Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
MLSs and the new RPR and HouseLogic
As some may know, NAR has announced Realtor Property Resource, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary whose mission is to develop a comprehensive real estate information database. The application they are using to demonstrate their technology is a property search that combines multiple data sources: MLS, tax, demographic, psychographic and census. The system will also create a proprietary RVM - Realtor Valuation Model - that will be used by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
This project has been in development for over 2 years. It has resulted from NAR's acquisition of Cyberhomes and its technology development. NAR has invested $12MM for RPR which will be repaid in 3 to 5 years.
After seeing the powerpoint presentation, it appears that RPR will be a wonderfully robust tool for NAR members only. However, the water gets a little muddy when you delve a little deeper about the services the software provides.
It appears that there are many features that rival the best technologies that MLS vendors provide. In fact, it would be easy to envision an RPR that would enable a centralized MLS software service.
MLSListings is cooperating with RPR. In fact, their actual demonstrations use our data set after implementing a RETS feed from our technology group.
As with all change, new businesses and business models there are many things to be "hammered out". But change is inevitable. I'm glad that MLSListings is operating from a "glass half full" attitude. There are many here at NAR that don't feel this way. They're predicting doom and gloom.
For the other news today, NAR is updating its HouseLogic website. This site will be a comprehensive resource for the public. It takes the concept of ManageMyHome (from Sears) to a completely different level. Essentially, NAR is becoming a content delivery company. I wonder if they know what this will mean for them?
Anyway, IMHO we should embrace change. You can either get on the bus or get trampled underneath it.
What do you think?
----
I'm passionate about our world. Enter the Conversation!
This project has been in development for over 2 years. It has resulted from NAR's acquisition of Cyberhomes and its technology development. NAR has invested $12MM for RPR which will be repaid in 3 to 5 years.
After seeing the powerpoint presentation, it appears that RPR will be a wonderfully robust tool for NAR members only. However, the water gets a little muddy when you delve a little deeper about the services the software provides.
It appears that there are many features that rival the best technologies that MLS vendors provide. In fact, it would be easy to envision an RPR that would enable a centralized MLS software service.
MLSListings is cooperating with RPR. In fact, their actual demonstrations use our data set after implementing a RETS feed from our technology group.
As with all change, new businesses and business models there are many things to be "hammered out". But change is inevitable. I'm glad that MLSListings is operating from a "glass half full" attitude. There are many here at NAR that don't feel this way. They're predicting doom and gloom.
For the other news today, NAR is updating its HouseLogic website. This site will be a comprehensive resource for the public. It takes the concept of ManageMyHome (from Sears) to a completely different level. Essentially, NAR is becoming a content delivery company. I wonder if they know what this will mean for them?
Anyway, IMHO we should embrace change. You can either get on the bus or get trampled underneath it.
What do you think?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
A little facebook etiquette
Since the unspoken rules of many social-networking sites evolve daily, it’s all too easy to commit online gaffes and sabotage your goals - whatever they may be.
Check out this video from the Today Show...
Here are six common online missteps to avoid.
1. Don’t be boorish
Few people would walk into a professional meeting and immediately "ask for the order", but many seasoned professionals commit the online version of this faux pas regularly. No matter how well you know contacts, offer some praise or acknowledgment or, even better, some well-thought-out help or advice with no strings attached. Then, and only then, should you ask for whatever it is you'd like.
2. Don’t be too stiff
While you don’t want to share too much, leaving all personal information out of your profiles to protect your privacy can put you in the same league as colleagues who show up for casual Friday in a business suit. A few well-chosen items about your interests or charitable activities can make it easier for other like-minded folks on a site to strike up a conversation.
Here's an an example of how that hiring companies may use social media. MediaG in Troy, Mich., routinely researches potential hires on social-networking sites to figure out what type of projects would be a good fit for them. If he found from a person’s Facebook page that a candidate was really interested in music, for example, he might try to see if he could have them work with music-industry clients. The bottom line is that hiring companies want to get to know candidates before they make hiring decisions: “What are the things that get them really excited? When we can dovetail, that makes them much happier.”
3. Don’t remain invisible
Put up a photo, even if you don't feel you look that great. (And I certainly don't feel I'm that photogenic.) It makes the process a little more human and warm. And if someone is going to discriminate against you because of how you look, you probably don’t want to work with them anyway.
