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Look, what it boils down to is Redfin wants to practice Real Estate but not have to pay Realtor dues or be held to any standards (like say, the Code of Ethics). My husband equates them to Wal-Mart; pay little, get less- surprise!
I haven't seen it - nor do I intend to see it. I get the idea without the commercial.
I don't see them as bringing anything magical or new to the process of buying and selling real estate.
They certainly don't deserve the media attention they manage to get.
Why?
Because some of your potential new and existing clients (the very network access which part of the 6% I imagine is appropriated to cultivating and maintaining) will have seen it.
Isn't that enough cause? The ignorant masses will be armed with a 60-minute-ish slant on the issue, and will probably look to you for balance and context. But you will be equipped only with, "...honestly, I don't care..." They may want to hear how you defend your position, your commission, and how you might have responded to the question to which the realtor in the piece had no answer. They may just want to hear your confidence in any response, provided it isn't stained with an obvious trace hubris or arrogance.
Could you really assume that avoiding a story directly related to your livelihood (from one of the premiere news sources in the country) will somehow strengthen your stance, or render the story less relevant? Didn't some wise man once pronounce "know thine enemy as thyself"?
Do you really not care about seeing first hand how this piece came across -- to you; how the perception of this piece will affect you, your circle of influence and your business? Nah.
In my collegiate and professional tenure, when presented with defending or advocating one of many sides, I found it most helpful (and even necessary) to educate myself on all sides, however difficult it may have been to know them intimately; perhaps the r/e industry, as is too often the case, is immune to this tactful and comprehensive approach.
Just watch it!
I fully intend to watch it, that's why I TiVo'ed it. I just don't see it as earth shattering news and don't really see the urgency.
I am fully prepared to "defend my position and commission". I don't really need any lessons from Glenn Kelman or the hand chosen Realtor of 60 Minutes. I've read most of what's been blogged about the episode, I've read a lot of Kelman's previous drivel, and I've heard the mainstream media's slant before. Seriously, other than being able to respond to any clients direct inquiries about my feeling on the segment (and the bulk of my clients already know exactly how I feel about most of this) there's not a whole lot of compelling reason to flip the TV on -- particularly with 24 about to come one.
But I'll watch it.
(all this was buried in the comments of a post on RCG - http://www.raincityguide.com/2007/05/14/redfin-... )
And it wouldn't surprise me one iota that the mainstream media would nix the idea of having an articulate, outspoken agent on their show who would be willing to challenge their vision of the status quo... Virtually every agent I know has "adjusted" commission rates for one reason or another. I think they'd have to dig fairly deep (at least around here) to find an old-school agent who wouldn't budge off the mythical "standard" of 6%. Hence my choice of words when I said they hand picked the agent.
And I saw talk on RELiberation (a "network" site) PRIOR to the show airing where some said to have the NAR talking points handy in case the media contacted them after the show. What hooey. People need to learn to speak for themselves, not regurgitate some "talking points".
BUT, I think NAR used Realtor dues to use a PR Firm that didn't equip the aforementioned people well enough- just look to the Realtor who was interviewed. Talking Points work well in politics because they are easy to memorize and the repetition of a unified message organizes movements effectively.
Personally, had I been approached by the uber-liberal CBS team, I too would decline because I know that no matter what I said or how intellectual (I think) I am, editors will paint their predetermined picture regardless of my words. Too bad CSI is on CBS- I really liked that show :(
"I know that no matter what I said or how intellectual (I think) I am, editors will paint their predetermined picture regardless of my words."
That is certainly a true statement! I've been quoted in local and national publications before and on more than one occasion I thought to myself, "that's not what I said". These folks are master editors, and it's not difficult to take a quote from two portions of a conversation, mesh them together, and give whole new meaning to the original intent. The 60 Minutes piece was obviously very heavily edited (yes, I finally watched it -- Seth made me do it) so who knows what all was really said (on both sides) on and off camera.
It will be difficult to get any organic search results with nothing more than a list of states on your home pages. How are you driving traffic to these directories?
I'm not meaning to pick on you, I just don't get it. Help me understand....
You get what you pay for is so true. I can't wait for my Listing appoinment today. All the blogs and comments have prepared me for any objections. What a great forum to reinforce Stephen R. Covey's 7th Habit "Sharpen The Saw."
Nice Posted! Its so very informative and knowledgeable for your visitors or readers.
Thank You for sharing.. Keep up the good work..
More Power,
Freddie Aguilar
Real Estate Investments
I really enjoy your blog and the quality of your reader's comments.
To the point, I found the 60 minutes piece to be somewhat behind the times. How long now has this argument been going on, this argument that always seems to boil down to them versus us? I would say there is room for all. I would also note that many independents are dropping their commission rates to compete with the big brokerages. This will eventually create great leverage the result of which is yet to be revealed.
This ³US² is not an amorphous lump of discounters, to be looked at with disdain. At SellSmart we provide a yard sign, open houses, laminated postcard mailings while suffering the increase in postage, placement in the MLS, and every other service that ³THEM² offer. Other than a lower commission and a buyer rebate there is no difference between us and them. We provide innovative technology such as the Knockbox that adds another layer of service. Enabling buyers to tour a home right from the curb, at one of the most influential moments in the home shopping experience.
As you stated earlier;
³Virtually every agent I know has ³adjusted² commission rates for one reason or another²
Are those agents that ³adjusted² their commissions a threat to traditional real estate? I would say no and neither are we.
I have to take issue with ³you get what you pay for.² I cite Google Mail, Hotmail, Blogger, Wordpress and there are many other free tools out there that help shape the mindset that ³free is cheap² is dead. I note these especially because they are free yet so robust, but I am not trying to equate software to selling or buying a home. Just that the cliché ³ygwypf² as an argument is only that - cliché.
Thanks
Richard Cook
SellSmart Real Estate
"Traditional" real estate is changing. Agents that don't get (or believe) that are in trouble. They just don't realize it. Yet.