I would immediately block those handshakes.  I agree a flagging procedure should be created.  

I don’t flag I just block prior to my accepting a handshake I look at how many approved them and how many blocked them as a ratio to approve them

I agree with your frustration but don’t gear it towards point 2 homes rather against where it belongs and over here in nyc brokers on mls are just as awkward  however this is why we who are staying updated are more successful

by the way jack i trademarked the name jack so change yours now now i mean now!!!

I had the same problem.  I had someone contact me about a listing that was on my site.  When I pulled it up in the MLS, it had been withdrawn out of the MLS for a couple of months and the agent never bothered to change the status of the listing on her site.

And another time, I had someone inquire about a listing from my handshakes.  I tried locating it in the MLS and it wasn't in there.  I called the agent who's site it was on in Point2 and she didn't have any idea what listing I was talking about.  She didn't even know what website I was talking about.  After talking to about 3 different people in the office, no one seemed to know anything about the listing or how it ended up on that site or who's listing it was!  

OUCH!  That's not good at all.  Hopefully some of the March changes will reduce the chances of this happening.  In the meantime, perhaps we can put our collective heads together and come up with some workable solutions just in case the powers at P2 haven't.  

I had the same problem.  I emailed the agent asking them to remove the listing.  It would take forever to maintain all the listings on our sites.  I don't know how we can avoid these situations.  There will always be agents who are not going to care about keeping listings up to date.  

Sometimes the handshake thing is more trouble than it's worth.

    I am in tune with the frustration as I have had similar circumstances. It is unfortunate that at this time we must constantly monitor what content is on our sites. I was thrilled when Point2 began not allowing listings with contact info to be displayed in Handshakes. I am not 100% that a 3 strikes your out policy is good unless Point2 monitored this. Right now my concerns are with marketing in the pics now. Most agents are doing it inadvertently, but there are always a few who do it intentionally. I am a Re/Max agent and I don't want consumers coming to my site and seeing listings with another brokerage sign in the yard.

    Bottom line, Point2 is not perfect. I do carry a strong confidence that they constantly work on and address these issues.

Russell -

I understand where you are coming from and that is the main reason that I took extra time to check all the listings that appeared on my site after I signed up and entered into handshake agreements.

When I first joined, I blindly approved everyone. Then one day I was looking at the listings of a a well known agent (professional P2 member) in my area and found a listing that was for sale last year. I knew that the home was sold because I showed the home but my client bought the home down the street instead.  Afterwards, I found a number of others that were sold, expired or withdrawn as well.  I decided to keep the agent(s) approved but block the listings instead.

I do like the handshake feature of P2, but I have yet to find an easy way that allows me to monitor the listings other than to check each one against the MLS.  Perhaps the handshake agreements should be for a limited time of your choice (listings appear for 30, 60, 90 days and then you are alerted at which time you can check the status and renew the handshake).  

Far too many members, both standard and professional, do not update their websites.  I don't care if they choose to leave an expired, or sold listing on their site but I don't want it on mine.

Hello Russell,

Just out of curiousity, how many of the 7 listings that were not available for showings were on the Point2 Standard site, Vs. Professional and Premium sites?

Secondly, can/does Point2 offer a required "MLS Expiration Date" field when setting up the listings so that listings could be automatically deleted from the system when they hit that date?

Also, our MLS system has a "report inaccuracies" link that allows agents to notify both the listing agent and the MLS personel that there is an issue with their specific listing. Something like this would help.  

Finally, some type of disclosure up front on the listings page that "Some of properties that are listed here may not be able to be shown. Please contact (agent) for updates and to schedule showings of any properties of interest.

Jay Rogers - still accepting your referrals for the Charleston, SC area!

I know I am a new member here, and I throughly understand what everyone is talking about.  However, I have two schools of thought on this.  One is, Yes! they need some sort of incentive to keep their sites updated. Two, even tho I have only been in this business less than a year I totally understand how Agents can be so busy they "forget" to update their website.  Now, having said that... when Agents find they have gotten so busy they can't keep up with everything they do then it is time to hire an assistant, or involve a family member who can help.

I agree with Russell.  Please, please, please don't give this website a black eye.  I have already had my doubts and wondered whether or not if putting up a website here was a good idea or not.  I've even thought about going to a site where I would have to pay for it, then the only person I would have to blame would be myself.

Joyce

This just happened to me this week. I sent the agent an e-mail asking her if she had overlooked making the change in the system from active to sale pending.  Within 24-hours she responded she had, made the changes and we both moved on. Oversights happen.  If it were to happen again I might block her listing in the future.  But as we all know some agents are doing a lot worse things and getting away with it in our industry.

Andrew,

Perhaps I misunderstand your statement: "I was thrilled when Point2 began not allowing listings with contact info to be displayed in Handshakes."

Just want to make sure everyone understands that Point2 DOES NOT block any listings with contact info.... each agent must monitor this for themselves.  All Point2 has done is put up the "warning" that contact info MAY CAUSE OTHERS to block your listings.

Well we all know this isn't the fault of P2. This is a version of PICNIC (Problem In Chair Not in Computer), and the site is certainly not to blame. Yes, we are all very busy, but our listings are our product, so we need to take the time to keep our product presentable. If you agree to handshake with someone, let them know what is happening when they don't update their listing status, they probably haven't even given it a thought. Just drop them an email and let them know you are getting complaints from the public. Joyce, you made a good decision to sign up with P2 it is a big asset to my business and I am finding new things all the time I haven't found before......

