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Anonymous

Date: September 23, 2007, Number of Replies: 15

I think Google is a HUGE threat to ALL Realtors---and everyone is asleep at the wheel. They should be stopped at once. I completely agree with you.

After years of not allowing 3rd parties to take control of ther industry---now your board is going to hand this over to a giant monopoly? Scary---and this should be fought actively.

Since Google controls search---they can control everything. Do YOU want to compete with Google? Foolishly, Realtors are uploading their data. However---if they didn't---and especially if boards did not----then the one thing we could claim on our own sites is that we have COMPLETE data and COMPLETE listings------and then Google would only be a FSBO site.

Membership should be very concerned----and I advise you to fight this action by your board----and be public about it.

Dan

================================================================

Saul / John / Editors

What is your take on this?

JIM
The Jim Cummings Team
CRS, GRI, RECS, e-Pro 500
Real Estate Consultants
512-633-3853 mailto:Jim@AustinTxMls.com
REMAX Austin Associates, Austin, TX 78746
512-328-8333 X 142 Office

Website: http://www.AustinTxMls.com

Editor's Note
No one gets it (I should say few get it)...there is nothing any REALTOR, for a number of very obvious reasons, can do to stop it. It is the convergence of consumer use and adaptation of technology and the content and "property" the consumer owns ...that content being the property data and the desire to access the property data...brought together without the use of the REALTOR as the intermediator...so to plan, smart REALTORS will facilitate the mediation of the two and in doing so, discover their own fit into the new age of property information access and dissemination. It is a new ball game and as we have been saying for years, it is time to re-invent oneself and create the new value proposition.Now, as to this person's comment...it has a few very obvious inaccuracies. Google is not a monopoly. The real competition is the other brokerage firms. "Fighting Actively" rings of anti trust. Why would REALTORS who can gain advantage from this listen to their competitors?SaulSaul KleinPresident/CEO, InternetCrusade

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Deede Wockenfuss Licensed Real Estate Agent, Chandler, AZ

Date: September 24, 2007

Saul says,

Am I alone in facing the fact that the real estate business, as we have known it, is headed for a complete overhaul? Remember when Travel Agencies had cornered the market on computer access to airline tickets? Once the public could book it themselves on their own computer, soon to follow came hotels, auto rental and a barrage of other things.

We really need to face the fact that this business is CHANGING. The consumer is the one who is demanding lower commissions, immediate access to information and in many cases, the option to do it themselves.

I just don't see this business going in any other direction than to a more consumer demanded program at a price they are WILLING to pay. We just have to put our heads together, figure out what the consumer wants and how we can make a living on their terms.

Personally, I see mammouth offices going by the wayside. Bricks and mortal offices will be replaced by Virtual Offices as the technology progresses. If you are not spending $5000 per month for the office, you can spread that out in savings for your customers. Snail mail will be a thing of the past. Why spend 41 cents, the cost of stationary and envelopes, when you can send a nice letter via email? Scan in your contracts and paperwork and keep it in cyber space instead of having miles of file cabinets.

I see so many ways to take advantage of all of this new technology. Unfortunately, we must pass on most of our customers who have not technologically come into the 21st century. They just cost us too much time and money.

I would be very interested to hear how all of you are changing your businesses as you need to reduce your costs. We all need to look very hard in this direction.
--
Deede Wockenfuss
Marketing Manager
Assist 2 Sell, Buyers and Sellers Best Choice
Go To:
www.4GilbertHomes.Com
for your FREE "Real-Time MLS Market Report!

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Suzanne Hathcock stephens Vendor, Battle Ground, WA

Date: September 24, 2007

> Editor's Note:
> No one gets it (I should say few get it)...there is nothing any
> REALTOR, for a number of very obvious reasons, can do to stop it.
> It is the convergence of consumer use and adaptation of technology
> and the content and "property" the consumer owns ...that content
> being the property data and the desire to access the property
> data...brought together without the use of the REALTOR as the
> intermediator...so to plan, smart REALTORS will facilitate the
> mediation of the two and in doing so, discover their own fit into
> the new age of property information access and dissemination. It is
> a new ball game and as we have been saying for years, it is time to
> re-invent oneself and create the new value proposition.

