Okay, since Ol' Number Five doesn't want to HIJACK any threads, let me propose this question here:
What would happen if MLS was done away with?
M
I almost proposed anarchy to our MLS task force. We are looking at MLS software providers because ours was created by the caveman from the Geico commercials. I came so close to just telling them we should get rid of the MLS entirely and everyone get a P2 website, then we can all just do the handshake and stay in our own little world. It could work, you know.
Oh yeah, there are always alternatives. Any entity that thinks it can't be replaced is delusional.
Mark Firmer is up to no good again! Next you will want to do away with the NAR and RPAC. Is nothing sacred to you conservatives?
My first thought is that the franchises with the most in-house listings on their company web sites would still be able to market a good number of properties to consumers. Even if it was only their own properties.
The smaller Mom & Pop brokerages would have a hard time keeping visitors on their web sites with only a few listings, if the bigger companies didn't want to share.
Perhaps that would lead to smaller brokers teaming up with one another or simply joining one of the larger firms so that they would have access to more inventory to display to visitors to their respective web sites.
The big get bigger and essentially have thier own BLS - Broker Listing Service.
No MLS?
I've worked in three different MLS systems.What troubles me is the financially punitive nature of the MLS in Central Coastal Florida.In New Jersey I had access to data in three states,for a flat annual fee.The system was easier to use and supplied peripherals that facillitated business.I find the local self rule systems functionally obsolete.m I always thought the purpose of the system was to facillitate Realtors in customer service, in other words" to do our jobs".It seems the local MLS exist to fund local boards.
There are better ways.I of course was told when I arrived here," We don't care how you did it up north"Well I've been here awhile,and maybe we should care how they do it up north,south,west or wherever.Arrogance doesn't help,it just causes needless obstacles.
P2 would take over the world - NLS! (But, they would never raise their rates again to present customers - LOL)
Or some such, no doubt. Perhaps several. Perhaps a whole competitive mish-mash. Raise prices? Pehaps not.
We have no MLS east of Billings, MT
Are there any houses east of Billings, Mt.?
Like I said before, I have to be in two MLS's in Atlanta, and in the words of Hank Hill, "I tell ya what" they soak me in fees! One monthly and the other per transaction! I wouldn't mind seeing them go at all! At least one of them anyway!
Of course Boomhaur would advise me, "manyoubettergetyurdoggoneselfoutathatsituationinahurryman".
Seriously though, at least they do keep the listing data pretty well up to date. I am very concerned that there is no one to monitor the accuracy of the listing status of listings in the "NLS".
Yes, Lucia, your concerns about NLS are legitimate, but, what if....
I too am in Atlanta and have to belong to both. GAMLS is a flat monthly fee. Last time I checked it was $17.00 per month. FMLS is .0012% of sales price once you close. It is a crime. Info is current and they have great technical support. Now if I had thought of this and was making money on the program I would never question the cost.
I would have to stand on a street corner in a trench coat and flash passersrby with pictures of my listings.
Realtor, Columbus Ga
Klaus, I love your sense of humor!
Klaus, thanks for the visual. Dinner will be delayed, if it happens at all.
LOL!
I think I'm curious as to what those Atlanta MLS fees include. Is it just the MLS database? My local "MLS" is not just the database. It includes dues for MA Assoc. of Realtors as well as NAR. We also get a lot of continuing ed at a discount or for free. They also link and auto fill listings directly from town & tax records saving me a lot of time. Not everything is auto filled but I don't have to do the research on taxes, registry info, etc.
I know I don't take advantage of even half of what they offer but it's available. I do take advantage of them more, though, than my national affiliate's opportunities and that costs me more than MLS.
I'd also worry about the independents and not being able to share listings as we do now.
We could always go back to the days when listings were posted on the wall at the barber shop :)
I would like a moderator to tell me why some threads, every once in a while, run into the right hand side and are frutrating to read.
Excuse me, -- frustrating!!!!!
It almost seems intentional since I can read other threads just fine. Curious as hell.
Sorry for screwing up your thread again, just wanted to show up what will do it.
Same thing if someone types in a really long URL, it will do the same thing.
I've heard old stories of such things as "listing books" in each office ... please, let's not go back there ... don't make me juggle around more papers than I already have to! ... let me keep my MLS, no matter how unhappy it sometimes makes me!
You didn't screw up my thread, Becky. I was just grouchy yesterday.
I'm chillin' today.
Michaela, I think MLS is safely entrenched for another ten years or so.
I like what-if scenarios - it helps me sort out pros and cons.
Well I had another post just above that last one I made showing you what would make it be messed up.
It's gone now, so they must have deleted it maybe before you saw it.
Hmmm. They must have. I didn't delete it.
Gloria said: "Last time I checked it was $17.00 per month. FMLS is .0012% of sales price once you close. It is a crime."
You are darn right! That sounds criminal! Average sales prices (in Portland, OR) are $300,000. So that would mean the FMLS would get $360?! That is absurd!
And here, I've been cryin' about OUR MLS costs!
In Portland, it's around $35/month per agent, I think. As the owner and broker here, I have to pay $100 for the company. (Initially it's $500 for a company to join the MLS)....
In Salem, Oregon, with their very small and much weaker website, the MLS (WVMLS) costs a company $2,000 to join (WTH?!), then $45/month for each agent....and $30/month for each office.
I think I'm in the wrong business!
What I don't like and where I do believe change should occur, is that here, the Realtors' association (Portland Metro Assoc of Realtors’ - PMAR), OWNS the MLS. So, PMAR charges me dues, and sells me class credits so I can keep my license. Then the Portland MLS charges me, above, plus my Supra key.
Many times when I call with an issue/complaint, the standard answer is, "Oh that's not us (PMAR). You have to call MLS." So I'll call MLS, who will say the reverse!
Or they'll both deny responsibility and tell me to call the State RE agency....who will then direct me back to PMAR!
Fun fun!!!!
"Easy to get along with Phil"