Account Executive Dave Davis teaches members during a training session in Ocean County, NJ.
On April 2, TREND held its first training classes in Ocean County, NJ to introduce members in that area to MLS Blue. Many of the members in this area joined TREND earlier this year, thanks to a
reciprocal agreement signed between TREND and the Ocean County Board of REALTORS®, which operates the Jersey Shore MLS.
Localized Training
With members throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, traditional geographic borders are fading. TREND delivers real estate information to brokers, agents, corporations, organizations, and vendors across the tri-state area and the country. (We have members in 25 states!) So the need to expand services - like training - must also expand geographically.
Previously, TREND had not offered training at locations other than our training centers in King of Prussia, PA; Maple Shade, NJ; and Wilmington, DE. But, our philosophy has changed to reach out, or more specifically go out, to the places where our members live and work. Last year, we began to offer training in locations that were more convenient for members, such as association, board and member offices.
TREND carried through with that philosophy, and TREND held training at the Ocean Board office in Toms River, NJ on April 2. Although only 30 Ocean members attended class, the benefits of that training are reaped by all TREND members.
"I think it's great that TREND came here to teach us how to use the MLS," says Lauretta Korejko of Weichert REALTORS®, Manahawkin, NJ. "I might not have had time to go to training otherwise. This was so convenient having it here, and the training was excellent. The two hours I spent in class were well worth it."
Members in Ocean Get Increased Exposure
About half of those in attendance had never used TREND's system. Nonetheless, they were eager to learn how to add listings to TREND to get broader exposure for their shore properties. They were also anxious to search the other 70,000 listings currently available in TREND.
Diane Kelly of Century 21 at the Shore, Bayville, NJ hadn't used TREND when she attended the class. But she plans to do so in the near future. Kelly came to class wanting to learn how to enter her listings. The notion of giving her listings more exposure made her sign up for the class as soon as she heard about it.
"I definitely plan to use it," Kelly says. "The more places you can put a listing, the more likely it is to be seen...and be sold."
Members Elsewhere Get Increased Inventory
In all 12 months of 2007, 705 properties located in Ocean County were listed in TREND. That number has already been matched in the first 6 months of 2008. The dramatic increase is largely due to the reciprocal agreement and new partnership between TREND and JSMLS in Ocean County.
The reciprocal agreement has also led to increased membership. As of June 13, there were 833 TREND members from Ocean County. This means there are three times as many members entering listings into MLS Blue than there were in 2007 - before the agreement was signed.
The Spirit of Cooperation Will Continue
The local training initiative and reciprocal agreement are just the beginning of a long collaborative partnership with the JSMLS and members in Ocean County. These are only the first steps in a long-term relationship that will benefit members of both MLSs.
Both MLSs can and will do more to help solve OMD (overlapping market disorder). The next step -
to facilitate data sharing - is currently underway. These steps will help solve the problems faced by real estate professionals on the border of many MLSs: multiple fees, differing rules, and duplicate entry and maintenance of listings.