I've been thinking it might be a good idea to post up a step-by-step automate-your-MarketWatch system.
I'm going to post up one step at a time.
The first step of course, is deciding how you're going to format the listings from your MLS.
I know that every MLS is different...and yours may be different, but the format I like the most is the gallery printout with about 4 or 6 listings per page with pictures and some property details including address and price.
It doesn't matter. Pictures are best. Look at them and ask yourself if that's how YOU would like to recieve them.
Once you've chosen a format, save the searches if you can, so they'll be easy to recreate next time.
By saving the searches, I mean saving a search for each price range you're going to cover.
For Georgetown for instance, we use up to $250, $250 to $500 and $500k and up.
If you need to, or want to use more price ranges...go right ahead.
The important thing is that you can search ALL the new listings in the last 2 weeks. Just homes that have come on the market since the last MarketWatch, NOT every home every time.
Who cares if it's going to be a lot of listings. It is what it is.
It doesn't matter.
Paper is cheap.
Commissions are high.
Just make those 2 decisions right now. What are your price ranges, and what format are you going to use to print them?
Save those formatted searches in your MLS, so you (or more importantly -- someone ELSE) can easily recreate them.
Then...sit back and wait til the next exciting episode of Automate Your MarketWatch!