Looking for New Tools for Your Business? Do Not BUY ANYTHING Until You Check Your MLS!

I get calls all the time from brokers and agents looking for new technology solutions for their business. For example, I just spoke to a broker today who is looking to add several new agents to his business. He was looking for a more effective way to keep track of the increased number of transactions in his firm.

He called me to ask for advice about how to handle his increased volume of transactions. He asked me what system should I choose? How much will they cost? He was worried he wouldn't be able to afford the new tools he may need to gear up for.

I asked him one simple question: What MLS do you belong to? He answered, NTREIS in Dallas, Texas. When he told me the MLS he was a member of, I immediately went to their website and found out that NTREIS actually offers a transaction management solution as part of their core service offering. The broker will have to pay NOTHING in addition to his normal monthly dues and will get the tools he needs to manage his business more effectively. Most MLSs today offer TONS of technologies in their monthly subscriptions in addition to the core MLS system.

What's the lesson here? ALWAYS check with your MLS BEFORE you purchase new technologies. You may already have a great tool available to you that you ALREADY paying for. MLSs work hard to provide tools that can be helpful to agents and brokerages of all sizes.

It's really simple to check with your MLS. Just look for a tab that says something like Services, or Technologies or Member Benefits and they should provide a list of products that are available as part of your subscription.