MLS Data Management & RETS

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

2. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. RETS Best Practices • Require third parties to certify their RETS solution • Direct them to us, www.RETS.org, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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