Rob McQuade welcomes you to Sacramento

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You make some great points, Riel. We as real estate professionals are no longer the "gatekeepers" of the property listings. While I think many in our industry fear loss of control of current listing information, it's myopic to think that this is the reason consumers seek us out and only serves to sell us short as an industry. Consumers look to real estate professionals for guidance. If simple access to property listings was the issue we'd have gone the way of travel agents long ago. No, what we provide is a deeper understanding of local market conditions and a desire and ability to help people through everything such an important transaction entails. Having said this, my concern is simple: open-sourcing done poorly and data managed inconsistently across even a small percentage of websites would result in a lot of inaccurate information online. This is a challenge a lot of us have had to deal with when we hear from clients that they've seen different information about the same home on different websites. Some major national websites have tried to aggregate data entered manually by agents or consumers. It's been a great way to increase exposure for a lot of our sellers and has brought a little extra transparency and access for buyers. It's when the information found online is outdated, inaccurate, or downright false that problems erupt. Sellers are outraged to see inaccurate information on a website over which we as listing agents don't have control. Buyers are confused and concerned when they see differing details. And don't get me started on those questions about properties that aren't even listed but appear on real estate websites because they're "preforeclosures". In a lot of markets, the MLS works because of the carrot and the stick: the distribution of accurate information across multiple channels that are pulling from a trusted source (the local MLS), the accuracy of which is largely due to the penalties local Multiple Listing Services impose upon their members for misrepresenting or not updating details in a timely fashion. Let's work together to create a more open system--but one that is based upon a foundation of accurate, updated information. Any ideas? Rob McQuade, REALTOR® McMartin Realty | 2031 K St Ste 100 | Sacramento, CA 95811-4253 Tel (916) 444-7577 or Toll Free (866) 720-CITY (2489) » Search Sacramento real estate for sale: http://www.ForSaleinSacramento.com

Jean, I agree that bringing down the cost of MLS participation for those of us who do business in multiple areas is an important consideration. I also share Joseph's concern that recent partnerships haven't had that effect. But, more to the point, in many respects I think a) you get what you pay for and b) a one-size-fits-all approach might not be the answer. I don't know about your experiences, but I've been pleased at the level of involvement I've been able to have in (and the responsiveness of) my regional MLS, MetroList Services. If my MLS is replaced by a megaloMLS that serves the entire state, will I still have that kind of access and support? Will I get the level of service I've come to enjoy when membership goes from some 15,000 to 150,000 or more? And can a statewide MLS effectively be all things to all members? Until the answers to those questions are a resounding "yes", I'm glad to stick with my MLS because I'm satisfied by the pace at which they've adapted to a changing environment and are adopting new technologies--and I'm not as confident that a statewide MLS will be able to turn on a dime like MetroList has. Rob McQuade, ABR, REALTOR® McMartin Realty | 2031 K St Ste 100 | Sacramento, CA 95811-4253 Tel (916) 444-7577 or Toll Free (866) 720-CITY (2489) Fax (916) 444-7977 www.ForSaleinSacramento.com

Blogging is a lot of work! I find myself working a 6- or 8-hour day AFTER my regular workday just to keep most of my websites fresh... Instead of creating just one blog, I've broken things up into several blogs: topical, regional, and even neighborhood-specific blogs. Instead of posting to one blog daily, I post to several different blogs once or twice a week (sometimes less, shame on me). Of course, each blog links back to one or more of my websites, but because the blogs have a real content focus I'm generating more quality leads from readers of those blogs. I typically have one or two people register on my websites and request info on properties every day. It's been a bit of work, but I've developed a rhythm to my blogging and it's definitely helped my search engine ranking. Happy blogging! Rob McQuade Sacramento http://www.forsaleinsacramento.com