Is MIBOR working against local brokers?
The local board of Realtors in Indianapolis MIBOR has decided that individual listings from an agent’s or broker’s IDX feed should not be allowed to be indexed in any search engine. They reason when a Google (or other search engine) result comes up for a specific address or MLS# this violates IDX regulations that specify how listings are supposed to be advertised as the full result is not shown in the SERP (search engine results). Often some of the required information is missing.
MIBOR has classified search engines, Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. as scraper sites. Scraper sites are typically viewed as 3rd party websites that without the express permission of the original website owner pulls the information (anything from a brief summary to a complete copy) and places it on their own website. The scraper site then tries to draw traffic for the terms of the information that they pulled – often these sites are full of google adwords or other forms of advertising hoping the visitor will click on an advertisement and make the site owner some money.
Is Google a scraper site?
Morgan Carey, CEO of Real Estate Webmasters and IDX vendor of the Indianapolis sites affected shared his communitcation with Cliff Niersbach of NAR that spanned a number of email exchanges. MIBOR passed the responsiblity of their ruling onto NAR for clarification. Mr. Niersbach states:
The CRT [Center for Real Estate Technology - a department of NAR] advises that “indexing” is a form of scraping.
Morgan, a world renowed SEO expert with an excellent understanding of how search engines operate states:
Google is NOT a scraper site, rather a technology (just like a browser) with a significant user base with which the public access websites. Google simply tells the user where to go – they are not creating web pages of their own out of the data they index.
Currently there are over 100 comments on Agent Genius over this issue. One of the main issues is that if agent and broker sites are not allowed to have IDX listings indexed then the only sites left will be truly scraper sites, national sites that do not get IDX feeds (like Trulia and Zillow) and Realtor.com which is not subject to local or even NAR regulations in how they display listings.
The MIBOR and NAR decision hurts local sites and as Joe Lane wrote: A Local Board of Realtors® Just Gave More Power To Zillow, Trulia, etc., Over It’s Own Members? This decision will benefit the national sites – real estate is local – local MLS boards and committees should be working to help their own membership and not help give national sites a competitive advantage.
I personally know the broker involved with this issue Mike Taylor, he runs an excellent Indianapolis Real Estate site. While this is still a local issue, it has the potential to spread to other MLS boards and committes across the country.
Hilary Marsh of NAR commented on the Agent genius post:
If you would like to propose a change to the policy, send your suggestion to the MLS Issues & Policies Committee in care of Cliff — cniersbach@realtors.org.
Thanks much,
Hilary Marsh
Managing Director, REALTOR.org
Anyone who has an IDX that indexes individual listings needs to get involved in this before other local boards follow in a similar direction.
Related reading:
MIBOR resources
MIBOR needs a clue
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Clearly this is a disturbing ruling which could have far-reaching implications if it is not reversed. MIBOR should not be biting the hand that feeds it and NAR should not be supporting policies that stifle competition among local brokers and consumers’ access to real estate information. Anyone who cares about consumer rights and local sites’ ability to compete with national sites needs to speak out against this outrageous ruling. It is clear that not only would consumers not benefit in the slightest from such a ruling (the ignorant supposition that Google and other search engines are nothing more than “scraper sites”), but it would absolutely empower actual scraper sites (who do not play by any rules) to completely dominate – and cash in – on the unauthorized display of MLS listings. You should hang your heads in shame, MIBOR, for not “getting” the real issue – consumers’ need for *more* information, not less – and for terrorizing local real estate website owners and brokers! Reverse this policy immediately: otherwise you are not serving your customers or the public in any way, shape or form whatsoever.
Hi Carolyn – great post – is there a centralized list of all other blog posts about this?
john
Carolyn ~ I’m not sure if Chris N. is changing his tune or not today, but he seemed pretty open about an hour ago when I exchanged e-mails with him. I told him my concern that restricting agents IDX privileges will only hurt our NAR members, while opening the doors for misuse and misappropriation by nonmembers. I am hoping that NAR does take the feedback that is given by their members and do the right thing.
oh boy…
I do not understand how the MIBOR can be so misinformed on internet technology. It seems like an quick decision was made on something that will have far reaching effects. As noted, there is very real chance this could turn into a domino effect and hurt any local MLS provider.
This is so backwards, I don’t even know where to start. Another fine example of NAR “eating their own”.
I would love to hear how Google would respond to the allegations that they are a scraper site. The basis of the ruling is plain wrong and the long-term implications will most definitely provide leverage to non-member sites who don’t have to abide by the rules.
There is no doubt MIBOR needs to look a little deeper into the issue before taking action such as this, but the NAR should know better.
Shame on both of you.
Nice post Carolyn, I am posting a linkback on my entry about MIBOR and NAR missing out on understanding the internet – http://www.mygulfcoastbeachteam.com/mibor-nar-grasp-internet-technology-works/
Wow nice post. Very infomative and something we all need to stay on top of!
It’s just one thing after another.