One of the largest MLS regions in the country is partnering on a mobile application.
Midwest Real Estate Data, which manages Chicagoland’s MLS, has integrated its data systems with Zenlist, giving all MRED agents and their clients access to a more user-friendly mobile platform.
“One of the top requests from our subscribers was to provide a better mobile app experience for MLS,” said Rebecca Jensen, president and CEO of MRED. “Our collaboration with Zenlist provides an alternative system that allows us to meet our subscribers where they are most active.”
More than 5,000 agents in the MRED MLS region are already using Zenlist, including agents from @properties Christie’s International Real Estate who are under contract with the company.
@properties Thad Wong, co-founder of Christie’s International Real Estate, said agents like using Zenlist because clients can view it themselves via a code provided by the agent they’re working with. “Because it strengthens the relationship between agents and real estate agents.” Consumers will be able to search on a portal that agents can also access. ”
When agents rely solely on MRED to set up MLS searches for their clients, the “search experience and content” sent to their clients compares favorably with what companies like Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia offer. It is a “disadvantageous” because it is “embarrassing”. Mr. Wong said.
Zenlist, whose founder and CEO is Tom MacLeod, can show users all MLS listings, as well as “pre-market” properties that are listed as private on the MLS. On the other hand, platforms like Zillow do not include such pre-market listings in many places. . The client portal allows you to communicate directly with agents.
Eventually, users will be able to use Zenlist to edit listings, access documents, and do everything they can do on their desktop within MLS.
“You can imagine having agents in the field all the time, but if they can’t use the software in the field and have to connect to a desktop, it’s very time-consuming,” MacLeod said.
Agents who subscribe to MRED will have access to a basic version of Zenlist, and agents and clients will be able to use a client portal, enhanced search functionality, and a mobile app, according to a news release. MacLeod said the mobile app accounts for 70% of Zenlist’s total usage by agents and buyers.
Once MRED’s MLS data is integrated with Zenlist, agents will no longer have to switch between the two platforms to work. McLeod said the rollout is “90% advanced” and is expected to take place this spring. One feature that hasn’t been implemented yet is the ability for agents to add and edit listings through their Zenlist. This feature will be added in the coming months.
The basic version of Zenlist for MRED subscribers allows agents to enter, edit, and search listings and share them with clients for free. You also have the option to upgrade to a premium version of the software. With the premium version, agents can add an unlimited number of clients to the platform, share clients with other agents, and also have access to “more advanced features to understand client behavior,” MacLeod said. says.
Zenlist’s future goal is to continue to promote collaboration with local multiple listing services in other parts of the country, he said. The company already has similar efforts in San Francisco and Columbia, South Carolina, as well as Napa, Sonoma and Maroon counties in California.
“There are about 500 multiple listing services in the United States, right?” MacLeod said. “Our goal is to be a consistent front-end software application for all of these. So we’re currently working on four, but there are 496 more to go.”
According to the release, this move also makes Zenlist a new option in MRED’s portfolio of MLS platforms, alongside connectMLS and the upcoming integration with Paragon Connect.
