3 min read | This article is for *Agents*
Getting There: Universal Search Bar (Shift + Enter).
How to Book a Showing (shows how to use the universal search bar)
OVERVIEW
BrokerBay's cross-brokerage search feature enables users to effortlessly find and engage with MLS listings and agents throughout their entire MLS network, extending beyond their own brokerage.
Agents can seamlessly schedule showings, submit offers on external listings, communicate with listing agents, save preferred listings, and easily share listings with non-BrokerBay users right from the Universal Search Bar.
Furthermore, they have the ability to search for specific agents by name, access their brokerage and contact information, and initiate chat conversations with them.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-brokerage search feature, guidance on utilizing the quick action buttons for efficient interaction, and outlines the permissions and limitations involved.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- How to Access the Cross-Brokerage Feature
- Search Results: What Details are Visible from the Universal Search Bar?
- Listings: Quick Action Overview
- Agents: Quick Action Overview
- Permissions & Restrictions
- Troubleshooting & FAQs
How to Access the Cross-Brokerage Feature
The cross-brokerage search feature is an enhancement that has been integrated into the universal search bar for your convenience. With just a click, you can easily access and utilize this powerful tool.
See the steps below on how to use the cross-brokerage search feature:
- Click the search bar or press Shift + Enter to activate the Universal Search Bar.
- Select the Listings or Agents tab, depending on what you'd like to search for.
- If you selected Listings, begin typing a listing address or MLS number. If you selected Agents, begin typing an Agent's name.
- As soon as you start typing, another dropdown will appear at the top right of the search bar.
- For Agents, the default search filter will be "Within MLS" meaning that search results will be pulled from all listing and agent rosters across your MLS—to view only results from your own brokerage, click on the dropdown and select "My Brokerage"
Search Results: What Details are Visible from the Universal Search Bar?
Listings Tab
Each listing entry in the search results will contain the following details:
- Availability
- MLS numbers
- Address (including city and province/state)
- Price
- Days on Market
- Brokerage/sub-brokerage name
- If there’s a sub-brokerage name associated with the primary agent of the listing, the sub-brokerage name and logo will be displayed; otherwise, the brokerage name and logo will be displayed
- Listing agent(s)
- Quick action buttons (these buttons will appear upon hover)
Agents Tab
Each agent entry in the search results will contain the following details:
- Agent name
- Brokerage/sub-brokerage name
- MLS ID
- Chat button (this button will appear upon hover)
*Note: If a licensed user belongs to multiple brokerages within the platform, that agent will appear in multiple search result entries (with each entry including a unique MLS ID & brokerage name).
If a licensed user has multiple MLS IDs within the same brokerage, all of their MLS IDs will appear in a single entry.
Listings: Quick Action Overview
When you use the universal search bar to pull up a listing—whether it's internal to your brokerage or external—there are a number of different actions you can take on that listing from the search bar itself.
Clicking on the listing will direct you to the listing details page, meanwhile hovering over the listing entry will pull up the following quick action buttons:
Schedule
Clicking on the Schedule button will bring you directly to the booking screen where you can schedule an appointment as a showing agent.
Message Agent(s)
The Message Agent(s) button allows you to quick-send a chat message to the listing agent(s) tied to that listing.
Register Offer
The Register Offer button will bring you directly to the offer registration screen, where you can submit an offer on behalf of a client.
Favorite
Clicking on the Favorite button will auto-add that listing to your My Favorites tab (located in the lefthand sidebar) for easy access. A popup will appear to let you know the listing has been successfully added. You can remove a listing from your favorites by clicking the same button again.
Share
The Share button allows you to share listings via email with anyone, including non-BrokerBay users. Clicking this button will bring you to the messaging screen where you can compose your email and enter the email addresses of your recipients.
Agent search results offer several quick action options.
View Agent Details
Clicking on an agent entry in the search dropdown will reveal that agent's brokerage and contact information in a slideout modal on the right side of the screen. These details include brokerage & sub-brokerage name, team name (if applicable), email, mobile number, and office number.
Chat
The Chat button will appear when hovering over an agent entry—clicking on it will open a chat conversation with that agent.
While the cross-brokerage search feature allows you to view and take action on listings and agent profiles across the BrokerBay platform, certain restrictions remain in place based on user role permissions.
See the chart below for a breakdown.
| ROLE | CAN BOOK SHOWINGS FOR... | CAN REGISTER OFFERS FOR... | CAN CHAT WITH... |
| Global Admin |
|
|
|
| Branch Admin |
|
|
|
| Team Admin |
|
|
Any agent that has not deactivated their chat availability |
| Agent |
|
|
Any agent that has not deactivated their chat availability |
Can I view listings and agents outside of my state/province?
No. The cross-brokerage search feature will only return results associated with your own state or province.
How can I locate a listing or agent that I have already viewed?
If you interact with a listing or agent entry by clicking on the line item/clicking one of the quick action buttons, that entry will be saved in your Recent Searches and appear the next time you click on the universal search bar. Up to 10 recent searches can be saved before the oldest result is cleared when a new one is added.
To manually clear your Recent Searches, click the "Clear Recents" button.
Why is the Schedule quick action button greyed out on certain listings?
If a listing has showings disabled and you do not have permission to that listing (e.g. the listing belongs to another brokerage), then you will not be able to interact with the Schedule button. A popup will inform you that booking is not currently available for that listing.
Why is the Register Offer quick action button greyed out on certain listings?
If a listing has offer registration disabled and you do not have permissions to that listing (e.g. the listing belongs to another brokerage), then you will not be able to interact with the Register Offer button.
Similarly, if the "Allow showing agents to register their own offers" toggle is turned OFF in the offer settings for that listing and you are accessing it as a showing agent, the Register Offer button will be greyed out. A popup will inform you that offer registration is not currently available for that listing.
Why is the Chat/Message Agent(s) button sometimes greyed out?
If an agent has hidden their profile from other agents in the chat tool, then the quick action buttons that open a conversation with them will be greyed out and you will not be able to send that user a chat message.
Global and branch admins with permissions to that user will still be able to send them chat messages.
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