Comments on: A REALTOR.com Bail Out Plan http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/ News, insights, tools, and inspiration for business owners and professionals Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:13:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marvin Jensen http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-59597 Marvin Jensen Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:07:35 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-59597 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Reading: "A REALTOR.com Bail Out Plan" (http://tinyurl.com/5b7g7t)</span></span> Reading: “A REALTOR.com Bail Out Plan” (http://tinyurl.com/5b7g7t)

]]> By: Jim Gatos http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24545 Jim Gatos Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:32:06 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24545 Torb, since when did "embracing" Web 2.0 technology mean getting robbed? C'mon, the internet is the internet. There is NO limited supply except what is artificially produced... How can offering all these services lower their "efficiency"?.. That's ridiculous. It would bring down Realtor.com's profit. That's fine by me.. I swear I think a couple of people think you and Joe Schmo are one and the same person... Are you, out of curiosity...? Torb, since when did “embracing” Web 2.0 technology mean getting robbed?

C’mon, the internet is the internet. There is NO limited supply except what is artificially produced… How can offering all these services lower their “efficiency”?.. That’s ridiculous. It would bring down Realtor.com’s profit. That’s fine by me..

I swear I think a couple of people think you and Joe Schmo are one and the same person…

Are you, out of curiosity…?

]]> By: Torb http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24541 Torb Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:10:54 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24541 It's not only about costs to maintain, it's the nature of supply and demand. Most all realtor.com products and services are inventoried. i.e. limited and specific to certain markets. No matter who pays for what, if you want additional marketing on realtor.com there's only limited supply for many of the exclusive positions for Featured Homes, Banner Advertising, Comparative Market Analysis positioning, etc. To offer these services to many realtors at a lower rate would defeat their purpose and as well destroy their efficiency. Joe summarized in great detail and accuracy that is about utilizing. Spend less time crying and more time learning and you'll find a whole world of top agents who embrace web 2.0. It’s not only about costs to maintain, it’s the nature of supply and demand. Most all realtor.com products and services are inventoried. i.e. limited and specific to certain markets. No matter who pays for what, if you want additional marketing on realtor.com there’s only limited supply for many of the exclusive positions for Featured Homes, Banner Advertising, Comparative Market Analysis positioning, etc. To offer these services to many realtors at a lower rate would defeat their purpose and as well destroy their efficiency. Joe summarized in great detail and accuracy that is about utilizing. Spend less time crying and more time learning and you’ll find a whole world of top agents who embrace web 2.0.

]]> By: Jim Gatos http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24482 Jim Gatos Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:39:35 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24482 Joe Schmo says... "If you don’t like the basic structure of Realtor.com, complain to NAR." Yup, that's what we're doing, man.. Thanks for your support... Joe Schmo says... if you don’t like Realtor.com, then put your advertising money elsewhere…however Realtor.com currently corners the market on eyeballs…and eyeballs is what you’re looking for… I agree wholeheartedly.. I support the MLS system I work with and THEY put my listings in Realtor.com, but other websites, (example; google, trulia, etc...) Joe Schmo says ... "Don’t get me wrong, Realtor.com has alot of flaws in how its run, and its ability to supply consumers with the most innovative features to help the home buying process…"... Sounds to me like you possibly work there... I am asking every realtor who is reading this article to answer one simple question; for all the money it costs ONLY because NAR contracted out realtor.com, how many sales have YOU made from Realtor.com.. Me? In all these years? ZERO.. and I have enhanced listings. Most of the time I always did... and I've been around over 20 years.. Yeah, realtor.com may be the #1 place, but I think people and the general public are starting to really wise up and find alternatives. If real estate is local, they are beginning to look at "local" sites.. You know it and I know it... We can spar all day on this.. The issue isn't whether or not realtor.com should exist; the issue is whether or not the sales staff and other RIDICULOUS and UTTERLY USELESS "extras should exist.... If you're one of them, well, hey.. sorry! Joe Schmo says… “If you don’t like the basic structure of Realtor.com, complain to NAR.”

