MLS PIN Connecting New England Real Estate Professionals
 
10 CandlesMLS PIN Subscriber Update
November 4, 2008
 
As always, we are working continuously to bring quality services to your every day business needs.  Let me take this time to bring you up to speed on all that we have been doing this fall season to provide you with the best services possible during this challenging market time. 
 
New Corporate Website

We recently launched our redesigned corporate website at www.mlspin.com to provide you with easier navigation, valuable information, online forms, sales flyers, and more.  Look for new features such as company snapshot, technical tips, and current news.  The new site can also be your direct login to H3MLS and Account Services.  We are excited about the fresh new look, and eager to bring that same look and feel to our next generation MLS product.

 
Mobile Solution and Expanded Mapping on the Horizon
Business Man Using a PDAWe have been busy working on exciting new features and products that you have requested and that we will roll into H3MLS very soon.  A big request from many of you was expanded mapping capabilities, and another is an H3 Mobile Solution.  We will be giving you a preview of our next generation mapping feature shortly.  This will be a beta version only and will provide you with an opportunity to select several properties from search results and to view them on a map.    We anticipate our new H3 Mobile Solution will also be available by the end of the year. 
 
We have brought together a talented development team that is dedicated to bringing our next generation product to you.  Our goal is to bring many of the new features and functionality of this next version of our MLS system to the current H3 system first.  This will give you the familiarity of the bells and whistles of our next system, even if it is basic functionality, with the intent to enhance them later.  Our next MLS system will have so much to offer and is due for release in 2009.  
 
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Man Filling Out SurveyLast week, we sent out a Customer Satisfaction Survey to all of our customers via email from MLS PIN News.  Our response rate has been wonderful, and we look forward to implementing the feedback that we have received from you.  The intent of our survey is to improve our services and products, as we move forward.  The survey will close soon, so if you have not taken it yet, please do so.  Your feedback is important to us, and we thank all of you for taking the time to participate.
 
Rules and Regulations
You should be aware of two recent changes to our Rules and Regulations.    First, licensed brokers can now list real estate auctions in H3MLS.  This was previously restricted to licensed auctioneers.  However, we have been informed that licensed brokers (not agents) may sell real estate at auction without the requirement of an auctioneer's license. 

The second change is related to the display of listing data on your IDX, or public access website.  Previously, you were prohibited from displaying the address on your website unless the consumer registered.   You are now able to display the property address on the public-facing side of your website without requiring login or registration.  This change was made to allow our customers the choice to provide additional information to consumers. 

If you have any questions with regard to these updates, please contact John Breault, Director of Customer Support at [email protected] 800-695-3000 ext. 7106.
 
Listing Syndication
Marketing Partner LogosWe are continually working to bring you more options for listing syndication and additional marketing exposure of your listings both locally and nationally.  We are pleased to announce the addition of HGTV's FrontDoor.com, Yahoo Real Estate, ZIPVO, and MarketMyProperty.com to your third-party listing transfers in H3MLS.  Look for more marketing partners coming soon including The New York Times.
 
Please note that Trulia is now supporting MLS PIN mobile homes.  FrontDoor.com and The Gallery of Homes have added open house data to the listing data they will post for MLS PIN customers, and MarketMyProperty.com posts commercial listings to their site. 
 
If you are a broker and would like assistance with opting-in to have your office listings appear on FrontDoor.com, Yahoo, ZIPVO, MyAgentBook.com, or any of the many other listing transfer options available to you free of charge through MLS PIN, please contact our technical support department at 800-695-3000 option 2 or visit our 3rd Party Listing Transfers page on our corporate website for step-by-step instructions. Remember that only the broker of each office has the ability to make a transfer of office listings to any third party using their own id number. 
 
Nation's First GPS Mobile MLS Service
Available to MLS PIN Customers

In order to celebrate the launch of Clutch Agent in New England, RealtyKast is offering free Blackberry Smart Phones to all MLS PIN customers who sign on for their service.  Clutch Agent is a feature-rich, user-friendly service that resides on the deck of your Blackberry and remains updated with the MLS listings closest to your exact location.  If you change your location, then the listings dynamically change as your location changes.  You can also look up by buyer preference. 
 
Clutch Agent also provides a nationwide business directory. Agents can browse for the closest businesses in a particular category or simply type a specific name such as Staples into the business directory.  The smart phone not only displays all Staples near the user, it also supplies step-by-step directions with just a few clicks, enabling the equivalent of yellowpages.com, 411connect, and MapQuest all wrapped up in one product. 
 
Please note that if you already have a Blackberry Pearl or Curve series, it must have GPS in order to benefit from the GPS portion of the service.  Clutch Agent works on all major networks with the exception of Verizon, however, they are currently negotiating with this provider.  Clutch Agent offers speed, practical functionality, and ease of use.  The services are only $4.99 per month during this special limited time offer to MLS PIN customers.  To receive your free Blackberry '"Curve" or "Pearl" or to receive more information about Clutch Agent, go to the RealtyKast website at www.realtykast.com today. 
 
Account Representatives
Training SessionRemember that MLS PIN has regional account representatives available for office training or one-on-one assistance.  Our representatives offer professional and experienced instruction on H3MLS or other MLS PIN-related topics.  Look for our team at your local association events, as well.  For more information, please check out the account representative page on our corporate website.  Any trade shows that our staff will attend are also posted on our corporate site under upcoming events.
 
Economic Market Watch Report
NAR has informed us that there will be a slight delay in their process of analyzing our data and making our Third Quarter Market Watch Report available.  They apologize for the unexpected delay and hope to have the report delivered to MLS PIN prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.  We know that many of our customers look forward to this market analysis tool, and it is our intent to post the report on our website as soon as it arrives.  We thank you all for your patience. 
 
Showing Cancellations
We have received feedback from our customers that there have been many cancelled or changed showing appointments without prior notification to the other agent and/or their sellers.  If you have to cancel or change the time of a showing, please be sure to communicate this by calling MAPASS or the agent's office directly. 
 
Autumn Leaves BorderI wish each and every one of you a successful autumn season, and a happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Best Wishes,
Kathy Condon
Kathy Condon
President/CEO
MLS Property Information Network, Inc.
Most Recent Changes
to H3MLS
Most Recent Changes to
MLS PIN Rules and Regulations
MLS Property Information Network, Inc.
800-695-3000
Connecting New England Real Estate Professionals