Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Industry Relations Episode 48: Networking in a Virtual World & the 2020 MLS Proptech Symposium

Long-distance relationships are never easy. And if you’re part of the traveling circus that is the real estate conference circuit, you may be struggling to keep your professional relationships going in a virtual environment. Would being an orc help?

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg are discussing the current pause in the real estate conference and trade show circuit and mourning the loss of chance meetings that don’t happen in a virtual environment. They explore why massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) like World of Warcraft work to create community and how real estate might replicate that always-on culture until the conference circuit comes back. 

Rob and Greg go on to cover the challenge of sustaining long-distance relationships in an online world, explaining why we just can’t duplicate face-to-face interaction at virtual events. Listen in for insight on how going virtual is impacting MLSs, associations, and vendors and learn about the possibility for a 2020 MLS Proptech Symposium (which Rob wants to rename to the “2020 MLS Herd Symposium”) that would help sponsors make decisions about the feasibility of their own fiscal events. 

What’s Discussed: 

The current halt to the real estate conference/trade show circuit

What Greg covers in his forthcoming book, The Art of the CMA

The chance meetings that don’t happen in a virtual environment

Why we can’t duplicate face-to-face interaction through virtual events

The challenge of sustaining long-distance business/personal relationships

Why MMO games work to create community + how real estate might replicate that always-on culture

When the real estate conference circuit will come back

The impact of going virtual for MLS and association communities

–Increased engagement and attendance

–Eliminates serendipity of networking

How new vendors might build trust in the absence of in-person interaction

What we can do to gauge circuit response to physical events

Connect with Rob and Greg:

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Resources:

CMLS 2020

RESO 2020 Fall Conference

Inman Connect 2020

2020 NAR Realtors Conference and Expo

Cover Art Choices for Greg’s Book

Charles Warnock

VirBELA

Second Life

EverQuest

Asheron’s Call

MMORPG

World of Warcraft

Roblox

Overwatch

Discord

Dungeons and Dragons Online

ARMLS

GoToMeeting

Greg’s Draft Agenda for the 2020 MLS Proptech Symposium ( With Rob Hahn’s suggestions)

Our Sponsors:

Cloud Agent Suite

Notorious VIP

NAR Midyear to go virtual

via GIPHY

NAR to Deliver Virtual Solutions for 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo

“We are all watching the development of the coronavirus pandemic with uncertainty and serious concern.
On behalf of the NAR Leadership Team, CEO Bob Goldberg, and the NAR staff, your well-being and your business are of paramount importance to us at this unprecedented time.


Due to recent restrictions and recommendations implemented by the federal and Washington, D.C. governments, NAR will deliver previously-planned programming and committee meetings virtually.

With the Centers for Disease Control issuing guidance limiting discretionary travel and gatherings of more than 10 people for the next eight weeks, and Washington, D.C. also instituting a state of emergency to limit the spread of COVID-19, we will no longer hold the 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo in person from May 11-16 in Washington, D.C.

Had to happen, but still….

RESO Spring Summit going digital

2020 Digital Spring Technology Summit

“Your safety is our top priority. New Orleans is under a state of emergency and Louisiana has banned large meetings through mid-April. We can’t ensure that our 2020 Spring Summit will be allowed to take place, or that it would be safe for our members to travel to it.

Instead of an in-person event, we will deliver the RESO Spring Summit as a digital event. While the RESO team and I are disappointed that we won’t see you in person, we will take this opportunity to reach a broader audience with the industry-leading work that you do.”

Sam DeBoard, CEO RESO

What a bummer, I was really looking forward to this one. But its the right move. I’m sure this won’t be the first or last event that is going “digital” this year.

NAR to make a decision on possible postponement of Midyear Legislative Meetings by April 1st

Statement on NAR 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo and the Coronavirus

“As concerns over the coronavirus continue, many of our members have inquired about the status of the NAR 2020 REALTORS Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo (RLMTE), currently scheduled to occur May 11-16 in Washington, DC. Today, the NAR Leadership Team announced that a final decision regarding the possible postponement or use of virtual options for RLMTE will be made on or before April 1, 2020.

The safety and well-being of our members, staff, and partner organizations remains our top priority, and the Leadership Team recognizes the virus’s impact on large gatherings and events.”

Shit just got real yo.

We got nipple

As I head to NAR Annual in San Francisco I can help but remember back to NAR Annual 2003, also held in San Francisco, when I hired Fabio for a meet and greet at our eNeighborhoods booth.

We ran a full centerfold spread ad in REALTOR Magazine to promote his appearance. To this day I think its the only ad in REALTOR Magazine that ever showed full nipple.

