MRIS Takes on the Search Sites
MRIS, the MLS which covers DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the Virginias and is the nation’s largest MLS, today launched HomesDatabase 2.0, its new public-facing web site.
It’s a pretty impressive effort. HomeDatabase takes its design cues from some of the big listing portals (Zillow and Trulia) but merges it with the extensive listing data available from its own databases, and effectively beating them at their own game.
Though, as pointed out by Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman (who himself operates in MRIS’ service area) in a comment on Techcrunch, it’s not the total market picture. HomesDatabase excludes foreclosures, bank-owned properties or for sale by owner from its results.
Despite that shortcoming, it is still a very nice search experience. Some of the notable features present in HomesDatabase are, foremost, its support for semantic search. Like Dothomes, you can do a natural-language query on the site, like this search I did for a colonial in Annapolis with a pool.
Personally, I also really liked the gallery view - which puts all the properties side by side and allows you to evaluate multiple properties from an esthetic point of view. HomesDatabase also apparently allows you to put selected properties into a “comparison engine” - but I was unable to figure out how to get to this feature.
Another nice touch were the “Amazon-like” recommendations on the listing pages of similar type properties viewed by other users.
As a pure search tool, Home Database drives all traffic back to the listing brokerage or the listing agent for free. MRIS believes that by creating a compelling destination it can help its members better service their customers, the consumers while, at the same time, consumers are looking for a trusted third party to help them find their next home.
MRIS chairman Adam Cockey puts it this way; “Consumers get easy access to all the listings without advertising. And real estate brokers and agents in our market get free exposure and traffic from a site that’s run by their own MLS.”
Not a bad deal in my mind.
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Jim Whatley | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
I belong to a smaller Association. I’m a one man show but I have found a way to get a better search of the mls then any of the big companies. Following blogs like this I find tech faster than my compaction. Most Realtor still have a picture of themselves with their dog. Read this blogs be a leader on the web then your MLS. The Internet is Digital Real Estate, Loction location location.
Big shout out to all the Vets, That have done what they have done so we can do what we do.
Paul Dunn | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
Sounds like a big step in MLS technology. Probably won’t see it here in Tucson for a few years!
I second the shout out to the Vets!
A. Longo | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
Interesting news. We saw this coming for a while. Although I love my fellow peers at Zillow & Trulia I think its a great move for MRIS and an example well set for other large MLS carriers. Although it will be tough to keep up with the RE:Tech leaders on the west coast as far as speed, site design and usability its agreat value-add for its paying members (agents & brokers).
On side note: We just announced our leap into D.C. today! The site is live (http://DC.CondoDomain.com) although we are about a week behind with our MLS feed implementation, but you can search all new developments, foreclosure, auction listings.
Victor Lund | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
Have you seen the coverage of this issue on TechCrunch.
Not unlike the Roost report on zillow and trulia listing accuracy - the comments on todays post covering the relaunch of homesdatabase.com is stirring the pot again
Reggie from Cyberhomes | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
Hey Joel,
As I said on the TechCrunch post I think it’s great to see how MRIS has re-launched HomesDatabase.com. As you mention, MRIS has done a great job with their design. We are pleased to have a partnership with MRIS to provide access to our content on HomesDatabase, as well as school and neighborhood information to the MLS. (http://tinyurl.com/5bxkrk) Also Cyberhomes has partnered with the MLS to display listing content on Cyberhomes.com, alongside the tens of thousands of listings directly aggregated from MRIS’s member brokers.
Juan | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
I heard there is a listing site coming out in 2 months that is going to change the face of online listings for brokers.
Michael Sosnowski | Nov 11, 2008 | Reply
I have always been against portal sites, like Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com. They are the competition for individual broker and agent sites in local markets. I would also say that when the MLS gets into the act, they to are competing against their own agents.
Real Estate agents have always been then own worst enemies when it comes to online competition - now more than ever.
Jonathan Hill | Nov 12, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Joel for covering our beta release of HomesDatabase.com. We felt it was time the MLS, controlled by brokers and agents - not VC money, make a stronger play to attract consumers and mix it up with those media sites who usually have something else in mind, like generating referrals back brokers and agents. Our site has no ads, no click-through rev model, no other reason but to make it easier for the consumer and r.e. professionals to connect. In the future we’ll be adding more 2.0 features to make that conversation and connection even easier. Since a picture is worth a 1,000 words I’ve attached a link to a short flash tour of the site under my name. Check it out and thanks everyone for the comments.
NC RJ | Nov 13, 2008 | Reply
I couldn’t agree more. There’s a reason why all these portal sites exist. Realtors pay dues to belong to an (un)organization that continually implements policy with out direction. Wake up.
Andy Nazaroff | Nov 13, 2008 | Reply
I think Mr. Sosnowski gets it amongst all the posters here. The brokers & agents do not need another large fishing line up the river attempting to catch the fish before they can. MLS’s think that this is a “member benefit” because they will send the leads back to the broker, but in fact they are simply taking buyer leads away from the broker & agent sites. Use our membership dollars in ways other than becoming our own competition.
Michael Sosnowski | Nov 15, 2008 | Reply
I can also site a perfect example from my own state - Maine. We recently introduced a state-wide MLS listings page. I had the opportunity to speak with members of our board about this and expressed my objections. Of course, I was patted on the head and told that “consumer can get this info anyway, why not control it” Our site was “modeled” after the one used in Houston. Well, the ME site has climbed the SEOs and we have not gotten one singe lead from it - and we are fairly large listers in our area. The only real reason that this site does well in the search engines is that is has some many URLs that are related to property listings. Also, like realtor.com, our state site offers agents websites, that are simply trash. The industry is constantly catering to those agents who don’t have the talent or resources to get the job done on their own. Sorry for the rant!