1 MLS Data Management MLS Data Management & RETS  What’s going on in the industry?  Survey Says …  Data Management Best Practices  RETS Security - better than alternatives  RETS Best Practices  New Tools Yogi SchulzKevin McQueen

2 MLS Data Management The Industry - What’s going on?  Rules have changed - Security is hot topic  Information has huge value … Awareness is high  MLSs are more challenged than ever - what to do?  600+ of 850 MLSs (80%) have access to RETS  175 (20%) use it - 50% of active listing inventory  New tools available - Rapattoni, Threewide, CRT  Vendors continue to move to RETS as standard approach

3 MLS Data Management Survey Says What’s Important  MLSs need better tools to: -Control who has access -Limit data / support business rules & policies  Monitoring & Reporting - who? what? when?  Track where the data goes  Real-time access is important (93%)

4 MLS Data Management Top Benefits Survey  Top RETS benefits MLS - Standardized approach to data mgt, improved tools, results in more product choices for your members in your market, makes it easier when changing profile sheets smoother upgrades and conversions  Top RETS benefits Broker - real-time access, write-it once use it many times across markets, less downtime due to data changes, upgrades and system conversions, lower costs

5 MLS Data Management Data Management Strategies  It is better not to send out bulk data at all - but not realistic  FTP has its place …  Framed IDX solutions great the majority of brokers/agents - complete solution  Trend toward direct access to real-time data not replication  RETS is well-positioned to handle this today

6 MLS Data Management Proven Approach to Data Management  WHAT data to provide to each customer?  WHO is asking? WHY? What is their intended use & who is going to see it?  HOW to deliver it - Downloads, FTP, RETS  Develop local MLS data policies - write them down  Create written procedures - education/support docs

7 MLS Data Management Define Data Sets  What data do they want? –Just their own listings, All active listings, Everything!  Define the Data Sets or categories of data to support business rules and policies  Control Access through roles/permissions –IDX/ILD - consumer view, actives only –AGENT - more comprehensive data set, multiple statuses –BROKER BACK-OFFICE - the “all file”  Talk with your vendor about roles/permissions

8 MLS Data Management Who & Why?  Who is asking? Broker, agent, third party vendor, Realtor.com, newspaper  Purpose - what are they going to do with it? –Consumer views (IDX / ILD) –Agents (Search - CMA) –In-house (Broker Back-office, stats, market share)

9 MLS Data Management Delivery Methods - How?  MLS system export/download most common  Framed IDX solution - best overall  Basic data service - FTP updated once per day  RETS - promote as premium service –Provide what/when customer needs (data sets) –Most robust and flexible for those that support it –Near real-time access –Shift more responsibility to data customers More Challenging Increased Service

10 MLS Data Management Apply Data Sets to ALL Deliveries  Support policies and business rules consistently  Easier to explain / educate callers  Keeps things simple  Stop customizing data feeds  Vendors like this too Apply to all – not just RETS

11 MLS Data Management Data Security and RETS  RETS is more complicated more secure vs FTP  Limit data access - predefined Data Sets - roles/permissions - most vendors support  User Agent Header to tie login ID & software together  Limit view of Metadata - don’t show them what they can’t have  Usage Reporting - monitor who is doing what Ask your Vendor about their capabilities

12 MLS Data Management RETS Best Practices  Require third parties to certify their RETS solution –Direct them to us, RETS meetings  Encourage real-time RETS queries not DB replication  Provide RETS test environment - not production  Notify of upcoming changes at least 30 days in advance –FMLS, MRIS, RMLS Northstar  Attend RETS meetings - Dec. 6-8 Las Vegas  Identify common needs with your peers and ask your vendor to provide improved data management tools

13 MLS Data Management Data Management - Alternatives  Just say no - don’t provide data - is that an option?  Open source - do it yourself for dev shops - harder  Threewide or other non-traditional MLS vendor solutions  Your MLS vendor provides the RETS tools you need –Rapattoni RETS Manager 600 MLSs have access to RETS

14 MLS Data Management Threewide  Addresses real market need for improved data management tools to empower MLS - good for industry  Leverages RETS  Does not support real-time RETS queries - push only  Providing substantially better tools to their MLS customers

15 MLS Data Management Rapattoni RETS Manager  Empowers MLS to manage data using comprehensive tool and RETS  Set-up data customers, User-agent header, Metadata profile, Transaction & Search profile  Limit access by tables - office, agent, listing, photos  Raising the bar on MLS tool set - more to follow

16 MLS Data Management The Future is Clear  Brokers, third parties and many others are asking for MLS data more often for more uses  … This trend will not stop  RETS provides the foundation for improved data management and increased control and security for MLSs RETS provides the foundation for improved data mgt