Yup, that’s what we’re doing, man.. Thanks for your support…

Joe Schmo says… if you don’t like Realtor.com, then put your advertising money elsewhere…however Realtor.com currently corners the market on eyeballs…and eyeballs is what you’re looking for…

I agree wholeheartedly.. I support the MLS system I work with and THEY put my listings in Realtor.com, but other websites, (example; google, trulia, etc…)

Joe Schmo says … “Don’t get me wrong, Realtor.com has alot of flaws in how its run, and its ability to supply consumers with the most innovative features to help the home buying process…”…

Sounds to me like you possibly work there…

I am asking every realtor who is reading this article to answer one simple question; for all the money it costs ONLY because NAR contracted out realtor.com, how many sales have YOU made from Realtor.com..

Me? In all these years? ZERO.. and I have enhanced listings. Most of the time I always did… and I’ve been around over 20 years..

Yeah, realtor.com may be the #1 place, but I think people and the general public are starting to really wise up and find alternatives. If real estate is local, they are beginning to look at “local” sites.. You know it and I know it…

We can spar all day on this.. The issue isn’t whether or not realtor.com should exist; the issue is whether or not the sales staff and other RIDICULOUS and UTTERLY USELESS “extras should exist…. If you’re one of them, well, hey.. sorry!

]]> By: Benn Rosales http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24472 Benn Rosales Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:30:34 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24472 Hey Joe Schmo, thanks for commenting at Ag, can you do us a favor and stick with one name and one email address... it's sincerely appreciated. Hey Joe Schmo, thanks for commenting at Ag, can you do us a favor and stick with one name and one email address… it’s sincerely appreciated.

]]> By: Joe Schmo http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24469 Joe Schmo Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:12:14 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24469 This goes to show that the generalization that realtors are not the brightest professionals is fairly dead on... Realtor.com is just an advertising medium for realtors...it is not run by NAR but NAR must approve everything that goes on the site. If you don't like the basic structure of Realtor.com, complain to NAR. As for Realtors wanting it included in their dues, that idea is asinine...you wouldn't have newspaper ads included in your dues...it just doesn't make sense...the future of home searching is online...it's already here in most major metros...yet Realtors still spend an inordinate amount of advertising money on newspapers when they should be going online...if you don't like Realtor.com, then put your advertising money elsewhere...however Realtor.com currently corners the market on eyeballs...and eyeballs is what you're looking for... The problem with Realtors is they don't get it...younger, more technologically astute realtors understand how to use technology to their advantage...but the old school realtors that still complain about Realtor.com just don't understand how to quantify their advertising and marketing budgets...they stick to "tried and true" techniques that older generations keep clinging to, but don't realize they are no longer "true"... people looking for a home (like other major purchases in their life) go online to research...they want information...they want pictures, virtual tours, videos...yet Realtors don't know how to best utilize any of this technology...they pay to advertise on Realtor.com, but then don't post photos of their properties. Or they don't post quality professional photos. They don't make it easy for customers to contact them. They just don't understand how to attract leads, and then don't know what do do with them once they get them. I found my realtor on Realtor.com because she was technologically competent, responded within minutes to my questions. She has since been responsible for the purchase of one home, the sale of another, and gets referrals to all my family and friends. Don't get me wrong, Realtor.com has alot of flaws in how its run, and its ability to supply consumers with the most innovative features to help the home buying process...but you people who just want to complain endlessly make me sick...I'm sure most of the top producing realtors in the country appreciate they don't have to compete with a bunch of morons like you...makes their jobs easier as well as their profit margins much larger... as for the author of this article...the biggest argument is "It is just wrong"...what kind of logic is that? This goes to show that the generalization that realtors are not the brightest professionals is fairly dead on…

Realtor.com is just an advertising medium for realtors…it is not run by NAR but NAR must approve everything that goes on the site. If you don’t like the basic structure of Realtor.com, complain to NAR.

As for Realtors wanting it included in their dues, that idea is asinine…you wouldn’t have newspaper ads included in your dues…it just doesn’t make sense…the future of home searching is online…it’s already here in most major metros…yet Realtors still spend an inordinate amount of advertising money on newspapers when they should be going online…if you don’t like Realtor.com, then put your advertising money elsewhere…however Realtor.com currently corners the market on eyeballs…and eyeballs is what you’re looking for…

The problem with Realtors is they don’t get it…younger, more technologically astute realtors understand how to use technology to their advantage…but the old school realtors that still complain about Realtor.com just don’t understand how to quantify their advertising and marketing budgets…they stick to “tried and true” techniques that older generations keep clinging to, but don’t realize they are no longer “true”…

people looking for a home (like other major purchases in their life) go online to research…they want information…they want pictures, virtual tours, videos…yet Realtors don’t know how to best utilize any of this technology…they pay to advertise on Realtor.com, but then don’t post photos of their properties. Or they don’t post quality professional photos. They don’t make it easy for customers to contact them. They just don’t understand how to attract leads, and then don’t know what do do with them once they get them.

