Last week, the National Association of REALTORS® (the NAR is our equivalent in the U.S.) approved what are being called “historic” changes to the REALTOR.com operating agreement.
“This day will go down in history as the day REALTORS® set REALTOR.com free.” – Danny Frank, a NAR Director and Chairman of the Houston Association of REALTORS®.
At CREA, we like to follow closely what happens south of the border – to learn from both their good and bad experiences. We’ve been aware that REALTOR.com (the NAR’s listing website, operated by Move Inc.), has experienced a significant loss of consumer visits this year. And according to Move Inc., one factor was the decision-making and governance process between Move Inc. and the NAR.
As was widely reported, the NAR has amended the REALTOR.com operating agreement, which will help REALTOR.com improve its consumer experience over time – notably by providing Move Inc. with more flexibility to publish listings from additional sources, including more new homes and rental properties.
Meanwhile at home, CREA’s Board of Directors has initiated changes to streamline the governance around technology decisions, including REALTOR.ca. These changes will be brought forward at the Fall CREA Special General Assembly meeting in Vancouver, for the Assembly’s consideration and approval.
We believe that these changes will be one factor that will help CREA’s MLS® and Technology Council (a.k.a. the MTC) and staff bring timely improvements to REALTOR.ca. When considering that REALTOR.ca receives up to 20 million visits each month, it is important that we continue to provide a site that delivers a great consumer experience, as it will help reinforce every day the value of working with a REALTOR®.
