#6 - Getting Connected to the Other Real Estate Sites
- by Chas. Campbell

This week, lets talk about getting connected to big real estate databases like Realtor.Com, HomeAdvisor.com, Cyberhomes, etc.

First of all, realize that most of this stuff is political. There is a great debate and big money is at stake. Microsoft's "HomeAdvisor" has just entered the battle, and so not only are we facing decisions about the nature of "MLS" within our industry, but the Internet is allowing outsiders, such as MS and Yahoo, to directly challenge the established real estate structure.

So while all this is going on, what do you do to get business now and help assure yourself a future in the Real Estate Transaction?

The local Associations and Regional MLS actually "originate" the data. So far, they control it and then contract/license the data to other sources such as PioneerPlanet, Realtor.Com, Cyberhomes, Etc. Depending on their contracts with these other sources, agent web and e-mail links are "passed along." For example, Microsoft is providing FREE links to your web and e-mail addresses on HomeAdvisor.com. Realtor.com does NOT provide the free link, in fact they charge you for an entire web page setup even if you only wanted a link (Approx $300/year)

What this means to you is that #1 on your list is to see that your local Assn. or MLS has your CORRECT web and e-mail addresses in their database. Call your Assn. (Check out their web site?) and see how this is done. This should not cost anything or else be a small filing fee.

As competition between these large national RE databases continues, I am hopeful that the "market" will help to LOWER prices for links to these databases. Be a GOOD CONSUMER and complain if you are forced to pay high prices to be linked to YOUR OWN data and listings. As an example, Cyberhomes was charging $89.95 for just a Link for e-mail & web addresses, but when Burnet Realty signed on with Cyberhomes, they were able to negotiate a lower link rate of $12 for Burnet agents (This indicates the potential profits to these outfits..)

What about Realtor.com? Even though there are serious drawbacks with the setup of R.com, I still have to say that we need to "rally round the flag" and support NAR, considering the alternatives over the horizon. Unfortunately, at present, it seems that it will cost you $300+ a year to do this. Oh well, sign up, pay the money, and then try to make changes through channels.

Realtor.com is, and probably will be, the #1 RE listing site in the country. They have launched a national media campaign and have strategically positioned themselves inside of huge national "portals" such as AOL, Info-seek, Lycos, and Web-Crawler. So it's important to both be listed on R.com as well as have your listings point to your PERSONAL web site.

As far as the "other" listing databases such as Cyberhomes, I would recommend you act according to your budget and your ability to negotiate a good price to be linked to them. Each of them represents another potential source of "hits," but you should consider the number of active listings you carry and also how well known the site is before spending lots of extra money. Some of the newspaper and homes magazine sites provide links for free since you are already purchasing the print ads from them - but they need to know that you're on-line! And if they do want to charge you, remind them of how much you spend with them in print ads....

So make a review of the large RE databases around and see if you're listed there. If not, check into the pricing and be a smart consumer.

All roads should lead to Rome - Visitors should always be able to find your LOCAL Web Pages from the NATIONAL databases.