MLS Answers from the MLS Director

I’m Shelley LaPaugh, Director of MLS for GHAR and this is my very first attempt at a blog entry. I hope to be blogging regularly and I am looking forward to reading your questions and comments!

I’ve been in the real estate business for 23 years, ten as a practicing REALTOR® and thirteen with GHAR handling MLS issues. I am also the staff liaison to the South Region Committee, which bring classes, events, and programs to local venues south of Hartford. But, my main focus is providing support for all things MLS to you, our members.

I get calls from some of you everyday about a range of MLS topics; from Legal questions to “MLS won’t let me in!” Just today I received an interesting call I’d like to share with you.
An agent wanted to put MLS listings on a personal website. The agent had spoken to other agents (who already had listings on their websites) and asked them how they did it. Then, after the agent followed the advice, months were spent on getting written approval from the company broker to get an internet data exchange (IDX) data feed from MLS.

Unfortunately, this agent wasted a lot of time and effort, because the other agents must have set up their websites years ago and didn’t know that the technology and the rules had changed. Today adding MLS data to either your MLXchange website or an independent website is simple. Your personal link to a frameable IDX site already exists under your website settings on MLXchange. Just go to Settings/Personalize/Website Management and then click on the Website domain button. A list of the URLs is displayed there.

Getting information from your fellow REALTORS® is great. There is a wealth of experience there just waiting to be tapped. But, when dealing with MLS issues, it’s best to refer to GHAR. Don’t waste your precious time! We have up-to-date information that will help you navigate the MLS, and everything it has to offer, that will help make your business more efficient.