I had a phone conversation with a guy in Texas a few months ago, he was calling because he wanted more information about our CRM system, RealeSeller.  As is very common, our conversation moved on to other things real estate related.  I mentioned that I didn't think it would be much longer and some sort of national MLS system would be out there.  His informed response was something like "no way, there are different laws in the various states that allow or restrict the data..." and on and on.  After all that, he then had to mention his many accomplishments in the real estate world, the various high placed positions he has held and is now holding, both local and national.  All this so he could "prove" that he knew more about it than me or anyone else. 

Hello???... remember the children's story about "The Emperor's New Clothes?"  (If you don't know this story, you should look it up... it's available all over the internet.)

While the current "laws" and "rules" controlling available information may be acceptable at this time, the free flow of MLS data into the "national" picture, is already here.  Things like the "Zestimate" are a fact of life.  Today, just for fun, I ran a couple of searches on a few "local" MLS IDX systems, and then looked up some randomly chosen properties from those searches on Realtor.com and Zillow.com ... guess who exposed more data to the consumer?  It sure wasn't the local MLS IDX system.  I'm not going to pick on any one local MLS here, but pick a property on your MLS system, any property, then look it up on Realtor.com and Zillow.com.  Compare the available information.  If you were a consumer where would you go to look for that new property?  Some local MLS?  Not me, and not anyone with a little internet savvy.  Oops... you didn't even find it out there?  Yikes! 

And who are the majority of your buyers these days?  That's right, those younger "internet savvy" buyers are not going to be satisfied with that tiny crumb of information exposed by that little local MLS IDX system... why should they?  Even the older and more educated buyers go national.  The only thing that the man or woman on the street doesn't have access to easily is SOLD property information.  And, since that is public record, you can usually go down to the local tax office and look up any information you want.  So, while it isn't currently easy to get, it can be had by any citizen.  This is also changing and these secrets are not going to be secrets much longer.  Why should this information be kept a secret?  Let's face it, this information is only a secret because it is a "politically motivated" secret!  This is the information age.  Knowledge is power, and the consumer is demanding more power... and they are getting it!  Information gives them choices.  Information makes them better informed so they can make better choices.  As a sales person, a lack of secrets makes you feel impotent doesn't it?  It shouldn't, you are the professional.  A good sales person wants their customer to have as much knowledge as possible, but remember, you are the one with "experience."  Experience can beat knowledge hands down any day.  Just having access to information doesn't make you an "expert," and that is what you, as a real estate professional, have to offer.

Real estate consumers are no longer going to tolerate these "secrets" because the internet has forever changed the way we access and use information.  You can't "hide" in the MLS anymore.  All sales people are faced with the same issue... the customer has access to more information than ever, and as a sales person, you either adapt to the situation, or you die.  It's that simple. 

So, wake up Emperor, your MLS system "is naked and has no clothes" ... you are EXPOSED!  And once the genie is out of the bottle, you can't stuff it back in there again.  The customer doesn't care what you have behind door number 1, or door number 2... they can see behind the doors because they can't be kept in their seats like small school children raising their hands because they need to use the restroom.  You are more and more "on stage" and naked... get used to it.  That little bit of information your local MLS wants you to "expose" to consumers... is driving them to the national listings... your MLS is making you dead!  You have no clothes!  Don't let your local MLS convince you that they have some "magical cloth" and that by limiting the amount of information made available to your customers they are helping you sell more real estate... they are losing you business!  This is Web 2.0 ... not the stone age!