MSN HomeAdvisor starts 1999 off with a data aggregation deal struck with HomeSeekers.com Inc. that's going to simplify life for HomeAdvisor and is "a home run" for HomeSeekers.com.

Listings from HomeSeekers will be shared with HomeAdvisor when the content provider has a licensing agreement with HomeAdvisor. The deal adds thousands of new listings to the HomeAdvisor site while providing HomeSeekers' customers with unprecedented exposure to millions of consumers throughout the MSN Network.

Another advantage -- those who already have listings with HomeSeekers can "go live" with HomeAdvisor almost instantly.

"All the listings with HomeAdvisor will have a pipeline to HomeSeekers," said Ian Morris, group product manager for HomeAdvisor. "HomeSeekers on a national level is what MLSs are on a local level."

Morris said while the deal with HomeSeekers is a tactical change, it is not a change in strategy. HomeAdvisor's model already allowed for use of a third party for data aggregation.

"Neither will have exclusive listings," Morris said. "The market has spoken loud and clear on that issue. It's not in anybody's best interest."

Morris said basically HomeAdvisor has grown so fast in it's first six months they can't keep up with all the listings they get, so they selected HomeSeekers because of their three-years' experience, system set up and overall quality.

"We have half the listings in the United States -- frankly we've come farther than expected faster than expected," he said. "We're going to continue on course by adding value for Realtors® and real estate brokers and consumers."

"HomeSeekers.com is a leading aggregator of property data on the Internet and this agreement will enable their customers to maximize their exposure by adding HomeAdvisor to their marketing toolkit, all at no additional cost," Morris said. "It frees us up to get out there and make more deals for listings -- we can focus on getting agreements signed and getting them up online."

HomeSeekers gains from the enormous presence on the Web of the MSN Network of Online Services.

"(It) regularly attracts more than 40% of Internet users each month," said Greg Johnson, CEO of HomeSeekers.com. "That means millions of new potential home buyers will have access to our partners' home listings."

HomeAdvisor has also signed extensive advertising and distribution deals with portals and destinations like Yahoo!, GeoCities, Pathfinder and Switchboard.

"The best Internet strategy for any real estate company is to have their listings on as many sites and locations as possible," said Richard Filip, chief operating officer of RE/MAX Texas. "With this agreement, both brokers and MLSs can quickly get their listings up on two of the most popular, innovative real estate sites available today. It will lead to more leads and more homes sold for RE/MAX brokers and agents."

Published: January 5, 1999

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