Broker Reciprocity
What is Broker Reciprocity?
Broker Reciprocity is a system where brokers give each other permission to display their listings on each other's web sites. Brokers who participate in the program (called Broker Reciprocity Subscribers or BRSs) can display all of each others active listings. If you choose not to participate, no other broker will be permitted to display your listings. You may include your listings in the Broker Reciprocity database without having your own web site.
Broker Reciprocity:
Putting real estate professionals in control of listings on the Internet
The Broker Reciprocity service allows participating brokers to display each others' listings on their own websites. This approach provides several advantages:
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Brokerage web sites can become the best source of listing data. When most brokers participate, the number of listings in the reciprocal database can easily reach and even exceed the number on other popular sites.
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Participating brokers may display more data fields (like square footage) than current web sites are allowed to display.
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When consumers visit the web sites of reciprocal brokers, they may stay longer because the brokers have more listing data to offer. The broker sites may also offer easier interfaces for consumers, since many other sites are "cluttered" with non-listing content. As brokers become more innovative in offering on-line services, this will be a critical factor in their success.
In 2000, the web sites of the John L. Scott and Windermere real estate firms in Seattle (where reciprocity had already been working for three years) were experiencing between 12 and 18 million hits per month (back in 2000), according to senior firm managers. They attributed this to the relatively complete databases of listings that they can offer consumers.
Broker reciprocity is a two-step process: 1) each broker decides whether to participate in the program; 2) each broker who opts in decides whether to display on his or her website the listings of all brokers who have opted in.
Participation in the program (i.e. opting in) is free. The selection is made company by company. If an office or real estate company is participating in the program, all the "Active" listings of that office becaome part of the BR database.
Brokers who want to display the reciprocal data on their websites will follow certain steps:
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They will contract with Regional MLS to obtain access to the BR Data. If the data is pulled from the FTP directory, this access is free. Other forms of access may carry a fee.
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They will pay their own website designers to build a website and incorporate the reciprocal data.
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They will pay their own Internet Service Provider to host their website.
There are a number of MLS rules that govern Broker Reciprocity Web sites. A broker's website must indicate the listing broker's name on each listing displayed, give credit to Regional MLS as the source of any listing not owned by the broker, and include the usual disclaimer regarding the accuracy of the data. Brokers will be able to update their websites with fresh MLS data and pictures at least daily, depending on the type of data access selected.
If you have any questions, email our help center at mlshelp@northstarmls.com.
The Broker Reciprocity trademark and logo are service marks of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of MN, Inc. and may not be used without their permission.