RealTown's MLSInformation

Sounds like you are a very passionate person, probably why your clients do business with "YOU."

I have a hard time believing that your MLS software is not giving you the ability to send properties with your clients search parameters. It is. Your clients are not asking for a thumbnail one line grid with certain fields displaying. I've never had that request in 7 years. It's crazy for a customer to even know what that is.

I send them a variety of reports (multi line with pics/ summary/details)about the same property in Rap from a hotsheet based on the criteria my customer wanted. I can do the same thing a little differenty in Tempo too. It's simple. I see the disconnect. Your trying to create all these views, which gets confusing. I run a hotsheet, look at the display/view (more than 1 to choose from), and run multiple reports for my customer(s). They have never complained, if anything they are completely satisfied. And I'm not sitting on the computer trying to figure our a column manager.

So go out create your hotsheet for the customer that wants a McMansion in SW VA, with a furnished basement the size of the Virginia Tech football field, with a Frank Beamer Statue in the front lawn.

I'm going to Starbucks to buy a $5 latte, a $3 scone and a $2 paper. I refuse to change, I like the velvet lounge chairs and the trendy music.

PS. that's like a quarter of my mls fees for the month. It's amazing that the we complain about inexpensive software that from the looks of things does everything. Or in your case everything except for a thumnail one line grid, which I call a Multi Line with Pictures View.

You missed my point on the photos on the hotsheet. If that were indeed the only thing that is missing, then I would not have reason to be so upset.

The thumbnail photos are but one issue. There are so many more features that are lacking in RAP. In a 'training' session with members here, the president of Rapattoni admitted that his program was designed for the 'typical profile' of an agent - and he defined this as being a 50-55 year old female with few computer skills. He said this in front of a group of around 100 upset members. He also admitted that they do not use the most up-to-date search technology. You can keep Rap and be happy. I really don't care. Your clients won't know any better either. I do know better. My hope and goal of responding here at all is that anyone considering a new MLS program will consider the MLS customer satisfaction surveys and possibly poll some of the boards (the actual members who USE the systems) for comments.

We have a petition of most of the members here going to the board to get this changed. Some members of our board had never even seen RAP when they were called to vote for it. Many on the MLS committee were not in support for RAP. If the members had been asked to comment, we would never have had Rapattoni at all. Lots of politics going on here. Once you have had a great system, going backwards is not good. I am not alone here in finding RAP far inferior. Go enjoy your latte. I am writing these notes while waiting on the slow up-loading of photos on my listings.

Great Conversation Starter Sharon,

As you can see from the comments, there are a variety of MLS solutions available ranging from Rapattoni to FBS to Marketlinx to Fidelity to Tarasoft and more.

No system is right for every mls. The important goal of vendor selection is choosing a system that reflects the needs of the membership.

Here is the WAV Group Vendor Selection Process

1. Member Survey

2. Needs Analysis

3. System Comparison and trial

4. Gap Analysis

5. Request for Proposal

6. Proposal review and Selection

We have not seen a "BAD" MLS system with more than 10 markets deployed. They are all good. Understanding which is "Best" for your membership must come from member research.

4 MLS systems in 11 years is absurd, and very disruptive to MLS end users. There should be a significant business problem that you are solving by switching vendors and forcing them to learn a new system.

As the owner of a MLS company, I watched many boards struggle with the decision to change MLS vendors. For too many, the struggle continued after the decision was reached and the new system was installed because of one simple factor: they simply made the wrong choice. Now, as the AE of a 3000 member board, I am now on the other side of the fence...and I am expected to lead our board to make the right choice. What an exciting adventure this is going to be!

I believe all of the posts about training to be entirely true, for many, many reasons.. The posts about the unhappy choices simply confirm my earlier statement. The question is how was the wrong vendor chosen. My personal experience suggests these general statements:

1.The smaller the board, the less time it will devote to the whole matter and the more likely it will be influenced by the quality of the MLS salesperson (and his/her presentation).

2. The more persuasive a prominent board member is in his assessment of which system is "best", the more likely the wrong system will be chosen.

3. Too many boards don't understand what their members really want or need, because they never asked them.

We are going to try a different process in evaluating MLS vendors. If you would like to see our approach, just email me and I can give you our general outline and keep you updated on our progress. One hint: we are firm believers in Saul Klein's vision.

Finally, having been given the opportunity to view upcoming betas of several major vendors, you will want to see them in action before you make any decision. The world of MLS (programs) is about to rock again, just like it did when the first Windows products were released.

Douglas W. Kenny

Executive Director

North Carolina Mountains MLS

828-606-8131

Doug,

Tell us more about how the MLS world is going to be rocked in the
coming months! We're very interested in your vision.

Marilyn Wilson

I just wanted to add one last comment to this thread concerning the progress of our MLS vendor change here in SW VA. Our board and AE chose to change MLS vendors pretty much on their own. This change went into effect this past April - even with a contract still in effect for the previous vendor. We (Brokers and members) petitioned and a majority requested further review into this change. At first, we were ignored but after hiring an attorney, we finally did get to have a general meeting. We had to hire an attorney to even get a copy of the by-laws and the budget. As of this week, we have voted in a new slate of officers to the board (we have not had an election in at least ten years!) and the first order of business will be to either return to our original MLS vendor (which most of us are hoping for) or do more research into another system. I highly recommend that any board and/or MLS considering a change in MLS vendors send unslanted and unbiased surveys to find out what the members want in their MLS system. I also advise them to check out as many customer satisfaction surveys as can be found as well as view actual features & workings of the programs. I also suggest an invitation to the members to see the final vendor choices so that they can have some input before the final decision. We have only 550 members here, but only a handful stood up for the new system - and this handful was made up of the BOD. We can now move forward instead of backward. This is our 4th vendor in ten years.