Comments on: Agents Versus Buyers – The Transition

By: Alex Loddengaard’s Blog » Revolutions: Redfin Case Study

Alex Loddengaard’s Blog » Revolutions: Redfin Case Study — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:56:47 +0000

[...] either totally wrong or stating the obvious. What do you think? There’s a related post here as [...]

By: BawldGuy Talking

BawldGuy Talking — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:34:18 +0000

That answer, Benn, has just made hundreds if not thousands of agents’ wives across the country very happy — but only IF their husbands are following your model. Thanks again.

By: Benn Rosales

Benn Rosales — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:24:50 +0000

Absolutely, it will be guys like us that define the new brokerage model which I will be discussing very soon. But even disruptive companies are moving very quickly back to the traditional center with a techie polish running the experience. It just isn’t possible to remove the human element from home buying or selling any more than a car dealership can trick you into kicking tires on your computer screen. It is done, but it is a very tiny segment of the market place.

The vast difference in how we market is what will radically change in my opinion, but not to the demise of any particular 1.o method. In fact, I feel like all of these tools will roll together into a very cool, more relaxed method of pulling consumers much like brown & brown does.

I’ve never seen you hard pitch, I’ve only ever see you in your real estate taxi with the light on- technology will simply allow your taxi to remain idle while faires come to you, rather than driving around aimlessly. Social methods have been working for you (Jeff) for over 30 years, and social technology today will become a beacon for your already perfected approach to consumers.

I feel like social methods will soothe a lot of the disruptive crap in the market place and lend to that more one on one conversation between a realtor and their consumer. It is in that relationship that (like Teresa uses) that will bring trust back to the transaction, multiplied by a million or so professionals one at a time.

By: BawldGuy Talking

BawldGuy Talking — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:52:34 +0000

Benn — I see your point, and it’s persuasive.

I wonder though, if guys like you, who have such an unfair advantage technologically, and in marketing savvy, will then be in a position to dominate?

It seems there’s a perfect storm out there brewing just for guys like you. Am I seeing clearly?

By: Charleston real estate blog

Charleston real estate blog — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:52:17 +0000

Bob, call me Howard. And I agree that many agents do little to nothing and add no value to the transaction in new home sales as well as preowned. As a result, it is up to any agent that cares about reputation and an opportunity to do business in the future to do *more* than just open the door.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:42:32 +0000

Charleston, No doubt, but I saw many agents represent buyers on new construction and not do anything more than than fill out the registration packet so they could get paid. Many builders used their own contracts and the advice frequently given to these buyers by their agents was “if you want the house, you have to do what the builder says or they’ll sell it to the guy behind you”.

In many cases, the perception of the buyer that the agent brings little value to the table is true. Until the reality changes and agents actually have to know what they are doing, then the debate favors the buyer.

Floyd Wickman said that “the problem with real estate is that it’s too easy to get into and to easy to get out of”. He is right, and that needs to change.

By: Benn Rosales

Benn Rosales — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:36:15 +0000

@Jeff yes, there is a tipping point. I feel like we have a radial left agenda and a radical right agenda right now in real estate and the country will find its way back to a center and real estate will not look entirely different when it happens. 1.0 agents wont be happy but neither will the 2.0 agents- it will be more like the 1.5 model that will in the end become the new paradigm for re consumers.

By: Charleston real estate blog

Charleston real estate blog — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:36:54 +0000

Bob, I would suggest that a large number of buyers went into model homes at new construction communities without representation and either didn’t fully understand (some) or didn’t bother to understand (more) what they were signing.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:29:34 +0000

@Bill – I would agree with the entirety of your comments 100%.

@Greg – “the more they learn, the more they they realize how much they don’t know” – dead on.

The problem didn’t originate with the buyer, but with the glut of inexperienced agents turned loose on the public during the boom by brokers who abdicated their responsibility to train their new recruits who thought the job was simply to be an order taker.

By: Greg Cremia

Greg Cremia — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:50:36 +0000

I have been working internet buyers since the mid 90′s and I love working with clients educated in the process. I try to put everything I know on my site so they can read it before they make a call. The more educated they get the easier they are to handle. The more they learn the more they realize how much they don’t know.

Now, I work second home resort buyers so they don’t typically call about looking at one house and I don’t like showing one house. I remind them that they would not be making an educated decision if they bought a home without comparison shopping so we may as well look at some of the competition.

It sounds like it is different in home town real estate and first time buyers.