Any local realtors NOT using "connectMLS"? (Chicago: real estate, homes)

[Sodium]

It appears that some/many/most/all realtors serving the Chicago suburbs use a piece of software called "connectMLS" to work with clients on identifying possible homes to buy, discuss features, create "maybe" lists and so on.

The problem is that this "connectMLS" is a user interface nightmare, with a horrible design involving jumps from mode to mode, inconsistent map numbering, recommendation tags that vanish as soon as one person of a couple observes them, head-banging behavior when viewed on a smartphone, little integration with other tools, apps, maps or software, and on and on and on. Instead of helping us find a home, "connectMLS" is making the process even more aggravating and frustrating.

It looks like "connectMLS" is actually provided by MRED (is that right?) the same entity that controls the MLS in this area. But does that mean that all realtors in the Chicago 'burbs have to use it? Or do some realtors use something better? I hope it's the latter!

[semaj82]

I believe that is the standard software used by pretty much all realtors.

What we did is use Trulia or Redfin (my preference) to do any sort of searching on our own, and then sent the links to our realtor. It worked pretty slick. I agree with you on the interface issues - I have an Android phone and ConnectMLS was useless. The Redfin app is really quite good for Android -- I'd assume iPhone would be similar, if you're of the turtleneck-wearing ilk.

[Los Guys]

I'll second the redfin recommendation. My favorite site for real estate related research and time wasting.