But that experience doesn’t need to be tied to the source of the data. Having data transparency eliminates a major headache (data collection and verification) and frees up the agents’ time to focus on their strengths: analysis and decision making.

The guidance of a good broker is essential, especially with the added complexities of commercial deals. In a market with great transparency, the only brokers that won’t be necessary are those that can’t provide those services (those that had been previously making commission checks by hoarding data as opposed to providing valuable service).

In my opinion, the deals don’t get done from knowledge gained on loopnet and costar. Knowledge of your market is created by hunting and gathering the information over time. And after time, that knowledge becomes power.

I am not Scott, nor do I know him. I will say though that just because you had one bad experience with a CoStar rep doesnt mean that this would be true with everyone.

You should note, as a commercial real estate professional that you are, that CoStar is very different than Loopnet….Which is very different than Catylist. The differences are gigantic, and while each service has it’s detractors, they all serve a purpose…

When I state that you should contact your local CoStar Account Rep, it is clearly becasue THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE COSTAR!. It is not a service that you can just sign up for online. Their salesreps are in every market, and they actually work with you.

If you want to see what they are all about, their webpage would be a start….but you can only understand it in a one on one meeting.

Benn/AgentGenius

My experience with CoStar was mostly negative. While they might have the “data” that we would all like. that’s pretty much it. So I’m irked when I see Scott Meyer’s post glorifying CoStar.

I googled his name, and guess who is blatantly promoting themselves here? Scott Meyer, an account executive for CoStar. Consistent with CoStar “standards”, he doesn’t disclose, that he works for CoStar.
naymz.com/scott_meyer_2897774

I wonder if you can compare computer ip addresses for your posters, Duke. I have a hard time believing poster Heywood is anyone other than Scott Meyer. Mostly because usually people encourage others to check out a service for themselves. But Heywood says to “call your local CoStar rep”, which sounds like something an account executive from CoStar would say.

I wrote a post on the lack of transparency a couple weeks ago. Hate to do a link to my own blog here, but I think it’s appropriate (squarefeetblog.com/commercial-real-estate-blog/2010/01/29/the-irony-of-silicon-valley/) not because of what I wrote, but the comments that ensued below.

Unfortunately, many in the industry continue to walk down the same path.

Bigger picture though, I think these problems all stem from the association/board level. The databases are merely a side-show. The residential market is extremely strong and tight-knit, from the local organization/board all the way up to NAR. My local commercial association/board charges a $100 a year, has a golf tournament, and an awards dinner. Just look at their website for a good laugh (asvb.org/). The second most seemingly important link on the site pertains to the self-inflicted awards dinner and the calendar of events also includes a golf tournament.

Click on the “our area of service” to see the highly sophisticated mapping technology used to outline the service area of the association while you are at it.

With that sort of budget and set of priorities little will get done. This will require new leadership which can convince member brokers/companies to invest – by way of increased dues – into technology, lobbying, etc.