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REinventing MLS
Category Archives: MRED in the News
MRED Responds to Its Customers with Responsive Design
Chicagoland MLS Delivers Consumer Web Pages Fit for Any Device
LISLE, ILLINOIS (June 18, 2014) – Every month Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS), reviews how many people are accessing their property database. Early on, MRED realized how prolific the use of mobile devices was among both Realtors® and consumers. With that in mind, MRED today rolled out phase one of its project to deliver MLS data and services in a more mobile friendly manner. The result being that Consumer Web Pages, the method through which Realtors® collaborate with their clients via the MLS system, can now be delivered in a format utilizing responsive web design (RWD) – a method that creates dynamic changes to the appearance of a website, depending on the screen size and orientation of the device being used to view it.
MRED research revealed that of those consumers receiving property listings from their broker, nearly 50% use a mobile device with which to view them. In April alone, close to one million accesses to Consumer Portals were made via iPhones. These numbers are staggering, and will only increase as the mobile web overtakes desktop and laptop computers.
MRED, in partnership with dynaConnections, Inc., creators of connectMLS™, MRED’s core MLS system, has committed to making connectMLS more “mobile friendly”. With the responsive web design approach MRED will deliver a user experience that provides an optimal viewing experience on all devices. The result is that it will be easier to read and navigate, with a minimum of resizing, panning and scrolling.
Migrating to responsive design is a massive undertaking. The plan is for MRED and dynaConnections to transition in stages – prioritizing those system features that get the most use allowing for the introduction of useful modifications to the MLS system over time, rather than waiting for the completion of an entire overhaul.
“MRED is thrilled to introduce this latest enhancement to our customers,” said Russ Bergeron, MRED President and Chief Executive Officer. “Whenever we can make it easier and more convenient for our customers to be able to communicate with their clients, we feel we have accomplished one of our major goals – the facilitation of real estate transactions. Every day we strive to take MRED to the highest level – this latest achievement and our continued efforts in this area are obviously a high priority for MRED and dynaConnections.”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. MRED delivers over twenty products and services to its customers, complementing connectMLS™, the top-rated MLS system in the country for two years running according to the WAV Group MLS Technology Survey. MRED is the 2013 Inman News Most Innovative MLS/Real Estate Trade Association, and for four consecutive years the MRED Help Desk has been identified as one of the best small business centers in the United States and Canada by BenchmarkPortal. For more information please visit MREDLLC.com.
About dynaConnections Corporation
dynaConnections Corporation is an Austin-based company that is renowned for its constant innovation and dedication to service. dynaConnections provides an MLS solution, connectMLS™, that is second to none with its millisecond response time and ease of access via all browser platforms. connectMLS™ is created to be both powerful and easy to use, and exceeds all standards of what the real estate industry expects from their MLS provider. For more information, visit dynaconnections.com.
It’s Time for Infosparks
If you like The Thing, you’ll love Infosparks
- Infosparks is now MRED’s default
interactive online market analytics tool - All custom areas that have been created in The Thing
have been moved toInfosparks - The Thing will still be accessible but only via a link in Infosparks
- The Thing is being phased out at the end of June, 2014
- Access Infosparks from the Tools, Resources & Links menu by clicking on the
tools icon (
) in the upper right hand corner of any page of connectMLS
- Infosparksis also accessible from the Additional
Information menu on any listing in connectMLS
DON’T DELAY YOUR TRANSITION TO Infosparks
Any questions? You can always contact the MRED Help Desk at
630-955-2755 or help.desk@mredllc.com
Preliminary Analysis Suggests Chicago Homes that Disclose Energy Costs Spend Less Time on Real Estate Market
A Unique Partnership between MRED, City of Chicago Mayor’s Office, and Elevate
Energy Helps Homeowners and Buyers Factor Energy Costs into Real Estate Process
LISLE, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2014) – A preliminary analysis shows that Chicago single family real estate listings that disclosed energy costs spent less time on the market and had a higher closing rate.
In July 2013, the City of Chicago became the first municipality in the country to disclose residential energy costs (gas and electric) when a home was listed for sale via a multiple listing service (MLS). The achievement was the result of a unique partnership between Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the MLS serving Chicago; City of Chicago Office of the Mayor; and Elevate Energy. Now, when a home is listed for sale, Realtors can access an energy cost disclosure report for a property in near real-time, which they in turn are required to provide to home purchasers pursuant to City of Chicago ordinance.
“Chicago is working to ensure that potential homeowners can make smart, informed decisions about energy efficiency when purchasing a home, and less than a year into this initiative, energy cost disclosure reports are already creating a more streamlined marketplace and a more sustainable city,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Through our Sustainable Chicago 2015 plan, we are working to ensure that Chicago continues to be a sustainable, prosperous, and healthy place to work and live.”
With seven full months of data collected, and just in time for Earth Day, Elevate Energy has reviewed this early MRED data to see how energy cost disclosure has performed in the marketplace. Of the 18,605 single family homes listed on MRED between July 1, 2013, and February 19, 2014, 10 percent of homes disclosed their energy costs. Home listings that disclosed energy costs spent less time on the market. In Lakeview, for example, homes that disclosed energy costs spent a median of 43 days on the market compared to a median of 63 days on the market for homes that did not disclose their energy use. Home listings that disclosed energy costs also had a higher closing rate: 66 percent of homes that disclosed compared to 53 percent for homes that did not. It should be noted that these preliminary findings only help describe attributes of homes that disclose energy costs and do not imply causation.