So don’t believe anyone when they tell you not to follow your dreams.

#thanksstu

See you in Boston!

I’m heading to Boston today and looking forward to seeing everyone.

I’m also going to be moderating a panel at the MLS Association Executive Session on Friday at the Hynes Center, Room 210 on the Second Level.

The session runs from 1PM to 3PM. I think they have the panel starting around 2:20PM.

The title of the panel is “Innovation and Options – The Grid, MLS Aligned, Bridge API, Spark Platform and Trestle“. I will be joined by…

Marc Hill from Realtracs talking about the The Grid.
Chris Lambrou from MetroMLS talking about MLS Aligned.
Jay Lee from Bridge Interactive (Zillow Group) talking about the Bridge API.
Matt Fowler from FBS talking about the Spark Platform.
Ethan Bailey from CoreLogic talking about Trestle.

I’m really looking forward to this and hoping it will be a good opportunity for everyone to get a better understanding of what each of these solutions can do for the MLS providers and their members.

Also we’ve recently updated our booth design so make sure to come by and take a look, we are giving away lots of free stuff.

Booth #333

See you soon!

Vendor Tech: Get off the floor!

It’s trade show season again, so that means many of us have been on the road. I still do a little booth duty now and then and thought I’d share something with everyone.

Does this look familiar?

Yup that dreaded rat’s nest of cables on the floor, just to the side of the table cloth at your 6 foot table. Sometimes your charging cables are too short to reach your phone on the table, and it just looks like shit.

But today I have the solution for you. The Accell Powramid! These bad boys are awesome for trade tables and regular conference tables.

Sure they take up a bit of table space, but no bending over, no rat’s nest of cables, they fit all types of power bricks and they come with 6 outlets and two USB charging ports. Love ’em.

You can buy them at Amazon, here’s the link. => Accell Powramid

Take my advice, order twice as many as you think you’ll need because once you start using them you are gonna to find other places to put them.

You’re welcome.

Thoughts on NAR’s iOi Summit

I had heard about this event a few months ago, and had been asked if I was going to attend. I was skeptical about it, but when I received an invitation to apply to participate in the “pitch battle”, I went ahead and applied. As I previously mentioned I was surprised that we were selected.

The event was designed by Bob Goldberg, NAR’s CEO to bring the disruptors “inside the tent”. To foster “innovation, opportunity & investment”. Basically Mr. Goldberg wanted NAR to be part of the conversation.

Color me impressed. Not only was the event very well produced, but I enjoyed meeting and seeing other vendors, some old (like me) and some new in the space. I loved vendors pitching agent safety apps, new CRMs, new front end of choice apps, 360 photo apps to help with disaster recovery efforts, real estate photo augmentation, using lockboxes help with in-home medical care, and a way to level up agent performance. What I found most impressive is none of these new startups seemed to be making money by selling ads. Bliss!

BoxBrownine won the “Pitch Battle”. And KW Labs won the Hackathon. You can read more about them here.

And true to his word, Mr. Goldberg did bring in a few heavy hitting investors to the conference too. Of course Mr. Goldberg couldn’t help himself in touting NAR’s own success in the investment arm of his organizations, Second Century Initiatives and REach. He interviewed Ron Hirson, Chief Product Officer from DocuSign. Which recently went public and made NAR a small fortune.

As Mr. Goldberg hit the stage to wrap up the conference, I was thinking about what was missing about the event. And then it hit me. Zillow. I heard nary a mention about Zillow from any of the presenters, or startups in attendance. Not from some sort of mandate, but just…because.

Which to me was the most impressive. Bob Goldberg did seemingly the impossible. He held a tech conference where nobody was talking about Zillow.

See you at NAR iOi Summit this week

A few weeks ago I received an invitation to apply to compete in the “Pitch Battle” at NAR’s inaugural “iOi Summit“. I thought it was a long shot but maybe good opportunity to get the word out about Cloud CMA’s new feature, Cloud Investor Connect. Surprisingly I made the cut. I’m told there were over 100 applications, but they choose only 16 to compete.

CRMLS, MRED and SFAR have sponsored to another portion of the event, a hackaton.

So if you are going to be in SF, I leave tomorrow morning, drop me a line.

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This event isn’t for CEO or leadership, but for those in the trenches working with agents in the training and support departments of the MLS providers.

Boost is hosted by W+R Studios, the creative team behind Cloud CMA and we believe in working hard and having fun. ????

All that’s required is to buy a ticket. Room and board are on us! Plus we promise to keep you entertained.

Tickets are very limited. To order tickets or find out more information please click the link below:

BOOST- MLS STAFF SUMMIT

Sponsored By MLS Reset