Webinar: Are Competitors Eating your Lunch?

Beat them to it with faster listing updates.

Direct to portals, syndication platforms, virtual tour companies, online marketing products…the options for brokers to distribute listings seem endless. They all offer varying features, benefits and service levels, making it hard to determine what will give their businesses a competitive edge. Many brokers are at the mercy of agents using services that distribute listings without their knowledge; creating inaccuracies and liabilities, and eroding their brands.

MLSs are in the unique position to offer brokers unmatched listing distribution services through strong data licensing agreements. A key benefit that only MLSs can offer is faster listing updates. It is critical to shorten the time lapsed between the most recent MLS update and consumers seeing it online. Why? Because speed to market determines listing freshness, and fresh listings generate better leads. When listings are not delivered and updated quickly, the risk of error increases along with the liability for inaccuracies, loss of quality leads and negative customer experiences that harm your members’ brands. Moreover, 50% of consumers conduct their home searches via mobile devices and expect immediate notifications when listings hit the market. This makes speed more of a requirement than a benefit.

As technology savvy brokerages improve the speed of their listings to capture leads first, traditional brokerages are increasingly turning to their MLSs to help them compete. The urgency to get listings in front of consumers first and the threat of syndication platforms controlling publisher choices, presents MLSs with the opportunity to regain control of data distribution. The path to achieving this, increasing speed to market, and driving more value for members is an MLS-direct feed.

Join us for this panel discussion moderated by Marilyn Wilson to hear the perspectives of 4 industry experts with over 70 years of combined experience in a wide variety of roles.

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Time: 10-11:00 am Pacific, 1-2:00 pm Eastern

Meet the panelists:

Kipp Cooper, CEO of The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors and the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service

Kipp Cooper is the CEO of The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR) and the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service (NALMLS), a regional MLS servicing 3,000 real estate professionals in a 9 county area, and a leading innovator in MLS Direct Syndication. Under Kipp’s leadership, the association has achieved national recognition for its MLS Direct Syndication model. Kipp is a recognized leader in the real estate industry and has been named a Forty under 40 business leader in both New Hampshire and Nevada. He was most recently recognized as one of the most powerful and influential people in residential real estate for 20014/2015 in the Swanepoel Power 200 report.

Since joining HAAR/NALMLS in 2012, Kipp has played a key role in reshaping the way MLS’s look at syndication and developed a model that provides a win-win for the listing agent, the MLS, and the national portals. This model assures accountability and accurate data on all of the major real estate search sites and provides prominent display, link-backs and free leads to listing agents in exchange. Through these agreements NALMLS has dramatically improved listing accuracy on portals in its marketplace and provided tens of thousands of free leads to its members each year as a result.

Prior to his role as CEO of HAAR, Kipp was the founding partner of Nevada’s largest energy efficiency company and training School, Nevada Energy Audit; he served as the Director of Government Affairs for both the Las Vegas and New Hampshire Associations of Realtors; and served as a state legislator in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Kipp earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Emerson College and holds the National Association of REALTORS® Designation of Realtor Certified Executive.

Dave Garland, Manager for Rainmakers Consulting Group and Principal at Pacific States Capital

Dave Garland invests heavily in the intersection of technology and real estate.  He is a manager for Rainmakers Consulting Group and principal at Pacific States Capital, where he pairs his passion for innovation with an essentialist leadership style that values collaboration, clarity and creativity. In over 14 years of entrepreneurship, he has established, led and managed advisory, technology and investment firms, each dedicated to the pursuit of increased yield to stakeholders.

In addition to advising top global residential and commercial real estate organizations on everything from marketing and communications to IT and corporate finance, Garland has acquired and managed national investment-grade real estate portfolios, and has developed several mixed-use, commercial and residential properties totaling over a quarter billion dollars in market value.  Garland is a Licensed Real Estate Broker, Certified Construction Specialist, member of the Urban Land Institute and sits on the board of directors at Sustainable Land Development International and real estate technology startups in the Silicon Valley.

Alon Chaver, VP of Industry Services, Trulia

As Vice President of Industry Services, Alon is responsible for the strategy and direction of Trulia’s Broker, MLS and Data quality teams. He also leads Trulia’s efforts to build new services for Brokers and MLSs, expand data quality initiatives and strengthen partnerships with Brokers and MLSs to empower their agents and members with the tools they need to grow their businesses. Alon has extensive experience in real estate, data management and online real estate products. Prior to joining Trulia, Alon was the CEO of iHomefinder, a premium IDX technology provider that grew to be a trusted partner under Alon’s leadership, serving over 1,500 brokerages, thousands of agents in hundreds of MLSs, over 250 technology vendors, local Associations of Realtors and leading regional MLSs.

Alon received his B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) and J.D. from U.C. Berkeley.When Alon isn’t working he spends time with his family, and pursues his life-long passion for gardening. He is also an avid yoga practitioner, mountain biker, hiker, and backpacker.

John Whitney, Director of MLS Business Development, Trulia

John has served the real estate industry for over 20 years in MLS and Association Executive positions and as a vendor representative for real estate technology companies. John was directly involved in early Internet display issues that led to the creation of IDX policy and has been closely involved with all aspects of listing syndication and consumer listing display.

John’s background has led him to his current role as Director of MLS Business Development for Trulia, working to strengthen partnership with the organized real estate community. John comes from a real estate family and currently resides in Northern California with his wife and three daughters.