John Rees has offered another checklist for MLSs considering licensing data to RPR.
John's list of questions takes a decidedly more legal perspective than Mike Audet's (mentioned in yesterday's post). Taken together, these two posts identify most of the issues that MLSs considering licensing data to RPR should consider. I'll try to provide a supplement later this week to fill in any gaps, if I actually find any gaps.
Any MLS considering signing the RPR license agreement should at least review these checklists and the questions on them. You owe it to your brokers to think this issue through and not make a knee-jerk decision for or against RPR (as I have heard some MLSs have already done).
-Brian
Monday, February 1, 2010
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3 comments:
I received the following comment from an MLS exec late last week. He did not want to be identified as the source:
"[T]his is by far the best piece of advice posted to date on the RPR: 'Any MLS considering signing the RPR license agreement should at least review these checklists and the questions on them. You owe it to your brokers to think this issue through and not make a knee-jerk decision for or against RPR (as I have heard some MLSs have already done).'
While the organized MLS community has armed their defense systems and closed their gates, (IMHO) the brokerage community appears to be taking a 'let’s take a closer look at this – it may have some value for us' approach. The discussion needs to occur in the board rooms across the country and not in the president/CEO offices of the MLS.
Keep up the great work!
(From BNL: Thank you, reader, for your comment.)
Hey Brian,
Cool comment that an MLS Exec was willing to share. I just contacted my MLS today to find out the state of RPR as relates to ACTRIS (our MLS). I'm happy to say that I got a call back and the MLS representative is willing to discuss the status with me (how refreshing!) and tell me how the board plans on deciding. One thing that has been a little perturbing with our MLS is the lack of transparency and for certain, the lack of participation that we (members) get in most decisions and debates. Is there a reason MLS's tend to operate this way? Why isn't the MLS planning on sharing their thoughts with the "brokerage community" instead of trying to decide "for" the brokerage community? Thanks and keep up the good work.
joe
Joe,
I've done some work with the folks at ACTRIS, and I believe they are prone to making good business decisions. In an MLS, though, that does not necessarily mean polling the membership about issues. Rather, the management of an MLS should perform a business analysis of an opportunity like RPR, consulting with representative members of the brokerage community, sometimes via committee, sometimes via other methods; it should match the opportunity to the organization's strategic objectives; and if the results of those two tests are 'positive', it should proceed.
The best way to influence that process it usually to offer to help with it as a committee or board member. It takes time to develop a personal influence over the process, but the knowledge you gain is worth it, I think.
-Brian
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