CoStar - examples of what you would like to change..........
Appraisers, Brokers, and it seems like everyone else in commercial real estate love to complain about the big gorilla in the market yet CoStar revenues keep going up. Now that the Federal Trade Commission has stepped in on their latest acquisition, calling it illegal, maybe some changes to their current business practices could be part of a settlement? Now might be the time to help "fix" what many grumble is broken in this relationship. 

With as much detail as possible what are some examples of your experience with CoStar, and how would you like to see it changed? 

*If you would like more to be part of the conversation please post on other sites!*
[{"id": "gfabcj5", "text": "I want costar and loopnet to be separate entities. 4 years ago I used to get all the listing and comparables for $150 a month.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfabvoc", "text": "The fact that I can pull individual property owners email &amp; phone number in a certain area going property by property but I can't export an excel sheet with all this information without paying absurd money is extremely frustrating. I'd love to see this process streamlined. \n\nTons of buildings costar simply has no information on. Nothing. Whenever I ask my rep she always asks me to send the addresses so they can research info but has never sent back 1 address with updated contact info.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfac4t8", "text": "Brokers in Maine have basically blackballed costar and use NECPE instead. It's worked out great", "replies": [{"id": "gfcmfuj", "text": "I'm so jealous", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "ggguq0p", "text": "Catalyst is starting to replace CoStar.  Look up your your regional Catylist site here by zip code: \nhttps://www.catylist.com/\n\nNECPE is a regional site of the national Catylist CRE platform.  We\u2019re seeing a migration away from CoStar towards Catylist in MA / RI markets where I am and New England in general.  Presumably around the country others are doing the same?\n\nIn Massachusetts, for example, Catylist is offered through NECPE for ME, NH, MA. \n\nCatylist is available through ECCPN East Coast Commercial Property Network for RI, CT and also MA (www.eastcoastcpn.com )", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfahcea", "text": "I used to work for CoStar and the product can do some amazing things but its only as good as the data in it. Properties that are getting searched all the time have all the data. \n\nThose that don't, don't. It's frustrating but its the only way to run a business like that.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfas07v", "text": "There is no changing CoStar. CoStar is an inevitability without competition. \n\nWhat we need is to expand public records to include leases.\n\nThe actual market data should be free and we should pay (highly) for quality analysis of the data.", "replies": [{"id": "gfbgplh", "text": "&gt;The actual market data should be free and we should pay (highly) for quality analysis of the data.\n \nThis is almost exactly what Compstak does (you have to contribute data though) and apparently they're starting to roll out more analytics.", "replies": [{"id": "gfe6c55", "text": "That awesome! I'll look into it. Thanks.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfatmqp", "text": "The fees. Drop the insanely high per person fees for small shops.", "replies": [{"id": "gfbipll", "text": "I've heard that they require a fee for each person in an office, even if they don't use the service. It seems like the customer should be able to choose how many users they want to pay for.", "replies": [{"id": "gfcmqq9", "text": "There is a deal threshold. If a broker does a certain number of deals they are required to have a license.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gfbqfr4", "text": "Looked at opening my own appraisal firm not long ago. The Costar subscription would be more than my office rent.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfaufuh", "text": "Ohhh CoStar.\n\n1) staff all the research positions and train them up (since you want hem to train and research). For thrills, train employees on new product changes before they go live.\n\n2) pls go back to offering analytics separately. Not everyone need aa full analytics package; they need Property and Comps. Bonus you'd probably gain new customers who could actually afford the smaller package.\n\n3) don't offer analytics on areas in which the research is Tier 3. Just don't. The numbers are wrong. They may have been good when smaller brokers could afford costar,but now they can't so the numbers are buggered. The research team doesn't have time to add non-user listings and the field researchers don't report them anymore anyway.\n\n4) universal saved searches and reports.  If I run a search in all property, then move the parameter from For Sale to Comps while in all property - I cannot get relevant reports on the comps. And I cannot save that search and then use it in the Sales Comps tab. It's all \"All Property\".\n\n5) combining save searches. In older costar I could create two searches and blend them together. And I did it all the time. No more. \n\n6) allow users to select the carts to print in Custom Analytics. OR create one of the new fancy data dumps we now have for Markets in the Custom Analytics tab.\n\n7) alerts for new market videos, types of articles, and updated market reports.\n\nOk that's all I have for now.\n\n::Edit to add: not all, but I think this is a sufficient start. :::", "replies": [{"id": "gfb45ex", "text": "\\#3 so much", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "gfctxe0", "text": "3 holy shit yes", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfcu4ez", "text": "Being dicks about requiring licenses for everyone on teams when most of the team has zero need for it.  There are ways to address abusers and gouging isn't it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gfxc1qj", "text": "All of the reps or researchers I have dealt with are awful. Internal propaganda must really work because the reps will come in and beg for new contracts with higher fees because \"that's what it takes to operate and research\"- just so they can get their bonus two week travel packages and private concerts in vegas.\n\nExcuses for bad data- we were told they are investing HUGE $40mm in research- then immediately bragging about $1b+ annual profits. Less than .05% investment in the data they are selling.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gg441fb", "text": "The prices have become astronomical. The excuse is always the number of researchers hired becomes expensive, but so is the number of acquisitions of other companies. It is absolutely ridiculous pricing for small boutique shops that rely on the software for their bread and butter. It's almost like Costar is in cahoots to demolish mom and pop  CRE boutique shops so the deeper pocket brokerage firms who can afford to pay the $600 a month plus charge gain more market share. Many agents are paying $800 per month for an MLS!! NUTS\n\nIt's like Costar is the only viable mating partner on the planet that can reproduce offspring \n\nLower cost of monthly fee\n\nTreat your sales employees better- they are overworked and revert to sneaky practices to add on extras and not be transparent\n\nHonour and respect those brokerage firms that has been around for a long time paying bills and helping Costar grow - there should be some fathered in discount.\n\nWork with brokerages who have suffered through the pandemic and can't afford the astronomical prices to come to an agreement.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nSTOP ADDING AND TAKING AWAY FEATURES AND CHANGING PRICING\n\nSTOP having wdgaf attitudes toward firms that have supported Costar.\n\nThanks", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]