Energy cost disclosure facilitates more informed decisions for all involved in the real estate transaction. The recent analysis demonstrates the value of energy efficiency in the marketplace.
“Homeowners that invest to improve the energy efficiency of their homes should have a clear, consistent way to document those improvements when they opt to sell, and buyers deserve to be able to get a full picture of homeownership, which includes energy costs,” said Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate Energy. “Our preliminary analysis of the MRED energy disclosure data is encouraging. We’ll continue to analyze the data over time to get a more complete understanding of how listings that disclose their energy costs may or may not set themselves apart.”
The analysis is the result of a strong local collaboration that focused on core competencies amongst partners across real estate, technology, and energy efficiency sectors.
“MRED could not be prouder to be at the forefront of multiple listing services across the nation regarding energy issues and high performance housing,” said MRED President and CEO Russ Bergeron. “We salute those who essentially make every day Earth Day, dedicated to making our planet as environmentally friendly as possible. MRED will continue to partner with the City of Chicago, Elevate Energy, and whoever else can help us fulfill this worthy mission.”
MRED’s requirement to enter energy cost information at the time the listing is entered into the MLS system is also an accurate and real-time way for real estate professionals to comply with Chicago’s energy cost disclosure ordinance.
“I’ve used the automatic utility lookup fields since the day MRED added them to the MLS, and they are an amazing time-saver for us in a busy market,” said Mario Greco of the MG Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group in Chicago. “More importantly, they are accurate since they come directly from the utility companies and give us a simple way to effectively comply with the City of Chicago ordinance.”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. MRED delivers over twenty products and services to its customers, complementing connectMLS™, the top-rated MLS system in the country for two years running according to the WAV Group MLS Technology Survey. MRED is the 2013 Inman News Most Innovative MLS/Real Estate Trade Association. For more information please visit MREDLLC.com.
About Elevate Energy
Elevate Energy’s mission is to deliver smarter energy use for all. Elevate designs and implements efficiency programs that lower costs, protect the environment, and ensure the benefits of energy efficiency reach those who need them most. For more information, please visit http://www.elevateenergy.org.
MRED’s Help Desk Does What Michael Jordan Couldn’t
Chicagoland MLS Four-Peats as Top Help Desk Award Winner
LISLE, ILLINOIS (April 17, 2014) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS), is pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year its Technical Help Desk has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Call Centers in the United States and Canada by BenchmarkPortal. MRED’s Help Desk has been identified as one of the best small business centers in the category of organizations having 5 to100 full-time call center personnel.
Since 1995, BenchmarkPortal has conducted annual statistical analyses of call center operations throughout the world. BenchmarkPortal hosts the world’s largest call center metrics database in conjunction with the Center for Customer Driven Quality located at Purdue Research Park, Purdue University. The BenchmarkPortal team of professionals has gained international recognition for its call center expertise and innovative approaches to Best Practices for the call center industry.
BenchmarkPortal compares the performance of contact centers throughout North America by evaluating their key metrics against industry peers, to objectively identify centers who are achieving superior results both in financial and qualitative terms.
MRED outperformed others in the Small Center Category in the following areas:
- Top Caller Satisfaction
- Average answering speed
- Average Hold Time
- Average Talk Time
- Calls Transferred
- Average Calls Abandoned
- Average After-Call Work Time
- Turnover of Full-time Agents
“This award shows that MRED’s Help Desk ranks among the top performers in its size category in North America, said Bruce Belfiore, CEO of BenchmarkPortal. “We congratulate them and wish them continued success in the future.”
“We work very hard at customer service every day. We have a great team that is dedicated to helping our customers succeed,” said Stephanie Abrams, MRED Help Desk Manager. “The recognition from BenchmarkPortal is very valuable and greatly appreciated, as it tells us that we are successfully carrying out our mission, to be the very best at assisting MRED customers.”
“MRED’s Help Desk has set a very high standard for itself, but continues to exceed all expectations,” said Russ Bergeron, MRED President and Chief Executive Officer. “I could not be prouder of our Help Desk Manager and Technicians, who are on the front lines successfully serving all of our real estate professionals. Top 25? Awesome!”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. MRED delivers over twenty products and services to its customers, complementing connectMLS™, the top-rated MLS system in the country for two years running according to the WAV Group MLS Technology Survey. MRED is the 2013 Inman News Most Innovative MLS/Real Estate Trade Association. For more information please visit MREDLLC.com.
About BenchmarkPortal
BenchmarkPortal’s activities began in 1995, and it is now a global leader in the contact center industry, providing benchmarking, certification, training, consulting and research. The BenchmarkPortal team of professionals has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to best practices for contact centers. BenchmarkPortal hosts the world’s largest database of contact center metrics, which is constantly being refreshed with new data. BenchmarkPortal’s mission is to provide contact center managers with the tools and information that will help them optimize their efficiency and effectiveness in their customer communications. For more information, please call 1-800-214-8929 or visit BenchmarkPortal.com.
First-Time Buyer Challenges
Infographic via Illinois Housing Development Authority. Find more information on this program at www.welcomehomeillinois.gov
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