Award winning Metrolist leads the way for statewide Listing access

BrokerIPTV: Today, we are talking with Pat Bybee, president and CEO of Metrolist and Pat, welcome to the show.

Pat Bybee: It's great to be here.

BrokerIPTV: We are going to talk about data sharing. For those who don't know what that means, there was a Denver Metrolist, there was IRIS in Boulder, there was Pikes Peak's MLS down in Colorado Springs area and you guys all decided to share some data. When did all that happen?

Pat Bybee: That's right. In 2003, we started what we called CCM, which is Colorado Cooperative MLS, and it is not only a sharing of MLS listings with one another, but it extends the offer of cooperation amongst the brokers of all three MLS' instead of requiring a member of Metrolist to have to go into Pikes Peak for example and negotiate a cooperative agreement to sell property there.

BrokerIPTV: Right. So, people in Colorado Springs can see my listings and in Boulder see my listings by just using their respective MLS'.

Pat Bybee: Their home MLS. Our implementation said[Phonetic] we will share the listings with one another. Our members don't have to learn a new system. They use a system they are accustomed to.

BrokerIPTV: How has that been received?

Pat Bybee: I think really well. The only problem, challenge was that early on it was a limited number of fields and while that told a broker enough about a listing being available, it really didn't give them all the information that they might need to tell whether or not it fits the needs of their buyers. So, early this year... excuse me, early 2007, we... the three MLS' agreed to expand the number of fields that we were sharing and then as a part of that development effort, Metrolist issued a challenge to everyone to say let's go all the way. We will share a 100% of our listings if you will share a 100% of your data as well. So, February 2008, it became a reality.

BrokerIPTV: Okay. Wow. So, there is a lot of value in that because we are talking a single platform for someone, right?

Pat Bybee: If they choose, yes. We call it MLS of choice. You can choose to belong to just Metrolist and see all the Front Range listings.

BrokerIPTV: And was there any opposition to that or... I am sure there was, but we have got it all worked out.

Pat Bybee: You know not so much that you think. The Front Range Realtors® tend to work the entire Front Range and so they saw the need. It made a great deal of sense to them. So, while there might have been a little you know pockets of objection, it is widely well received.

BrokerIPTV: Logistically, there had to be some challenges in implementing that into PrimeAccess though right?

Pat Bybee: Actually, the logistics start with how to get the data from the MLS' into ours and this is where the real estate transaction standard comes into play. We use RETS to share the information between the MLS'. So, the other MLS' listings go into our database just like they were a Metrolist listing.

BrokerIPTV: Wow. All right. Let's talk about some special recognition that you just recently received from Greg Zadel. Tell us about that.

Pat Bybee: That's right. Greg Zadel was 2008 president of Colorado Association of Realtors and he gave us the Presidential Distinguished Service Award this year at the realtor convention at the Broadmoor.

BrokerIPTV: Wow.

Pat Bybee: And it was strictly in recognition of the efforts and the accomplishment of the data sharing project.

BrokerIPTV: What's ahead now for data sharing?

Pat Bybee: More data sharing. We are trying to encourage the state to get on board to share with one another, share with Metrolist. We think Colorado Realtors® should be able to view all the listings that they are licensed to sell in the state of Colorado.

BrokerIPTV: Pat, thanks for being with us. Appreciate it.

Pat Bybee: My pleasure. Thank you.

Posted on December 18, 2008 14:19:06 by Blog Author