If You Haven’t Participated in the MLS Poll in the left column of this blog,
NOW IS THE TIME!
All you need to do is choose one answer from each of the three categories:
TYPE, REGISTER, RESULTS.

So far, there have been 13 responses.  So, the rest of you need to get going!!  Here’s what the results say so far.

Type of MLS Search Used

66%     Search from the MLS – no visitor login
25%     Search from a 3rd party with login
  9%     Search from the MLS with login

The fact that such a large number of respondents are using an MLS without a visitor login is very discouraging!!   If you fit into that category, please review the value of a great IDX search, and how to choose a home search!!!  If you’re not using a full-featured home search, you’re missing out on a lot!

The other thing even this small sample points out is that there just aren’t that many MLS organizations who provide full-featured searches.  Only one respondent was using a search from their MLS search that had visitor login capabilities.

Registration Methods

75%     No registration required
25%     Require registration after some use
  0%     Require registration before use

I think these results reflect the state of the industry.  There are a lot of places where people can search for homes for sale.  Requiring registration before any use just doesn’t make sense.  The likelihood is that your visitors will just go elsewhere. 

Results – MLS Search Lead Generation

55%    I’m not sure
27%    Better leads without registration
18%    Better leads requiring registration after some use
  0%    Better leads when requiring registration

Fifty-five percent weren’t sure which approach provided the best leads?!?!  I’d suggest those folks do some testing.  I’ve seen differences from city to city in terms of how willing visitors are to login to a home search to obtain benefits like saving searches, etc.

If you haven’t tried it both ways, you’re missing an opportunity.  Unless you receive a steady stream of leads from your website and MLS search, you might want to experiment.  But, in my opinion that is only true if you have a full-featured search.  There’s no sense asking people to register if all that brings them is the opportunity to look at homes for sale. 

So, that’s the latest on the poll, but of course, this is a pitifully small sample of real estate professionals.  Help us all out – take a minute to participate!!