No matter how you currently manage appointments within your office, TREND believes there are opportunities to bring more efficiency to the appointment setting process by integrating solutions into MLS Blue to allow you to request an appointment while viewing listings within the system. A link will display on each listing so that all members can electronically initiate a showing request while on the listing in the MLS.
Update - October 22, 2009
As was previously reported, TREND has entered into an agreement with ShowingTime to integrate appointment scheduling software into the MLS system. However, we are also pleased to announce that TREND has reached a supplementary agreement with eShowings, on behalf of our members who currently use eShowings as their appointment center. With this supplementary agreement, showing agents will be able to directly link to eShowings to schedule an appointment.
Through MLS Blue, ShowingTime's integration into our MLS system will continue to provide the ability for our members to manage the setting and confirmation of listing appointments. ShowingTime's integration will benefit members, whether or not you utilize an appointment showing product. If you maintain a showing product with another vendor, ShowingTime is capable with the assistance of your vendor, to integrate showing requests directly through to your showing product.
Not only will this make the appointment-setting process more efficient for you, but you will maintain your ability to select from various vendors of your choice.
Request a Showing with a Click in MLS Blue
As a foundation of our solution, TREND has entered into an agreement with ShowingTime to directly integrate their product into the MLS. ShowingTime is a long-established, nation-wide appointment center, working with multiple MLS's. The product they provide, which we have licensed for broad use within MLS Blue, is ShowingAssist.
UPDATE, October 22, 2009: Because many TREND members utilize eShowings, we will accommodate that group of our users by integrating the eShowings product as well.
Creating Efficiency is the Goal
Our goal is to create a consistent process of:
- initiating showings
- allowing automatic confirmations, where applicable
- requesting and managing feedback
- providing electronic notifications including text messages
- and ultimately reducing the number of phone calls required to set up a showing.
Together these components will help bring efficiency to how appointments are managed.
Keep Your Costs Low
This new service is provided to you as part of the array of products and services that you receive as a member of TREND. By harnessing the power of the TREND community, we hope to reduce call volumes and your costs for using these products. Also, having access to multiple vendors and products allows you to make more informed choices about which product best suits your needs. Providing better client service, better accountability and better security can all lead to a quicker home-sale.
We have begun planning the integration of this service, and we already hope to include many of the suggestions provided in the comments below. A release date for the integration of these products has not been established. Watch for more information to come soon!