…starting at $10/month
Websites for real estate agents! Yes, $10/month!
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=159&item=280
As many of you know, most REALTORS(R) are annoyed with REALTOR.com and feel that it has lost its importance and its zest with the public. Yes, the public still uses REALTOR.com, but the once out-and-out, first place real estate site continues to lose viewers.
No surprise to those of us in the business.
Now, surveys are surveys and who knows how accurate they are…
In 2008, Trulia bested Zillow.
Where did Yahoo come from? Like any search engine site that has an email/subscriber base, they have the beginnings of a successful search site. But it takes real estate listings in order to complete the circle and attract lookers.
Remember Google’s entrance, short as it was, into the real estate search fray? Because they had the maps, the subscribers, they added listings when someone put in an address… problem was that they ticked off the organized real industry (who will syndicate for a price) and as soon as it came on the Internet, Google’s real estate entrance was gone.
Everyone wants a piece of the real estate pie.
But REALTORS(R) are beginning to rebel. Recently Edina Realty opted out of REALTOR.com
REALTOR.com’s position: http://www.realtor.com/blogs/2012/05/22/an-update-on-our-relationship-with-edina-realty/
Edina Realty: http://www.startribune.com/business/153367635.html
And this is just the beginning of brokers taking back their listings.
We brokers pay dearly to obtain a listing and we pay dearly to advertise it and to represent our client. We are responsible for the ads. Question: Does it meet the “clear picture” test to see a broker’s listing and right next to it the display ad of a competing real estate agent?
What’s worse is that on REALTOR.com, there’s a place on the right to ask for more information. Do you think the lead goes to the broker? No. It goes to someone who does not necessarily know about the property. Is it possible for that agent to do a good job of selling the property… maybe. A broker has to pay REALTOR.com to get the lead on their own property. I sent a note asking for information. Wonder who will answer. Since no other REALTOR has seen the property, it would be interesting to see who responds… sigh!
Ask us how much we pay to be REALTORS(R). You won’t hear anyone say good things.
Since we have to pay to get leads off our own listings, why not determine which website gives us the biggest bang for our buck? REALTOR.com is not the place.
What about the others?
We like what we see at Zillow
We’re going to take a look…
The problem is syndication. From one of our favorite bloggers, Notorious Rob Hahn…
http://www.notorious-rob.com/2012/05/30/solve-syndication-problem/
This sums up the frustrations of broker, but Rob gives us solutions. Awesome!
Kathy Howe
