This week the National Association of Realtors announced the implementation of a BHAMS (Big, Hairy, Audacious Member Service), a real estate database for members only which will comprise the largest accumulation of property and property-related data in the world. It’s going to be known as RPR (Realtors’ Property Resource), but I like the acronym ‘BHAMS’ myself.
Now, NAR has always been quite masterful at creating a flurry of consternation before any national meeting so that attendees feel as if there’s a significant reason to attend. (It’s a good technique: left to themselves, a group of bored members can be a dangerous thing.) This time, though, NAR has outdone itself. We will all descend on San Diego and participate in a man-made quake of earth-shaking proportions.
The problem will be one of conflicted interests. The major conflict is, of course, change—a hated word in any association’s lexicon. But more directly, the BHAMS will be seen as competition for existing MLS organizations, and there will likely be dramatic wringing of hands and bloodshed in the hallways. Some of that will be legitimate: the Big Hairy was birthed because MLS operations are often autonomous local “silos of information”, often serviced by vendors who remain far behind the technology curve. And looming behind these towers is the great Cloud of Google, with its challenging technology announcements, one of which came as late as last week.
As the melodrama plays out next week, one prominent collection of villains will certainly be named: the Association Executives and MLS administrators. Just 24 hours after NAR’s webinar announcement I am reading comments on blogs that say, “There go the jobs of the high-priced staff,” and make reference to the tyrannical hold staff members have over Realtors’ business success.
My point in writing this blog is this: no matter how you as an AE or an MLS manager personally feel about the Big Hairy, you’re going to need to pay attention to your role on stage. You’re already cast as the bad guy (along with a few others, of course).
The solution? First, get informed. Read some vendor and consultant blogs, considering the source of the comments and the personal agendas that may be lurking behind the words. Go to Realtor.com and read the RPR Fact Sheet. Secondly, spend some time thinking this through as a part of a bigger picture: list your personal pros and cons quietly and thoughtfully, by yourself, with your office door closed. Then, professional that you are, list the pros and cons of RPR for your MEMBERS. Compare the lists. Know what’s on each—they probably won’t be the same in every point.
Now, having armed yourself with some quiet reflection before you get to San Diego, and independent of the hysteria that’s rapidly building, plan your position statements. Remember, every statement you make about the Big Hairy should be prefaced with “It will be good for members' business” or “It will be detrimental to members' livelihood”. That first list you made should never see the light of day—it’s your personal list of conversational red flags. And try to spend as little time as possible stuffing the tired old cat back in the paper bag: RPR is inevitable. Don’t waste member resources on succession from the union or shooting the messenger or suing NAR: these methods won’t work, and you’ll be the ‘bad guy’ with a special interest (i.e., protecting your “empire”. One question posed in the comments of a blog bluntly asks, “So you think it’s more likely that Association Executives will voluntarily take pay cuts and lay each other off, rather than trying to find ways to disassociate from NAR to save their jobs?”)
Instead, understand that this is an opportunity for you as an AE to be wise, rational, and supportive of necessary industry changes—without sacrificing your organization’s health, viability, and importance to members. It’s an opportunity to lead by example, to sort through the fears and myths (no, the RPR is not a national MLS). The devil will be in the details, and the details will give you plenty of opportunity to contribute your expertise and insight as we work together on finalizing the implementation of the Big, Hairy, Audacious Member Service.
Judith - So well said. In fact, so well said that I'm sharing your comments with my MLS volunteer and staff leadership. As usual, you are 'right on the mark'. Let's find ways to make this work to our members' benefit - not ours.
Judith - This is a great perspective on a new idea. We have an opportunity to go where we have never gone before, but we need the minds of our bright AE's and members working together and not in opposition. Thanks for challenging us to have some engaging discussions.
Nov. 8, 2009 - RE: Hairy Bodacious Member Service: San Diego Homework for Association Execs
Posted by Chris Collins, ABR, CRS, GRI
Judith - Great perspective....Even as REALTORS consider the implications of the changing face of technology in remaining central to the transaction....it's clear we're all challenged to continually re-evaluate our "value proposition" to our clients. Techonology has changed that value proposition. REALTORS were once "the source of information". Today we translate an ever- increasing volume of "information" into "knowledge" for our clients. This same opportunity is on the horizon for the local Association and MLS....As buyers and sellers require more and more "information" the REALTORS role has shifted to "interpreter" - turning information to knowledge. As we've been vividly reminded thru the recent market shift....real estate is local. While RPR may help to accumulate information....As A REALTOR/Volunteer Leader I will continue to look to my local/regioinal association and MLS to help me evaluate, sort, and present volumes of everchanging data in ways that maximize the value of the data for interpreting my local market and allow me to continue to be the knowledge source for a revived vibrant, and better educated client. My vision is that RPR will be a valuable resource for my Association & Regional MLS to continue to keep me on the leading edge as we move into the future!
Nov. 9, 2009 - RE: Hairy Bodacious Member Service: San Diego Homework for Association Execs
Posted by Terry Penza
Dear Judith:
Well done. Thanks for the heads up. How sad tho to hear that AE's once again take a bashing before the issue is out the door. If we are so evil then why are there so many Regional MLS's? Locals had to give up their most valuable asset for the good of the members -- how much proof is needed to see we do look for what is best for the members and not our pockets!
Nov. 9, 2009 - RE: Hairy Bodacious Member Service: San Diego Homework for Association Execs
Posted by Richard Mendenhall
Judith,
As always your insight and prose are brilliant!!!
Gorilla? Lion? Osama Bin Laden? Who knows what is coming over the hill. I don't care what is coming, because as long as we are all alive we have to be ready. Shame on whoever is hammering on AE's and MLS executives. Some are the brightest people I have ever met in NAR. They "get" change, they are adaptable, they are ahead of the curve for their members in multiple ways. Shame on the members who don't understand them and their dedication.
I have no more information about RPR than many of you, but I look forward to the exchange of thoughts and ideas and the consideration of many possibilities.
Nov. 11, 2009 - RE: Hairy Bodacious Member Service: San Diego Homework for Association Execs
Posted by David Charron
Hi Judith
Good for you! Not sure where the "bashing" is coming from but guess we will begin to see/hear about it later this week. Now if "bashing" is synonomous with asking questions, then count me in. I have loads of them. Anything that advances the business of the broker and the agent is a good thing. Without them, none of us are in business. If however our customers are further marginalized at the expense of another, then I do take issue.
Nov. 17, 2009 - RE: Hairy Bodacious Member Service: San Diego Homework for Association Execs
Posted by Carol Van Gorp
Judith - As always - right on, well said etc. I "get" RPR. I am totally in support but like David, have some questions.
1. I live in a non-disclosure state. That means that the entire state of Missouri is sensitive to the extreme about disclosing sold data. Personally I come from a background (Florida) where all of the data was available so it's no big whoop to me - but to some, this will be a major deal.
2. We are having horrible problems with HVCC and Appraisers from other areas literally bribing our agents to use their passwords to get into the MLS for sold data. How RPR effects that situation is a concern.
I am not at all being an obstructionist. I totally pledge myself to help make this all work and I hope that everyone with legitimate questions and concerns will be respected and not marginalized or labeled. We're all in it together!
A behind the scenes look at organized real estate--what works in an association, what doesn't, and what a long time AE sees as challenges facing the industry from the viewpoint of its professional organization.
RSS Blog Feed
.jpg)