directors of the Seattle chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization, a network of more than 8,000 business owners in 40 countries. On this episode of the podcast, he speaks to the benefits of Imprev’s marketing automation, how they became the go-to platform for real estate franchisers, work-life balance and trends in real estate technology.
What’sDiscussed:
-Why Imprev’s marketing automation platform works especially well for the real estate industry
-Real estate is the only industry where the salesperson is responsible for conceptualizing and creating the marketing as well as distributing it
-With Imprev, a listing automatically triggers the generation of a website, fliers, postcards, video, social media pushes, etc.
-Why Imprev invests in a very large QA team
-Having “too many testers” allows their customer service team to be very small (two people serving 260,000 agents)
-How establishing the ‘why’ of your business can improve work-life balance
-Imprev’s ‘why’ is to have a great place to work with a product they believe in, strong customer relationships
-Renwick’s regret re: not having a partner
-Some venture capitalists won’t invest if you don’t have partners
-Why it is better to let a customer go rather than adding services (i.e.: CMA, CRM) that don’t fit your business model
-Why ease of use is key in developing a platform
-The first time someone gets on the platform, they can use it
-The second time, they are comfortable
-The third time, they’re an expert
-The beauty of automation
-Find the agents that do something the best and codify their best practices for everyone
-Trends in real estate and real estate tech
-Taking one piece of data from a property and using it to pull valid information and market to a particular group
Resources Mentioned:
Simon Sinek’s Start With Why
Project Upstream Thought Leader Survey
Results of Imprev’s Fall Thought Leader Survey 2016
Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report
Connect with Renwick Congdon:
Imprev
@renwickcongdon
Learn More About Renwick Congdon:
Aloha and welcome to the inaugural episode of Listing Bits! Greg comes to you from Ko Olina, Hawaii, where he is attending Hawaii Life’s Worthshop 6, and chatting with real estate tech leader David Friedman.
Friedman describes himself as a Jewish kid from New York who went to engineering school during the dot-com boom. Interested in startups, he discovered that the real estate brokerage space lagged behind the curve in tech and set out to build a platform during the recession. That idea grew into the formation of
Boston Logic Technology Partners, Inc., an information technology firm whose mission is to help real estate brokerages grow faster by implementing their software and companion services.
As president of Boston Logic, Friedman leads the team in developing the company’s strategic vision. Working with investors, managers and clients, he is involved in the daily operations of the business including hiring, sales and fundraising. He is a metrics oriented sales manager, internet marketing strategist and coach with proven experience as an entrepreneur, growing a company from idea to profitability.
On this first episode of the podcast, Friedman talks about the rapid pace of innovation and growth in the real estate technology vertical, the future of Boston Logic and industry trends in big data and AI.
What’sDiscussed:
Why chaos causes innovation
- The success of a business over time has no correlation to broader economic trends
- During a recession, many become entrepreneurs by necessity
Why the real estate industry has been behind the curve in technology
- When times are good (i.e.: during a boom), people don’t feel the need to innovate
The exponential growth of the real estate software realm
- From 2013-2014, funding for the formation of new companies went up 4X
How advancements in technology have dramatically increased the pace of innovation
- Hosting space on the cloud is cheap
- Building on top of open source architecture allows for the development of a working prototype in weeks (not months)
Why tech tools working together via data connectivity will be the next wave in the industry
The big investment Boston Logic secured from Providence Equity
How Boston Logic will employ the funds from Providence Equity’s backing
- Invest in the core business
- Look at acquisitions for growth
The traits of Boston Logic’s ideal client
- Small or large brokerages
- More tech forward than the average brokerage
- Current platform isn’t keeping up, isn’t integrated, or lacks a data sharing component
Trends in real estate tech
- Utilizing big data in a new way – making dormant data an asset
- AI – using bots to replace call center employees
Resources:
Worthshops.com
Connect with David Friedman:
BostonLogic.com
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