I found my realtor on Realtor.com because she was technologically competent, responded within minutes to my questions. She has since been responsible for the purchase of one home, the sale of another, and gets referrals to all my family and friends.

Don’t get me wrong, Realtor.com has alot of flaws in how its run, and its ability to supply consumers with the most innovative features to help the home buying process…but you people who just want to complain endlessly make me sick…I’m sure most of the top producing realtors in the country appreciate they don’t have to compete with a bunch of morons like you…makes their jobs easier as well as their profit margins much larger…

as for the author of this article…the biggest argument is “It is just wrong”…what kind of logic is that?

]]> By: Fred Pickard http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24240 Fred Pickard Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:38:49 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24240 NAR signed a deal with the devil about ten years ago. The devil was HomeStore, now Move.com Assuming Torb's number are conservative, what would it cost NAR to operate r.com and give all members equal access. Even assuming membership dropped to one million and it cost 4 times Torb's numbers above to operate r.com, that would be 60 million or about $60 per year ($5 per month) per member to give all parties full access. What's that, a latte grande or two per month? NAR signed a deal with the devil about ten years ago. The devil was HomeStore, now Move.com

Assuming Torb’s number are conservative, what would it cost NAR to operate r.com and give all members equal access.

Even assuming membership dropped to one million and it cost 4 times Torb’s numbers above to operate r.com, that would be 60 million or about $60 per year ($5 per month) per member to give all parties full access.

What’s that, a latte grande or two per month?

]]> By: Torb http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-24204 Torb Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:47:41 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-24204 15 mil would start to come close to the wages of realtor.com alone, not including move.com employees, topproducer and other extended sister companies. Wages do not pay for equipment, facilities, benefit plans or bonus structures. The point being made is Realtor.com is a commercial site used for advertising like most all other 'resource' sites. MLS fees go towards running MLS. NAR member fees towards the NAR. Move is not the NAR. Move was a business deal initiated many years ago and Realtor.com is only a branding. 15 mil would start to come close to the wages of realtor.com alone, not including move.com employees, topproducer and other extended sister companies. Wages do not pay for equipment, facilities, benefit plans or bonus structures. The point being made is Realtor.com is a commercial site used for advertising like most all other ‘resource’ sites. MLS fees go towards running MLS. NAR member fees towards the NAR. Move is not the NAR. Move was a business deal initiated many years ago and Realtor.com is only a branding.

]]> By: Cheryl Johnson http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-23696 Cheryl Johnson Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:45:41 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-23696 Hi Russell, Over the last couple days, I have been receiving calls from R.com salespeople. My renewal is not due until March; and I doubt if they want my opinion on anything, so I am puzzled why they are calling. I suppose I should take the call and find out. You know what I'd like before I take that call? Some scripts and/or talking points for the conversation. Anyone want to suggest some questions I should address to an R.com salesperson? Or some suggested responses to the inevitable R.com sales pitch? Hi Russell,

Over the last couple days, I have been receiving calls from R.com salespeople.

My renewal is not due until March; and I doubt if they want my opinion on anything, so I am puzzled why they are calling. I suppose I should take the call and find out.

You know what I’d like before I take that call?

Some scripts and/or talking points for the conversation.

Anyone want to suggest some questions I should address to an R.com salesperson?

Or some suggested responses to the inevitable R.com sales pitch?

]]> By: BloodhoundBlog.com | R.com - Finally a bailout that interests me… ;-) | National real estate marketing and technology blog | Realtors and real estate, mortgage and investment news http://agbeat.com/editorials/realtors/a-realtorcom-bail-out-plan/#comment-23502 BloodhoundBlog.com | R.com - Finally a bailout that interests me… ;-) | National real estate marketing and technology blog | Realtors and real estate, mortgage and investment news Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:27:25 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=7329#comment-23502 [...] Russell Shaw put forth a bailout plan that has intrigued me. You see…the stock market being low has its advantages. Now’s the time to buy back [...] [...] Russell Shaw put forth a bailout plan that has intrigued me. You see…the stock market being low has its advantages. Now’s the time to buy back [...]

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