Interactive
September 2, 1999

Response To: Why Aren't Listings Posted Instantly to the Internet? (Blanche Evans - 09/02/1999)
Main Topic:

Why Aren't Listings Posted Instantly to the Internet?


Prompt Updates Are Key to Internet Success
Posted By: - 09/02/1999 03:06 PM

Bravo

CyberHomes is in complete agreement, and has been from the start. From day one, we recognized that the agent, the broker, and the consumer can only be served effectively by providing current listing information. The ability for agents and brokers to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity to connect with interested homebuyers via the internet is lost if the consumer feels that they've been led astray by inaccurrate, outdated information. In addition, the seller recognizes the added value that the agent brings by marketing their home on line. I'm confident that long delays in the appearance of a seller's listing on some sites has given rise to much discontent.

Our MLS partners, our audience and our advertisers all agree that quality and timely updates are the responsibility of the publisher. CyberHomes has always maintained that the MLS is the central party to the aggregation, maintenance and dissemination of listing data. Its what they do. To that end, we only serve markets provided for by MLS partners via our license agreements, and not manual entry, individual office feeds, or biweekly print publications. These manual processes are unreliable and do not result in daily updated coverage.

When you combine quality with local promotion you have a publication that works. In the last six months we have launched 28 new MLS's, and several large advertisers. Last month it was Albuquerque (SWMLS), next week its Houston (HAR), the week after that Lincoln, NE (Midlands MLS).

At CyberHomes we continue to pay attention to the quality and local promotion of our partner's markets, and less to the numbers and hype of someone else's "national market". In this discussion, "quality" translates into daily updates. It's the right way to run our business, so we insist on it. Our audience, our content partners, and our advertisers are the reasons why.