If folks don’t want to register to see what I am offering which is better than most IDX sites. Then they can move on.

When I get requests for CMA’s, I first go check the MLS to see IF it is already listed, if so I send a nice email and and ask them if the listing is expiring soon or they just want a 2nd opinion. Rarely do I hear back. However, before I started doing this I would inquire about the home, blah, blah, blah.

I too signed up on site once in TN, left a note not to contact as I was only looking around and already had a Realtor. Did they read it? NO
I was immediately put on their drip campaign.

For someone who is a stronge advocate for registering, the most important thing is to put an opt out on everything you send them so they can stop it at anytime.

I got one recently it was “DO NOT CALL ME, IF YOU DO YOU GO OFF MY LIST OF FINDING A HOME FOR MY SON.”

We didn’t call or drip them. The buyer has choices and we respect them, but respect is equal too, we don’t compromise on the registeration.

Of course, that doesn’t change what’s happening here (other than making it seem a little less aggressive). I think that you’re right – it’s your house, that you built, and spent countless hours on creating for the public’s use, but you still have the right to choose how to interact with anyone visiting your site.

One of the things I’ve noticed as the internet has grown is a demand for everything the way the user wants it and nothing more. It happened with music, it happened with software, and I see it happen on websites. People have become demanding in what they want, how they want it, and the rules that govern what happens once they get what they want out of a site. And thanks to the sites that will email someone to death in order to “get the sale” (real estate or not), there is a perception that any website that requires registration is nothing more than a spam machine.

Knowing you, I know that your drip campaigns are probably interesting, insightful, and probably flavored with a little fun too. Had this person seen that first, they may have said “what the heck, the worst that can happen is I’ll have to hit delete once or twice.” Since they didn’t, they let their perception of what registration means interfere with some good interaction between themselves and you.

I agree with everyone in the thought that if this is their initial reaction, they probably wouldn’t wind up working with you in the first place. People have learned to take what they want from websites and move on. Not everyone, but many have. Before the internet, these were the same people that would call 100 listings to get info, then call their friend in the real estate business (who was too busy to help them right now) and sign a contract.

Good luck and let us know how it plays out.

There’s that word again… free.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2009/07/06/090706crbo_books_gladwell?currentPage=all

Feel free to browse elsewhere is you choose, odds are we weren’t going to work together anyway.

and Mark – absolutely – THAT’s where the key is. It is definitely a business and no one should expect to use someone else’s services for free.

Well said.

Back in the day, there would be a 1,500-word missive in the works. Because capturing leads generally has everything to do with how quickly you respond.

I switched to registration-required in August. Altered it ever so slightly in April in an effort to pre-qualify folks (a set number of searches and/or views) and then went back to full registration about two weeks back.

Best success always has been in contacting those coming to the website immediately. If you don’t want an e-mail or a phone call from me, use a phony name. Mr. Jablowme has registered on my site four different times.

Because while the real estate transaction is about you (the consumer), my websites are about me. I’m not in the business of running an IDX service. I’m in the business of selling homes and I will do whatever I believe is effective to help me with that goal.

When I was at Schwab, people would call for stock quotes even though they didn’t have an account and get angry when we didn’t provide them. You know what? We were staffed to assist our customers. Feel free to call someone else if you have no interest in working with us.

The same goes for my IDX feeds on my site. You are not required to register to view the homes for sale in Phoenix. You’re only required to register if you want to view them on my site. Feel free to browse elsewhere is you choose, odds are we weren’t going to work together anyway.

Remember it’s your business, run it like a business

I had another gentleman that came straight out and said that he would be in Miami next month and had contacted several agents and would buy from the one that offered the best deal – at least he was honest upfront. I told him that I only committed to those clients that reciprocated the commitment and good luck with the final outcome.

I would appreciate hearing what is on the market with a basement, main floor master and small yard under $400,000. in Zionsville or West Clay.
Our home in Northern Indiana is on the market, but as I am sure you know, things are not moving very quickly. You will not be able to reach us by phone as we are at our cottage in Maine and searching only by
internet.
We are already working with an agent in Zionsville.

She can stay and look at homes, but I won’t be giving her my expertise about the Zionsville market. Many agents don’t have a site for their clients and somehow, it sounds like this lady wants a second opinion.