With features such as advanced search options, access to comprehensive property details and the ability to share listings via text and other means in real time, the forthcoming Northwest MLS mobile app means brokers can engage with their clients from practically anywhere.
As acknowledged in recent reports from the National Association of Realtors® and Google, 89% of new home shoppers use a mobile device during their search. The new mobile app will be an indispensable tool for strengthening users’ experiences.
Scheduled for release in the coming weeks, the powerful app and client collaboration tool is fully integrated with Matrix™, the ShowingTime scheduling service, the Realist® tax database and with the OneHome™ client portal. Buyers and sellers can be invited by brokers to have access to listings from Northwest MLS, a trusted data source.
Developers of the much-anticipated tool believe it will be a significant service enhancement for the more than 32,000 brokers/subscribers at Northwest MLS and their clients, saying, “It’s literally like having Matrix on the go.” Another important benefit will be integration with the public-record database right at the user’s fingertips!
Northwest MLS members will be able to quickly access their saved searches. Additionally, anything they want to know about a listed property will be readily available, including property history, mortgage information, sell score, parcel boundaries, flood zones and other property insights. Search area boundaries can be expanded using map layers.
The mobile app also enables brokers to take advantage of the Hotsheet feature to see real-time market activity in their chosen geographic areas. They’ll have instant access to all new listings, price reductions and sold properties in areas they select.
When working with clients, brokers can easily and quickly send them property listings via text or email. During tours or showings, if a client asks about a neighboring property, an “Insta View” button will display all active listings within 400 feet of the current location.
The new mobile app will undoubtedly help brokers organize, communicate, respond and follow up with clients while on the go using their smartphone or tablet.
Brokers who recognize the competitive advantage of developing strong relationships with customers will appreciate the collaborative features of the mobile app. Because of the integration, Matrix™ contacts will automatically import into the app the first time a broker logs into it. Contacts can then be invited to connect.
All customer interactions and client-related activities are tracked and stored in the contact’s record for easy references. Changes made in the app are instantly synchronized to the MLS Matrix™ system.
Once the NWMLS mobile app becomes available, brokers can use the “Brand & Share” feature to brand the app with their own company logo and color schemes, and then easily share their unique mobile app link. The link may be shared with a text message or email, and it can be added to Instagram, Facebook and a broker’s email signature.
Once a broker sets up their brand details, it will automatically customize their customers’ experiences. When clients download a broker’s branded app, the broker will get an SMS notification, and the client will appear as a lead in that broker’s contacts manager. Once added, the broker can start collaborating and tracking that client’s favorites.
Northwest MLS values the involvement of its members and subscribers in the development and delivery of its products and services.
Results from this year’s Member Satisfaction Survey underscore the importance of various products to users, with Matrix™ earning a 4.83 score on a 5-point scale. When asked to rate their satisfaction with various NWMLS products, only the key and keybox system edged out Matrix™.
Members are routinely involved in evaluating products for the arsenal of tools that help brokers succeed via our New Product Review Task Force. This group is charged with reviewing emerging products and services, considering their value and suitability as a potential core service for the entire membership. The impressions and feedback from Task Force reviews are vital to the NWMLS decision process.
Technology will continue to push us forward. As I told our member-brokers at our spring meetings, we are defined by the customer service we provide to members. Offering high-impact products like this new mobile app is not only a service that reflects one of our core philosophies, but it also helps ensure our members’ continued success.
NWMLS is a member-owned, not-for-profit Washington corporation with more than 2,500 member offices and 32,000 real estate brokers throughout Washington state. With extensive knowledge of the region, NWMLS operates 20 service centers and serves 26 counties, providing dedicated support to its members and fostering a robust, cooperative brokerage environment. nwmls.com.
Tom Hurdelbrink joined Northwest Multiple Listing Service in 2007. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).