RPR Hits The Ground Running

The RPR beta is fresh out of the gate, and we’re excited! It’s been particularly busy around here, and it all became worth it when we delivered the first look at RPR to our initial four beta markets over the last 2 weeks: MLS Listings, Inc., in the Bay Area, California, the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, the Spokane, WA Association of Realtors, and the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches. In each market we have 50 beta participants that were selected by their local leadership.

I was fortunate enough to attend the first beta test—at MLS Listings in San Jose—and I recall something really wonderful happen. It’s that feeling that that you’re watching something much bigger than yourself about to take place. I was in a progressive area with leaders from the local real estate industry all witnessing the birth of a new resource that has the potential to benefit every future user in one way or another.

Then it hit me, these leaders are pushing the boundaries for our industry. They see the changes in consumer behavior and understand that we can’t sit still. They have stepped up, not only to understand the new technology, but to provide valuable feedback on the direction of potential features and datasets. But what is it that each of the leaders see in RPR? I asked that question to each of the beta market CEO’s and here are their responses:

Our progressive subscribers appreciate the value that comprehensive, property-centric information adds to sharpen their resources and enhance the service they deliver to their clients. Our beta testers found the user interface impressive and intuitive. We very much appreciate the opportunity to support this initiative and participate in shaping its effectiveness for our subscribers’ business needs.
- Jim Harrison, President and CEO of Silicon Valley-based MLSListings, Inc.

ARMLS subscribers are very excited to be some of the first agents in the country to be able to test drive the RPR service. When we sent out the invitation to potential testers, we filled our reservations within the first day and had more on the waiting list. The agents are not only pleased about being able to research property out of our service area, but more so with the depth of information beyond MLS data they now have at their fingertips about their local market.
– Bob Bemis, CEO of Arizona Regional MLS

In managing a Multiple Listing Service staff and leadership are continually looking for opportunities to provide valuable services to our users. Through the Realtors Property Resource NAR is doing an incredible job of answering that quest by developing this valuable asset for our REALTOR members. Our leadership and staff have reviewed RPR and are convinced it will help our members be more successful in their real estate careers. That is really the bottom line – providing value to our membership. We feel privileged to be a Beta sight and congratulate NAR on their forward thinking in this outstanding Second Century Initiative.
– Rob Higgins, Executive Officer of Spokane Association of REALTORS

The leaders of the Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches are committed to bringing absolutely the best programs, products and services to our RAMB members – and the decision to bring RPR to our members first was unanimous. There was no question that RPR has a lot to bring to us now and in the future and we want to help build the best system and resource possible. We just finished our two training sessions with the RAMB beta testers on Thursday and they were extemely impressed.
– Teresa Kinney, CEO of Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches

RPR will continue its Beta roll out over the next few weeks, so keep checking back to our blog for the latest information.