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The Real Estate Agent of the Future

Asked what skills future realty agents will need to compete, Saul Klein--president and CEO of InternetCrusade and CEO of Point2Technologies--cites product knowledge, sales competency, access to customers, and service with integrity.

More specifically, he says an agent working in 2015 will need the ability to communicate effectively across generational spans as the different age groups move up and out.

Another key skill of the future, he says, will be the ability to negotiate successfully. To increase access to clients, the Realtor of the future will need to technology-oriented.

Prospecting and marketing will have become automated, says Klein, and client management and online transaction management software will become more important.

Additionally, as more and more business-client relationships bud online in the coming years, property agents will need to be able to communicate effectively through the written word as they log on to social networking sites to mine for prospective customers and old referrals.

Source: Inman News, Saul Klein (01/26/09)

MLS Public Facing Websites – Why, or Why Not?

By: Saul Klein, CEO, Point2 Technologies Inc.

If you believe that Distribution Trumps Destination at this stage of the evolution of real estate on the WWW, that the distribution of listing information to many consumer accessible and trafficked web sites is far more important than listing information appearing on any single web site, then it is difficult to question the value of a well run public facing MLS web site.

Seekers of real estate information will emulate water, taking the path of least resistance to find what they are looking for. The easier it is to find, the greater chance that it will be found. Listing data will also emulate water, finding its way to many destinations on the web, through a number of different sources. It is already happening and will continue to happen. Can MLSs facilitate this phenomenon while building a valuable asset for the MLS, its Subscribers and Participants, as well as a valuable service for buyers and sellers? While the jury is still out, indications are that the answer is yes…absolutely.

It is in a broker’s best interest that their listings can easily be found on the web. The best way to insure that they will easily be found is to put them in as many places as possible. A public Facing MLS web site is one more place, with many obvious benefits, not the least of which is information control and consistency.

It is in the home buyer’s best interest that listing information be easily and conveniently found on the web.

And, it is in the seller’s best interest that their home be found by as many potential buyers as possible.

With the above points in mind, why not add one more place for listing information to be found on the Web, an MLS Public Facing Web Site?

Now the questions (and feel free to submit answers):
Why not also publish that information on a web site controlled by the MLS?
What is the downside?
What is the upside?
Does it truly provide brokers a competitive advantage to display their listings only on their web sites?
 
Some brokers insist that a Public Facing MLS Web Site competes directly with broker sites. Bob Hale, CEO of the Houston Association of REALTORS® will argue emphatically, with statistics to back up his position, that brokers and agents benefit when an MLS has a strong Public Facing Web Site, with leads being generated and provided directly to the listing agent with no intermediary. MRIS, another major MLS with a newly launched public facing web site seems to agree. As a matter of fact, at least 400 of the MLSs in the U.S. have created a public web site with listing displays for consumers. While the debate may not soon subside, the trend of MLS public facings sites will likely accelerate forward as more MLSs seek new ways to drive value to their members.
 

Point2 Technologies CEO Saul Klein to Participate in Real Estate MLS Innovation Track Speaker Series

Saskatoon, SK and Vancouver, BC – January 05, 2009 – Point2 Technologies Inc. “Point2”:

Who:    Saul Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Point2 Technologies Inc.    
What:    Revitalizing The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) – MLS 2014: Five Things To Do Right Now To Get Ready
Saul Klein, Point2 Chief Executive Officer and author of MLS 5.0, a White Paper will join a panel of top visionaries to discuss and address INMAN Connect attendees on the state of the MLS in today’s market and to share key ideas MLS executives must be aware of and can begin to apply today to best position their organizations for the next five years.
Messrs. Joshua Sharfman, CTO, California Association of Realtors®, Brian Larson, Attorney at Law, Larson/Sobotka PLLC, and Mark Lesswing, Sr. Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, NAR (National Association of Realtors) complete the panel.
The session will be moderated by Victor Lund, Partner, WAV Group.
When:    Thursday January 08, 2009, 3:50 PM – 4:35 PM.
Where:    INMAN Real Estate Connect NYC 2009, January 07, 2009 – January 09, 2009 New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
Times Square, New York    Meeting Room: Westside 3, 5th Floor

About Point2 Technologies Inc.

Point2 Technologies develops and markets web-based e-commerce and online marketing software solutions for the real estate and heavy equipment industries. In real estate, Point2 is the largest independent provider of website and listing syndication software for real estate professionals, with customers in over 100 countries. Point2’s real estate user base continues to grow by over 1200 additional members each week. Point2 also owns and operates the real estate consumer search portal, Point2 Homes (www.Point2Homes.com).

In the heavy equipment industry, Point2 is a leading provider of e-commerce solutions, powers Caterpillar Inc.’s global heavy equipment dealer network and owns and operates www.UsedIron.com, one of the largest used equipment venues online.

Founded in 1996, Point2 Technologies is privately held and employs a staff of 130 at its headquarters in Saskatoon, SK and its Vancouver, BC offices. More information can be obtained at www.Point2.com.

Point2® is a trademark of Point2 Technologies Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Press Contact:

Roger Noujeim
Vice President of Public Relations
Point2 Technologies Inc.
Toll Free: 1-888-955-7900 (U.S. and Canada)
Tel. 1-604-675-9393 Ext. 224
rnoujeim@point2.com