Unconventional R.E.

RETS gains momentum, MLS’s respond with a new data standard: Powerpoint

The lower Southeast Boise Association of Realtors (SBAR) adopted a new MLS data standard in view of the growing threat of the RETS data standard.  MLS boards foresee RETS adoption as allowing the “snake in the door” leading towards data standardization and consumer access to valuable home listings information.    

“We are here to serve the 94 members who make a living selling real estate in the lower part of southeast Boise.” Board President Chet Sanders  said in a press conference.  ”What the other associations do, like the Upper Southeast Boise Association of Realtors, and what the 17 other MLS’s in the greater Boise area do, is none of our concern.” Mr. Sanders continued.

National Association of Realtors bylaws state that all local associations must share their data but leave it to the 900+ MLS’s nationwide to decide on the format of the data feed.  SBAR’s newly announced data feed format is novel in its complexity.  Here are some of the details:

1. In an unprecedented move, SBAR has decided to release its listing feed as PowerPoint presentations (.PPT).  
2. In further effort to prevent real estate listing aggregators like Zillow.com and Trulia.com, the feed only includes every third word of the property description.  
3. Pictures of the homes are turned 110 degrees to the left for odd street numbers and 87 degrees to the right for even street numbers.  
4. Of importance, the PowerPoint slides are not offered in digital format.  They can only be received on 11x17 paper printed in black and white in size 7 Arial Narrow font. 
5. Finally, the paper is cut into triangles as a prevent “aggregators from using those word scanners to ‘computerize’ our listings.” according to Mr. Sanders. “If Zillow wants our data, they can drive to our 48,000 square foot office in the penthouse sweet of the Lower Southeast Boise business district and pick it up… after they pay the standard $300 processing fee.  We are not set up to take credit cards yet and we don’t do cash from outsiders.  Certified bank checks only.”

The MLS’s new data feed format is widely expected to inspire other MLS’s to create their own proprietary standards.  However, SBAR took the added precaution to ensure that no other MLS share their data standard (making it easier for aggregators) by filing for trademark protection under Federal Law.

7 June 2010 ·

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