Comments on: DotHomes is in the Running http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running Internet, Web 2.0 and Real Estate Marketing Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:50:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Overland Park Real Estate http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19559 Overland Park Real Estate Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:46:40 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19559 I feel some of the things you talked about are what makes local broker's sites so successful. While the national sites are nice and get a lot of exposure, they often run into problems with old listings. The local broker sites are directly fed from the local MLS IDX which means the listings will more often have the quality that you speak of (not expired, pending, etc). I feel some of the things you talked about are what makes local broker’s sites so successful. While the national sites are nice and get a lot of exposure, they often run into problems with old listings. The local broker sites are directly fed from the local MLS IDX which means the listings will more often have the quality that you speak of (not expired, pending, etc).

]]> By: Andrea Palacios http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19550 Andrea Palacios Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:04:29 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19550 Artemi, interesting stuff you are doing with DotHomes.com. Just curious if there are any legal implications since you are displaying MLS data and listing data on DotHomes without permission from those original sources. Are you able to do that because you show a limited amount of data and link back to the original site? I know that you are more like a search engine, but I can see realtor.com not liking what you are doing? How do you think this will play out? Artemi, interesting stuff you are doing with DotHomes.com. Just curious if there are any legal implications since you are displaying MLS data and listing data on DotHomes without permission from those original sources. Are you able to do that because you show a limited amount of data and link back to the original site? I know that you are more like a search engine, but I can see realtor.com not liking what you are doing? How do you think this will play out?

]]> By: Milan http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19517 Milan Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:45:26 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19517 Thanks for pointing out the beta Realtor.com it's really quite an improvement over the existing system. Still got a few UI areas that need work, but the search options are actually really impressive. Thanks for pointing out the beta Realtor.com it’s really quite an improvement over the existing system. Still got a few UI areas that need work, but the search options are actually really impressive.

]]> By: Artemi Krymski http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19499 Artemi Krymski Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:34:29 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19499 Joel, Artemi from DotHomes here. Thanks for the mention. Please note that we've never said "we reckon we're neck and neck with Trulia", but simply stated that we've reached a similar level of coverage within 4 months. We still have a long way to go to match Trulia's consumer reach in US. But we're not a media company, we're a technology company, and our level of funding reflects that. Our aim is to provide an alternative to the MLS system, we see much more disruptive potential in that area than working with existing MLSes. Quality of listings is indeed an issue as we're not able to force brokers into the same contractual obligations as they have with MLSes. Currently we do several things to improve the quality of our listings: - We link directly to the original listing on broker's site - We accept feeds from brokers who care to provide them - We rank results by date and quality of listings Of course, currently our search results are only as good as what's on the broker's sites. But we have to start somewhere. The MLS wasn't build in a day. With time, I believe we'll be able to put the right incentives in place for brokers to remove sold inventory from their sites. And thanks for digging the new look :) Joel,

Artemi from DotHomes here. Thanks for the mention. Please note that we’ve never said “we reckon we’re neck and neck with Trulia”, but simply stated that we’ve reached a similar level of coverage within 4 months. We still have a long way to go to match Trulia’s consumer reach in US. But we’re not a media company, we’re a technology company, and our level of funding reflects that.

Our aim is to provide an alternative to the MLS system, we see much more disruptive potential in that area than working with existing MLSes.

Quality of listings is indeed an issue as we’re not able to force brokers into the same contractual obligations as they have with MLSes. Currently we do several things to improve the quality of our listings:

- We link directly to the original listing on broker’s site
- We accept feeds from brokers who care to provide them
- We rank results by date and quality of listings

Of course, currently our search results are only as good as what’s on the broker’s sites. But we have to start somewhere. The MLS wasn’t build in a day. With time, I believe we’ll be able to put the right incentives in place for brokers to remove sold inventory from their sites.

And thanks for digging the new look :)

]]> By: Ken Horst http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19491 Ken Horst Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:42:53 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19491 MLS Maps currently has coverage in 230 cities and metro area in the US, with over 50% of the listings available through a map based searched platform. We are adding map based search to more cities every month as it becomes available. We use a Roost based model, with the mls listings be provided by local real estate agents and brokers. Also, our analytics shows a growing trend in the use of "mls" and "map" in consumer search phrases. We don't "reckon" we are neck and neck with Trulia, we flat out past them months ago, based on number of listings accessable to our visitors as we cover 82% of the US population with the cities and metro areas where we have covaerage. MLS Maps currently has coverage in 230 cities and metro area in the US, with over 50% of the listings available through a map based searched platform. We are adding map based search to more cities every month as it becomes available.

We use a Roost based model, with the mls listings be provided by local real estate agents and brokers.

Also, our analytics shows a growing trend in the use of “mls” and “map” in consumer search phrases.

We don’t “reckon” we are neck and neck with Trulia, we flat out past them months ago, based on number of listings accessable to our visitors as we cover 82% of the US population with the cities and metro areas where we have covaerage.

]]> By: Gerry (RealtyMan) Bourgeois http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19488 Gerry (RealtyMan) Bourgeois Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:23:07 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19488 I agree that the Integrity of the data on ANY site is of utmost importance! Also, you forgot to mention Homes.com as well. I spent 9 months as a 'paying advertiser' telling them (and even letting them know what the potential problem was) that their database (at least in Massachusetts) was Broken. An expired listing from 2004 was (and probably still is) showing on their site as active - and that is just One issue... I am no longer supporting, nor paying anything, to them. I agree that the Integrity of the data on ANY site is of utmost importance!

Also, you forgot to mention Homes.com as well. I spent 9 months as a ‘paying advertiser’ telling them (and even letting them know what the potential problem was) that their database (at least in Massachusetts) was Broken. An expired listing from 2004 was (and probably still is) showing on their site as active – and that is just One issue…

I am no longer supporting, nor paying anything, to them.

]]> By: Drew Izzo http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/dothomes-is-in-the-running/comment-page-1/#comment-19457 Drew Izzo Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:01:06 +0000 http://www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com/?p=1060#comment-19457 Hi Joel, Drew from Roost here. Thanks for the kind words about Roost. We feel strongly that we have the right model. We're working very hard to launch more and more markets. You'll see some new markets popping up on Roost shortly. Hi Joel,
Drew from Roost here.
Thanks for the kind words about Roost. We feel strongly that we have the right model. We’re working very hard to launch more and more markets. You’ll see some new markets popping up on Roost shortly.

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