Which Entity Interacts Better? AG Poll
National, State or Local?
With the advent of social media and modern communication, real estate associations of all levels are adopting new tools to reach out to, retain and educate members. Some entities are doing a better job than others- some have social medians hired, others still barely check email and want you to contribute to their literal “suggestion box.”
We’re interested to learn who you think listens to and interacts with Realtors better- has your experience led you to greater accessibility to NAR, your state association or your local board? Let us know in the poll below:
PS: we’re testing out a bevy of polling tools for you, let us know what you think in the comments. I’m not to hip on this one at ALL so far because of the ads as part of their java script, but it IS fully customizable which is cool.
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This article published on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 1:01 pm | Contact the editorTopics: Real Estate
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AGBeat Editor-in-Chief: Lani, named one of Real Estate’s 100 Most Influential, as well as 12 Most Influential Women in Real Estate, is a business writer hailing from the great state of Texas in the city of Austin. As a digital native, Lani is immersed not only in advanced technologies and new media, but is also a stats nerd often burried in piles of reports. Lani is a proven leader, thoughtful speaker, and vested partner at AGBeat.
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Comments (25)
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- Real Estate Feeds:
Which Entity Interacts Better? AG Poll: Dont be stingy with your thoughts- stop by and comment!National, State .. http://bit.ly/2maHAe
- RealEstate Babble:
AgentGenius: Which Entity Interacts Better? AG Poll http://bit.ly/4fgz1Z Full http://bit.ly/25FOXn
- Tara Christianson:
RT @LaniAR http://is.gd/4r7Vt <–REALTORS, plz take this poll, it's only ONE question! <I did, did you? It's painless, promise!>
- Eric Pampe:
so @HomesWithTLC: says the ONE QUESTION poll for Realtors is easy, have you taken it? http://is.gd/4r7Vt
- Ted Mackel:
http://bit.ly/28n3qk Agent Genius Poll on Social Media and our AORs Local, National, & Statewide
- Sarah Nopp:
@LaniAR thanks for posting that link to the Realtor survey, it will be interesting to watch results & comments ( http://is.gd/4rFlB )
- Jeanette Joy Fisher:
*REALTORS, RT @LaniAR http://is.gd/4t3a1 <–REALTORS, please answer the ONE question poll, i don't have a large enough sample size, HELP!
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
Marti Trewe
Charlene Jimenez
I think NAR is really starting to show that they have interest in this area and how they are working Facebook and Twitter for San Diego is refreshing. Also not to mention REBARCAMP Chicago.
At the California Association or Realtors Expo in San Jose a few weeks back, CAR is urging the Local Associations to not endorse RE Barcamp. Overall CAR’s Tech Tuesday was much better and has been moving forward each year, it still has much to catch up with NAR on the Social Media. @tcar has really made some progress at NAR props to @tcar.
I think NAR and State have the same issues Brokerage Companies and all corporations/organizations have, especially the larger ones. NAR and State are relatively faceless and perceived as big monolithic strangers. Just like most buyers and sellers don’t choose a logo, they choose an individual (maybe the logo supports their decision to choose this particular individual – this is what the big broker/independent broker convo is all about IMHO), most agents can’t and don’t relate (because there is no relationship) to a State or National organization of strangers.
I know at our local level, while it’s still bureaucratic and hip high in BS, etc., I do know the names and faces of some of the players. Therefore, I connect, understand, pay attention cut-slack and sometimes engage with them.
With State and Nat., I don’t have a clue what they do or who they are. Therefore, I cut them zero slack, tune them out and criticize them. Probably wrong, but it’s honest.
Where is option 4?
None of the above as they all fail
Ken,
The one thing that NAR and the State AORs are very important, is Lobbying government on issues related to our industry and Home Ownership. I think that the ancillary businesses they try to develop are concieved by small interest groups trying to create income streams the really don’t go back into the organization like it should.
