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Real Estate News and Advice |
December 1, 2008 |
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 Tennessee MLS Flies with a 'Net
by Blanche Evans
In 1996, after 25 years with the same MLS vendor, Interealty, the Middle Tennessee Regional MLS (MTMLS) decided to go a new direction. The problem was that there wasn't an MLS vendor who had a product that was compatible with the organization's vision - on-line transaction management, much less one who could handle a conversion of approximately 7,000 users covering three states and 38 counties. Stuart White, president and COO of MTMLS, knew there was only other way - create a new system. Not many MLSs are willing to design their own system unless it is proprietary. But that is exactly what White and his six co-board members didn't want. White wanted open architecture - system that would be open to other service providers related to the real estate transaction. These companies would each have a role in putting the agents and brokers at the center of the real estate transaction. But not one vendor could do it, except one, and Marketlinx wasn't even in the running. Hired by the MTMLS to create transaction management software, Marketlinx got the MLS database design contract by default - in the right place at the right time. Phil Graves and White decided to create the MLS database together and put in on an open architecture system - a browser/server system. "At the same time we started to look at new systems we also looked at what the MLS is and what it should be doing," says White. We decided it should be assisting agents on the transaction side." "We could not find a vendor who could deliver an MLS system that could interface with a transaction management system. We needed a core system with open architecture. All legacy system databases are proprietary and we didn't want that. You can't use the data for anything else without major programming costs and problems." "We hired Marketlinx to create the transaction management software, and then had them do the MLS database, too." RealTracs is the name of the system installed by Marketlinx for the MTMLS, and the software is called Tempo. "We had 100 beta testers up until August of 1997 to see how the browser/server and software would work and to give input on the design. Realtors really designed the program." "Our goal was to increase functionality," explains White. "For the same cost as the Interealty system, about $34.18 a month, we have added Internet access and e-mail for 100 percent of our users." Over 100 beta testers worked with the emerging program for over six months before MTRMLS changed over. The conversion had some problems, but they were more related to the Windows application than anything else. "We had three rough months from January to March last year. The database manipulation wasn't typical browser work. There are questions that we have had to ask Microsoft that they couldn't answer. Marketlinx brought in the people to address the problems." Was the vendor to blame? "They (Marketlinx) were absolutely the most right-minded vendor I have ever seen. Their goal is to have a really good system. We had never had that experience before. It was really pleasant," confirms White. A year later, the program can integrate services from outside parties, which is the first step toward broker/agent controlled transaction management. "We look at what Realtors spend time doing. And, advertising is a big piece of that," explains White. "We are creating this advertising module to interface with vendors such as Kinko's and advertising partners such as newspapers and home magazines." "Our agents can basically input data on time and share it with these service providers," says White. "This morning we met with Kinko's to create a two-hour turnaround for flyers, postcards, or any printed media that our agents can send to them on-line." "We've added a platt mapping service for our agents," adds White. "You can click on the hyperlink and you have instant access to platt maps, property and tax assessors information." How have agents taken to the system? MTRMLS handles all its communications via e-mail. Forms, newsletters, news and other communications are all delivered on-line only. "Our e-mail usage has skyrocketed. We had 164,000 messages a month in August of '98 and now we have over 320,000," says White. Although White admits saving costs wasn't the goal of the system conversion, the result has been an easy system for agents to adopt and use. With a browser on their computers, they save the cost of proprietary software and training to use the software. Other training issues such as converting from a DOS-based system to a Windows-based system were unavoidable. "We would have had the same issues with any other vendor teaching people to use the Windows interface." Any regrets? None, says White. Any tips for other MLSs looking for a new data management system? "They need to stop running MLSs by committee. They need to make quick decisions and implement them quickly. The MLS needs to be run like a business," advises White. MLSs also need to understand functionality for the agent, says White. "There are basically people who design Web pages and those who design databases. Typically, Web designers aren't database people. That is what sets Marketlinx apart. You can't integrate Web design and database management unless you have a excellent integrator of technology. The only one we've found that meets that criteria is Marketlinx." Click here for more MLS Issues Published: March 31, 1999 Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws. 
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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment.
