For the last few months, our MLS, the Greater Northwoods Multiple Listing Service, has been embroiled in a controversy over the relative merits of two vendors of data storage and MLS software. This controversy has been a huge distraction for everyone and many of us have been concerned about whether we would be able to continue to serve our customers and clients in the manner that they have every right to expect.
The short version of the story is that a number of individuals in our association wanted to change vendors, and a number of others wished to remain with what we had (have). The individuals in favor of change prevailed, and we started using the new system at the end of February, while never discontinuing use of the old system. I hope I won’t offend anyone, and I don’t mean to be melodramatic, but the new system is an abomination. People were so upset that the notion of a revolt in the form of creating an alternative MLS was bandied around. This was and is not a good idea if we want to do the best job possible for our clients and customers – some may consider this a radical notion in itself, but I suggest that doing the best possible job should be our primary objective at all times. In light of this, I am happy to report that some sort of compromise has been reached that will keep our association together and will allow everyone to service their clients and customers as they see fit.
What I am not happy to report is that now we will apparently continue using both MLS systems and all data will have to be entered into both systems, and all of us agents will be paying for two systems every month. A little pain for everyone, but everyone also gets to use the system they prefer – a fair trade-off?
What does all this mean to my clients and customers? Well, it is my hope that it has absolutely no impact on them. Folks using the MLS search feature of my website have been and will continue to use links that will take them to our old vendor of data, which is the best choice of the two systems for this purpose. My buyer prospects will receive listings from both systems – last February when I switched a number of prospects to the new system (we were told that the old system was going off-line in the near future), I left a number of prospects with Private Client Services of the old system as the Prospect Manager service of the new system didn’t seem to be a good fit for them. So now I have people scattered to and fro, but that is my problem to deal with.
Enough whining for one day. Time for the latest installment in my series, Photos I Find Interesting Even Though You May Not.
I am sure that there is an interesting story here and I wish I knew what it is. I am trying to conjure up a scenario in which that much damage could be done to a tractor, yet the cab is not smashed. As an ex-farmer, I find it interesting even though you may not.