Getting to Know Bright MLS -  A Conversation with Mariah Jacobs

By Hena Rashid

NVAR Staff recently had the opportunity to interview Mariah Jacobs, Senior Customer Success Coach for the Northern Virginia Region at Bright MLS. Mariah has been with Bright MLS for two years and has several years of experience in customer service in the real estate industry.  

"Can you describe your responsibilities at Bright MLS?" 

Mariah is a Senior Customer Success Coach who helps agents and brokers maximize their usage of Bright MLS serving as a subject matter expert on Bright MLS products, services, and key policies. She reports business opportunities to improve satisfaction, expansion, and overall growth and advancement for Bright MLS. Mariah emphasized that she wants clients to go beyond the “Search” tab and take advantage of the free educational tools Bright MLS has to offer.  

"Can you speak about who benefits from Bright MLS? Is it just for the agent?"

Bright MLS caters to a wide range of professionals in the real estate industry, offering its services to individuals and organizations alike. In addition to real estate agents, Bright MLS subscribers encompass appraisers, real estate offices, brokerages, as well as associations and their dedicated staff. 

"What are some of the most notable benefits of Bright MLS?"

One prominent advantage for agents lies in the ability to list and discover homes by utilizing the tools provided on Bright MLS. Similarly, appraisers can leverage Bright MLS when determining the value of a home, while brokerages and associations can make use of Bright MLS’s data and statistics to their advantage.

Mariah said that that Bright MLS is the main resource that provides subscribers with access to listing information for a larger geographic area. Particularly, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C, and West Virginia. Additionally, Mariah said that Bright MLS’s objective is to serve clients by providing access to comprehensive real estate data in the Mid-Atlantic region. Clients can explore all of the listings directly from Bright MLS.  

"Does Bright MLS post any data or reports on the Bright MLS website?"

Bright MLS offers market reports and weekly updates that provide a comprehensive overview of trends and activity across various regions. These reports cater to the diverse needs of Bright MLS subscribers, enabling them to customize the information according to their preferences. Additionally, for the latest updates, subscribers can conveniently access the "News" tab.

"How can Realtors learn more about the tools they have through Bright MLS?"

Realtors® can greatly enhance their knowledge and actively participate in training sessions to acquire the essential skills and leverage the resources provided by Bright MLS to their advantage. Mariah said that clients should take advantage of the upcoming educational training opportunities through our shareholder associations and online webinar series. 

Additionally, Bright MLS offers in-person training sessions at both NVAR Fairfax and Herndon offices once a month. Each session encompasses two classes delivered in a workshop format, guaranteeing a higher level of engagement compared to conventional educational methods.

"Are there any new services/releases on the horizon?"

Bright MLS developed a comprehensive mobile application known as "MLS Touch," specifically designed to enable businesses in the real estate industry to operate from anywhere. MLS-Touch seamlessly integrates with Bright MLS search, public records, and showings. Mariah believes that MLS Touch is an amazing opportunity for clients to access an extensive library easily from their smartphone. 

"Is there anything else we should know about Bright MLS?"

As previously emphasized, Mariah strongly encourages clients to take advantage of educational opportunities. Mariah encourages clients to reach out to her directly and have a free coaching session via Zoom. She is committed to recognizing opportunities to improve products and services for clients and provides product improvement requests to the appropriate Bright representatives or teams.   

Bright MLS’s mission revolves around assisting subscribers in enhancing their business endeavors. Bright MLS offers a wide array of resources to support clients in expanding their business prospects. 

Visit Bright MLS's website by clicking here.

Visit Bright MLS's office hours here.  

About Mariah Jacobs

Mariah Jacobs is a Senior Customer Success Coach with Bright MLS in the NVAR region. Mariah facilitates outreach to associations and brokerage offices to schedule workshops for subscribers, communicating Bright’s value proposition and corporate message with a professional image and positive persuasive attitude to drive awareness, adoption, engagement, and retention.