Submit Feedback
Member Login
Blogs Homepage
Featured Entries
Recent Entries
Recent Comments
Tags
My Starred Entries
Create A BlogAustin Board of REALTORS® Shuts Agents and Mac Users out of MLS |
If you haven't already heard, the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABOR®) upset agents this month when they switched over from the TEMPO MLS system to the new MLXchange. The perception is that the switch was mishandled, causing frustration from licensed members, their assistants and consumers.
The #1 rule in change management is to thoroughly test your new system or process and roll out the switch in phases. Although ABOR® advised agents to start using MLXchange late summer, it quickly became apparent that the new MLXchange system was not ready for prime-time.
Complaints of the new MLXchange system include:
- MLXchange is not intuitive, even for the most "technical" agents.
- Constant system crashes. Crashes were part of the bug fixes last week, but my computer still freezes when using the program, making me less efficient.
- Client reports and external websites only work with Internet Explorer. This means that any client using Apple Safari, Netscape, Firefox Browsers, etc. cannot view MLS listings that we send them.
WHY AGENTS and MAC USERS ARE MAD AT ABOR®
Understandably, the pubic has some tough questions for ABOR. Here are the top three that I've heard:
1. Why wait until December to roll out a major change? December is when home buyers and investors finally get time off to see properties and finalize their purchase decisions. Bank holidays add to the year-end time crunch. It may have been best to negotiate with TEMPO so you can wait until after the holiday season.
2. Why discard Mac users? Unofficial statements confirm that Apple Safari, Firefox and Netscape users will not have access to Greater Austin homes via client websites or automated email reports anytime in the near future, perhaps never. I sincerely hope this is not true and will wait for official word.
3. Why doesn't ABOR® provide greater access to MLS data anyway? Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas boards all provide ample MLS statistics each month that give consumers information on how the market is doing. If you want detailed Austin statistics, you have to go through an agent. The data is readily available in a 40+ page PDF download, but only from the internal site. You may even remember that Austin title companies were forced to remove public MLS data from their sites in 2006.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
There is still hope for agents and Mac users from a company called Wolfnet Technologies. I provide access to a Greater Austin home search at AustinMLSonline.com. The search uses MLSfinder, which I've used for almost two years. Buyers and investors can sign up for automated home alerts and even save favorite properties. Agents at brokerages like Keller Williams can now add MLSfinder to their website for free.
MLXchange has great features like personalized client websites, schedule management tools, a reminder system, ability to perform CMAs (comparative market analysis), advanced mapping, tax system integration, and reporting. The board has online and classroom training to ease the learning curve and have beefed up support to handle complaints and technical issues.
I have high hopes that the Austin Board of REALTORS® will address these issues so 2008 can start off on the right foot.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY
Member Login
Join RealTown
Request Password
RealTown RSS Feed