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Realtor.com®+™: A New Era in Home Searching

Realtor.com® has recently made an exciting announcement that is set to transform the way home buyers and real estate agents interact. The launch of Realtor.com®+™, pronounced "plus," introduces a collaborative home search platform, which is unique in the real estate market. Designed with input from multiple MLSs (Multiple Listing Services), this new tool aims to facilitate a seamless connection between real estate professionals and consumers.

The Realtor.com®+™ platform is not just another listing tool, but rather a comprehensive and innovative home search experience that strengthens collaboration and transparency throughout the buying process. This initiative is vital, particularly in today's fast-paced market where open information sharing is increasingly significant.

Realtor.com®+™ is already live for Canopy MLS, which services over 20,000 subscribers in Charlotte, North Carolina. With plans for the platform to expand to 16 additional markets in the coming months, it is projected to support more than 122,000 real estate professionals across the country. This collaboration marks the largest multi-MLS, co-branded portal in the history of online data-sharing, reflecting Realtor.com®’s commitment to keeping MLSs and professionals at the core of the real estate ecosystem.

Empowering Professionals and Enhancing User Experience
At the heart of Realtor.com®+™ is the goal of empowering real estate agents and ensuring that they remain the focal point of each transaction. With advanced tools at their disposal, real estate professionals can now support clients more effectively. The platform offers features such as MLS filter searches, listing sharing and real-time chat capabilities, designed to create an intuitive user experience that is accessible on both mobile and desktop platforms.

In addition to these search capabilities, Realtor.com®+™ establishes a strong brand presence. The platform ensures that agents and their brokerages maintain visibility throughout the search journey, as there are no competing lead forms on any pages, fostering greater consumer trust and confidence.

A Collaborative Approach
Developed in collaboration with MLSs, Realtor.com®+™ emphasizes the importance of organized real estate and supports data accuracy and attribution. It provides members with essential tools tailored specifically for their workflow. The technology behind Realtor.com®+™ also leverages advanced collaboration features from Zenlist, a recent addition to Realtor.com's suite of offerings.

The testing phase involved agents and brokers who provided valuable feedback, ensuring that the platform meets the needs of its users at every point in the home-buying journey. The app is accessible directly through agents' MLS dashboards, providing a streamlined approach for both professionals and consumers.

Some of the additional signed MLSs that are integrating with Realtor.com®+™ include Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS), Central Texas MLS, and multiple others across the nation. Each of these partnerships contributes to a collective goal: delivering cutting-edge tools while maintaining the integrity and trust of the MLS data.

Future Integrations and Partnerships
Realtor.com®+™ is not only about collaboration among MLSs but also about integrating with leading technology providers such as Docusign and Hover. For example, integrating Docusign's tool promotes a smoother workflow for agents, allowing them to focus more on client relationships rather than paperwork. Similarly, the incorporation of Hover’s visualization technology makes property listings interactive, helping buyers visualize a home's potential and increasing their confidence in making a decision.

CEO of Realtor.com®, Damian Eales, emphasized the significance of this launch, stating, "Realtor.com®+™ modernizes our legacy by providing more powerful tools and ensuring that professionals are at the center of transactions. Our focus is on enhancing the market by empowering agents and building a better search experience for consumers."
This innovation arrives at a time when the real estate industry is witnessing a shift towards closed ecosystems. Realtor.com®+™ stands out by promoting an open, collaborative approach that not only benefits agents and brokerages but ultimately serves the best interests of home buyers and sellers.

Conclusion

With Realtor.com®+™, the future of home searching looks promising as it reinforces the value of real estate professionals while enhancing the client experience. By championing transparency and collaboration, the platform stands poised to redefine how individuals navigate the path to finding their dream homes. As it rolls out across more MLSs, Realtor.com®+™ will undoubtedly play a crucial role in reshaping the real estate landscape for years to come.