Take all the special designations i.s. CRS, ePro, GRI Blah Blah Blah. Each one of those programs has some individual behind it running it as a business. We had the ePro people out here for a teaser session and the guy came out with a 4 year old power point presentation. Hardly up-to-date. Problem is the old timers that usually run for position or get involved on the state and national levels are so stuck in tradition and old ways, they are not very receptive to change. Its a shame because we need the Lobbying power of the organization, it’s just the member benefits side of the organization that is all fouled up.
My local and state do a pretty good job of communicating with the members. As far as listening both could use some help.
What Ted said:
They can only listen to members if members bother to show up. Kind of tough for volunteer boards to hear the opinions that are un-voiced,.
Sarah –
Define “show up” – in person? At membership meetings? At conventions? Online? Blogs?
I’m with Bob – if there’d been an option 4 – “none of the above” – I would have taken that. At least the GAR hits me up with reminders about CE credit courses and the like.
The local board is a mouthpiece for the two dinosaur franchises in town (but not for long) – and like Jim’s, a jumping-off platform for someone to sell you something else.
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
I’ve served the light side and dark side of this issue… (You can choose which is which)
I’ve always found that all three are available for engagement. I just had to meet them half way.
I think it’s important to remember that the association leadership not agreeing with you, doesn’t mean they aren’t engaging you… #justsayin
This isn’t the Q but I think NAR has stepped up its communication quite a bit.
I know my local really think they are trying but not even close.
Excel for Real Estate (3 CE Hrs),
Outlook for Real Estate (3 CE Hrs),
I told them I thought it was criminal that they would offer CE for basic fundamentals and why did they do it?
The response was if they didn’t offer CE, no one would show, I responded if no one shows maybe the class sucks..
It doesn’t matter how great, cheap, expensive, awful a class is. If CE isn’t offered, very few will show. It’s not about the education, it’s about the credit. Which is a damn shame.
“It’s not about the education, it’s about the credit. Which is a damn shame”
That is the truth, but you have to wonder if this is because we have grown accustom to not getting much in the way of pertinent education. The last time I received any AOR sponsored training that really mattered was when there was a wholesale change to our purchase contract. Half of the classes on this new contract were taught by lawyers. I would have paid for it,even without the CE.
“I would have paid for it,even without the CE.”
And that’s the difference between you and many – you’re in it to better yourself and your clients whereas others are in it for the license renewal. Big difference.
Not even I can hold the AOP responsible for that. That is an agent mindset that can and should be dealt with by the broker.
Perhaps this would be easier for me to answer if I knew what I should expect from a local AOR. The industry has changed so much since I started.
Question for those of you who hold local board positions:
Aside from anything MLS-related, how do you define the role of your board?
In response to what “Show up” means- I define it as “participate”. Show up to a membership meeting or government affairs meeting. Vote in the elections. help out at any of the community-focus events. Participate.
I see a huge issue in apathy.
And it isn’t just in the Association, but in other groups I participate in. The 80/20 rule is in effect and it is always the same people who make the effort and do the work. And they are all volunteers. In all the groups, including the Association.
The apathy issue is cultural.
Something important to note: my MLS is not REALTOR owned. NWMLS covers all of Western WA State, and parts of Central WA. Agents do not have to be REALTORS in order to use the MLS. So we choose to work at brokerages which are R-shops, or not.
FYI – Technically AORs that are filing taxes as non profits cannot own and operate MLSs as MLSs are considered by the IRS as a for profit business. Many AORs around the country ignore IRS regulation and do so anyway.
The way around it is that the AOR can own the shares in the corporation that owns the MLS, but if you mix the officers of the AOR board and the MLS board, the IRS is not going to like it. Again most AORs think that the IRS wont get in their business and take the risk.
I have no idea, but I just sent $400 to the ABR for my various memberships, including NAR.
I like the “do you want to send MORE money” blank there at the bottom.