It turns out that 2014 was quite a good year for Trulia (TRLA) in terms of forming new partnerships with multiple listing services. According to a release from the online real estate marketplace, Trulia now boasts 125 direct relationships with MLSs across the U.S.
During 2014 alone, Trulia entered into 69 new MLS relationships, with 21 in the fourth quarter alone, more than doubling its previous total.
“With 125 MLSs and thousands of brokers now using our Trulia Data Connect program to ensure their listing data is accurately reflected for the properties they have on Trulia, it is clear that the real estate community wants to work together with Trulia to promote listings and broker brands to the over 55 million unique visitors that come to Trulia each month,” said Alon Chaver, Trulia’s vice president of industry services.
“By working together with Trulia to improve the accuracy of listings, the MLS community isn’t just protecting brokers and their listing agents from legal liability, it is helping brokers and agents grow their businesses with better quality leads,” Chaver added. “In addition, displaying accurate information about a listing is in the best interests of the general public.”
Trulia has been attempting to increase MLS participation in its Data Connect program, which it says can dramatically reduce error rates and improve the accuracy of listings.
“The Trulia Data Connect program facilitates up to 180 listing updates a day, about once every eight minutes, when the data comes directly from an MLS RETS feed,” Trulia said.
“However, if the data comes through indirect sources — including listing aggregators, virtual tours and online marketing products — many of the listings can be stale on the site,” Trulia added. “Based on a recent Trulia analysis, 18%-32% of the listings coming from indirect or third-party sources contain inaccuracies. MLSs who send listings to Trulia through direct feeds solve this problem for their brokers.”
Trulia also announced the addition of three new MLS partners, which brought its total of MLS partners to 125. The new members of Trulia’s Data Connect program are Mid-Hudson MLS, Southeast Arizona Multiple Listing Service and California Desert Association of Realtors.
“The relationship between Mid-Hudson MLS and Trulia is a step in regaining listing accuracy in our marketplace. With accurate listings, our members more effectively market to the homebuyers and sellers using Trulia,” said Sandy Tambone, Mid-Hudson MLS executive officer. “In addition, the agreement guarantees prominent broker, agent, and MLS attribution and ensures our brokers remain in control of where their data goes.”