I have also had a similar experience just the other day I was browsing the listings on my own site when one caught my eye. I had sold that listing and it had closed back in October 2006. This agent had 63 listings . I felt I had no choice but to block as probably more out of date than current.

Could point 2 easily add a required field in the listings as an expiration date? Or  set  a time frame where you would have to update or it would drop off Automatically?  I think that would eliminate some of the problems with stale listings. If it dropped off automatically maybe the agents who do not update their site would pay more attention.

It reflects on all of us as agents & professionals!

I had this same problem with my homes.com web site. Most of our clients believe that all homes found on our web sites are our listings and they get upset with us if something gets wrong.

I use to have easy to see disclaimer explaining that not all of the listings found on my site are my listings and under my control. I also use to tell them that some might be just sold so they need to call me ASAP before they fall in love with that particular home.

This kind of disclaimer did help many times.

I have had a similar experience happen to me.  Someone came to my website, saved six listings, and asked for feedback in the comments section.  I normally send them the Buyer Report from my MLS and comments followed by a phone call. I searched for the properties on MLS and several were sold; some even months past.  I gathered the similar search criteria, searched MLS, called her and mentioned that there were a few properties that may be of interest to her in the same areas with the similar criterias.  I tried to re-direct her to properties that were available.  My comment to her was that a few of the properties were no longer on the market.  I have started to block handshakes with expired listings as well.  It is a reflection of our own websites and we work too hard to maintain the standard of Point2Agent to have those who don't care for the system abuse of it's features and handshakes.  I won't necessarily agree with a banning system but the blocking of handshakes is the way.  Additionally, I would suggest you IDX your MLS links if you have any to display listings that are accurate and active.  

Diego Jaramillo

www.HoustonHeritage.com

Rick,

I think that is a suggestion worthy of P2's consideration. It may just solve the problem.

Rick's suggestion: "Or  set  a time frame where you would have to update or it would drop off Automatically?"

This same situation happens quite often when consumers inquire about listings they see on Realtor.com since R.com sees listings as either Active or Sold, nothing in between. I often get cleints asking about R.com listings that are under contract with no showings. That's not to say we can't do a better job here on P2, though.

Hi guys, I just wanted to chime in here and let you know that we are listening and doing!  Those of you who have been with us since the rollout of Handshake in 2003 will know that we have made many changes and improvements.  I personally promise you that 2007 will be the year of Handshake.  The raw data from your sites shows us that rich data attracts customers and creates leads for our members.   We understand the need to improve and build upon our Handshake platform.  I can tell you that people that abuse this platform, whether through neglect, laziness or greed will lose out.  The effects of rejection of their listings by Handshake and syndication partners will simply be too great to risk.  I intend to post/blog about his in much greater detail in the next week or two.  

Keep the ideas coming and thanks for participating!

Brendan King

COO Point2 Realty Solutions

Totally off the subject, But I was visiting Jack Stroups site and wanted to know how everyones feels regarding giving your buyer client part of your commision as a credit at closing? WOW sounds like a Ford or Chevy tactic ...to buy a customer..Thats why The Big 3 are in such dire straits...giving rebates instead of a great product!!..

Come on now, Lenn.  Doesn't your doctor pay you to come in for a check up?  Doesn't your attorney pay you to let him do your legal work?  Surely your accountant pays you to let him do your taxes?

No? Hmmmm.... come to think of it neither do mine.  I wonder what the difference is........

I have been posting and commenting on being selective about  handshake since reliberation started and many have poo poo'd my thoughts. Russell, thanks for pointing out the consequences of just approving anyone and everyone. I have suggested people take a look at their websites and see what their prospects are seeing. I have looked at some of the commenter's websites who thought approving everyone was the right thing to do, that we "owed" it to the seller. Their listings in many cases looked horrible, IMHO. One blogger accused me of being pompous and several other things. Well, of course I'm pompous, just not a pompous *ss.

Our websites give us the opportunity to present as good or bad a portal to the world as we care to make available. Mine is closely monitored and I think it looks really good and reflects who I am. Yours can be as well if you take the time and effort to make it so.

whiners all

a lead is a lead

when there are questions you have to answer, your leadership can shine

you can get sympathy by saying-" see  what I have to deal with?"

Enjoin your customer. Let them know this is a highly competitive business, with a lot of incompetance, however, luckily you are here to help! And a lull in updates shows that despite the press, busines is MOVING

have fun!

lenn stop picking on any of the jecks we stick together...

Karen -

You say: Let them know this is a highly competitive business, with a lot of incompetance, however, luckily you are here to help!

I don't need to remind the public that there is a lot of incompetance - they already know.  I think by allowing the bad information on my site just proves to them that I'm incompetent since I can't keep accurate information on MY website.

Since Brendan chimed in I'm going to add my two cents and hope he is still listening.  

I think that we should have a way to automatically approve certain levels of Point2 members like Premium, Professional, Standard, etc.

I gotta believe that those of us who are spending from $40-$120 per month are at least paying attention to our websites and are active participants.  I would love to just automatically approve Premium and Professional members.

Besides, it might benefit Point2.  As if the Standard agents saw that the only way they could be displayed on our sites was to upgrade to a paid version than maybe it would put some more money in Brendan's pocket!

Hope I didn't offend any of you standard members.  I realize there are some really good active standard members as well.  However, you have to admit that as a general group the Standard memberships are the ones that get neglected or forgotten cause it's so easy to set up a freebie.  I wasn't trying to pick on  you guys!