International survey reveals worldwide concern over portal listings

A data consultancy says it will shortly release the findings of an online survey on estate agents’ concerns over how their listings are used and controlled when they submit them to property portals and industry software specialists.

Transmit Data, which has offices in California and Melbourne, conducted the research online through its website - it is not yet known whether UK agents responded to the Survey Monkey research, although broad findings outlined by the company in a press release will make familiar reading to some agents here.

Transmit Data says the results - only general, at this stage - are “concerning.” 

“We conducted research across the online classified industry, specifically focusing on the real estate sector. We were shocked to discover the lack of client trust with third party software vendors and the data being managed” says the consultancy’s customer experience manager, Christy Barnish. 

“Once we identified the source of the distrust, we came to the realisation that the real estate industry has lost control of the data they (franchisees, sales agents and the like) generate and thus believe in owning” says Barnish.

“Real estate companies have lost all say into where their data is sent, used, stored and for what purposes. From the research we conducted, the distrust is warranted” he adds.

Joel Leslie, the chief executive of Transmit Data, says: “Once a real estate agent or broker uploads the listing to their listings system, CRM and or property website, in many cases, they are signing their rights away concerning ownership of that listing. This is why there is so much animosity concerning listings data within in the real estate industry.”

Estate Agent Today has asked Transmit Data for an insight into its research and the findings when they are released.