Real estate agents are tough. They adapt, change and grow. In these trying times, they look for opportunities and face challenges head-on. To help, we would like to introduce a new feature to the MLS: Virtual Open Houses.
This feature is for agents who want to show a home virtually instead of in-person by using a tool like Zoom, GoToMeeting or Facebook Live. Use it to host an open house for prospective buyers or to schedule a virtual tour of homes for a group of agents in your sphere. To add, simply access the Open House section when editing your listing.
Links to virtual open houses must be from one of these services:
- BlueJeans
- Facebook Live
- Google Meet
- GoToMeet.Me
- GoToMeeting
- GoToWebinar
- join.me
- Microsoft Teams
- RingCentral
- Skype
- WebEx
- Whereby
- YouTube Live
- Zoho Meeting
- Zoom
Please note that:
- Only post links to live online events that will be held at a scheduled date and time.
- Post pre-recorded videos and virtual tours in the Videos and Virtual Tours section of the listing instead.
- Virtual open houses are not the same as virtual tours.
NAR has guidance on open houses in relation to COVID-19 as well as for showings and other real estate activities. In some markets, MLSs have a rule that showings are required for active listings. ARMLS does not have this rule as showings are the decision of brokerages and their sellers. Nonetheless, the latest data from ShowingTime shows a sharp decrease in showings. Stay up to date on any changes to ARMLS services on our COVID-19 information page at ARMLS.com/covid-19.
Anonymous
How do I host a virtual open house when I link to zoom – it tells me that is not an acceptable web link
James Marcus
Hi, can you post the link here so we can take a look?
Anonymous
Does a virtual open house qualify as procuring cause?
James Marcus
Hi, that would be a question for AAR or your broker. ARMLS cannot answer that.
Anonymous
My facebook live links are being removed. Please advise.
James Marcus
Hi, could you post the link here for us to investigate?
Anonymous
How do I get the HTML to post a video if I took the video on my iPhone?
James Marcus
Hi, you have to upload the video to a hosting platform like Vimeo to get an HTML embed code.
Anonymous
Why have the platform options been limited? I’d like to do my virtual open houses from the Eye Spy 360 platform that is by far the best virtual open house platform I’ve found. Can it be added please?
James Marcus
Hi, unfortunately when the feature launched many agents were putting pre-recorded links in that field. Some were also putting their brokerage website rather than a live event. Therefore our vendors restricted the domains. We have submitted a request on your behalf, the vendor is ultimately the decision-maker on which domains are allowed.
Anonymous
Thank you, how will I know if it’s approved?
James Marcus
Hi, when a suggested has been accepted we always contact the subscriber that made the request. Please email Brand@ARMLS.com so we can take down your Agent ID.