4. Don’t market yourself on somebody else's Facebook page
“Some people really cross the line,” says Matthew Fraser, a senior research fellow at INSEAD and co-author of Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom: How Online Social Networking Will Transform Your Life, Work, and World. “As soon as you accept an offer to be their friend, they’ll write a note on your wall: ‘I’m Bill Jones. I’m a life coach. I help people solve their problems.’ You realize someone is using your personal space as a billboard for their business, and it’s irritating.”
5. Understand who you are "friending"
I get a lot of people poking me on Facebook and sending me goofy stuff. But if I’m working on building a business relationship with them, I’m sometimes uncomfortable with what they're sending. I'll most likely ignore the request and hope that doesn't interfere with the relationship I hope to build. Privately, depending on what's being sent to me, I may change my perception of that "friend". I think it’s better to just stick to direct messages on Facebook with your professional contacts.
6. Don’t let your networking end online
Many people rack up new connections on sites like LinkedIn without ever solidifying the relationships they’ve started there. Try to set up an in-person meeting when you can, or perhaps even arrange a “virtual coffee,” where you both chat by phone over a cup of coffee at your desks. Once you’re in a real relationship with someone, you find out who they are and how they’re doing. And when you help them, they’ll try to help you back.
Hope this helps. What do you think?
Best to you,
Jim Herrera
Follow me on
twitter - http://twitter.com/jbherrera
facebook - http://facebook.com/jbherrera
linkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/jbherrera
plaxo - http://jbherrera.myplaxo.com
About me
google profile - http://www.google.com/profiles/jbherrera
perceptiveinsights.com
----
I'm passionate about our world. Enter the Conversation!
Check out this video from the Today Show...
Here are six common online missteps to avoid.
1. Don’t be boorish
Few people would walk into a professional meeting and immediately "ask for the order", but many seasoned professionals commit the online version of this faux pas regularly. No matter how well you know contacts, offer some praise or acknowledgment or, even better, some well-thought-out help or advice with no strings attached. Then, and only then, should you ask for whatever it is you'd like.
2. Don’t be too stiff
While you don’t want to share too much, leaving all personal information out of your profiles to protect your privacy can put you in the same league as colleagues who show up for casual Friday in a business suit. A few well-chosen items about your interests or charitable activities can make it easier for other like-minded folks on a site to strike up a conversation.
Here's an an example of how that hiring companies may use social media. MediaG in Troy, Mich., routinely researches potential hires on social-networking sites to figure out what type of projects would be a good fit for them. If he found from a person’s Facebook page that a candidate was really interested in music, for example, he might try to see if he could have them work with music-industry clients. The bottom line is that hiring companies want to get to know candidates before they make hiring decisions: “What are the things that get them really excited? When we can dovetail, that makes them much happier.”
3. Don’t remain invisible
Put up a photo, even if you don't feel you look that great. (And I certainly don't feel I'm that photogenic.) It makes the process a little more human and warm. And if someone is going to discriminate against you because of how you look, you probably don’t want to work with them anyway.
4. Don’t market yourself on somebody else's Facebook page
“Some people really cross the line,” says Matthew Fraser, a senior research fellow at INSEAD and co-author of Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom: How Online Social Networking Will Transform Your Life, Work, and World. “As soon as you accept an offer to be their friend, they’ll write a note on your wall: ‘I’m Bill Jones. I’m a life coach. I help people solve their problems.’ You realize someone is using your personal space as a billboard for their business, and it’s irritating.”
5. Understand who you are "friending"
I get a lot of people poking me on Facebook and sending me goofy stuff. But if I’m working on building a business relationship with them, I’m sometimes uncomfortable with what they're sending. I'll most likely ignore the request and hope that doesn't interfere with the relationship I hope to build. Privately, depending on what's being sent to me, I may change my perception of that "friend". I think it’s better to just stick to direct messages on Facebook with your professional contacts.
6. Don’t let your networking end online
Many people rack up new connections on sites like LinkedIn without ever solidifying the relationships they’ve started there. Try to set up an in-person meeting when you can, or perhaps even arrange a “virtual coffee,” where you both chat by phone over a cup of coffee at your desks. Once you’re in a real relationship with someone, you find out who they are and how they’re doing. And when you help them, they’ll try to help you back.
Hope this helps. What do you think?
Best to you,
Jim Herrera
Follow me on
twitter - http://twitter.com/jbherrera
facebook - http://facebook.com/jbherrera
linkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/jbherrera
plaxo - http://jbherrera.myplaxo.com
About me
google profile - http://www.google.com/profiles/jbherrera
perceptiveinsights.com
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