Very thoughtfully and well expressed, Saul.

After a long career in print and broadcast advertising design, I was
first introduced to the Web in 1994. I immediately recognized that
the communications/advertising world as we knew it was going to
change radically. At that time Bill Gates was saying that the World
Wide Web wasn't important enough to be a concern of Microsoft.
However, prior to 1994, I had spent $millions of my ad agency's
clients' money on direct mail and advertising media simply to reach
small local audiences. So, in the Web, I saw an advertising/
communications medium that, in 1994, could reach as many as 800,000
people worldwide for only $40/month and recognized that it would be
THE the future of communication. Instead of complaining, I jumped
right in and started figuring out how to use that change to my
advantage.

Just as television has adapted to the Web with moves like the YouTube
presidential debates, any REALTOR(R) must also learn how to adapt to
this paradigm shift in communications. Not only must REALTORS(R)
adapt to Google's current domination of the search field, but they
also much keep an "ear to the ground" and watch for possible shifts
in search engine dominance. The only sure thing about the Web is
change. After all, in 1994, Yahoo! was IT.

Suzanne

Suzanne Hathcock Stephens
Point2Agent Design Partner
http://www.SuzStephens.com

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Gary Anderson Licensed Real Estate Agent, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Date: September 24, 2007

That may very well be the future. Today real estate is about being in front of the consumer and presenting value. e-Pro grows there business by being in front of Realtors and presenting value. Technology is a wonderful tool. If it can replace or diminish the value of face to face remains to be seen. The "intermediator" faces the same market forces.

Gary Anderson
The Keyes Co./ Realtors
e-Pro/ Internet Specialist
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
mobile 954 253 8281
office 954 467 0105 x237
garyand1@bellsouth.net
www.fortlauderdalesbesthomes.com

No one gets it (I should say few get it)...there is nothing any REALTOR, for a number of very obvious reasons, can do to stop it. It is the convergence of consumer use and adaptation of technology and the content and "property" the consumer owns ...that content being the property data and the desire to access the property data...brought together without the use of the REALTOR as the intermediator...so to plan, smart REALTORS will facilitate the mediation of the two and in doing so, discover their own fit into the new age of property information access and dissemination. It is a new ball game and as we have been saying for years, it is time to re-invent oneself and create the new value proposition.

Now, as to this person's comment...it has a few very obvious inaccuracies. Google is not a monopoly. The real competition is the other brokerage firms. "Fighting Actively" rings of anti trust. Why would REALTORS who can gain advantage from this listen to their competitors?

Saul

Saul Klein
President/CEO, InternetCrusade

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jacques.albrecht@gmail.com

Date: September 24, 2007

Re: google base
The idea with marketing a property is to get it ifront of as many eye balls as possible. The idea with with not allowing wide distribution of your listing is to keep it from potential buyers - just why did your seller hire your services? Is it so you could double-end the deal or do you have a duty to move this listing as fast as possible and for the highest dollar amount?
Regards,
JA
Jacques Albrecht
(858)581-3700
Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

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Robert King Licensed Real Estate Broker, Saint Petersburg, FL

Date: September 24, 2007

I guess Deede is going to work this changing industry into what ever the consumer wants, being the consumer demands what the consumer demands! Right?

"I just don't see this business going in any other direction than to a more consumer demanded program at a price they are WILLING to pay. We just have to put our heads together, figure out what the consumer wants and how we can make a living on their terms".

Deede didn't you say it yourself "consumer demands". Will if you allow the consumer to demand what ever it is the consumer demands and the Internet is the only source for cyber reality for that demand to be met. Will then it's what it is, FREE, so how do we put our heads together and make any money when the Internet offers everything to the consumer for FREE? What is the Internet for if the Internet isn't the source of all the information? Don't we opt in by default to give exposure to anybody who happens to surf to our listings? And being the WWW is free, how do we make money when the consumer demands it for free. All the buyer has to do is wait, especially since the media is so negative and there is plenty of suspicion flying around regarding borrowing lending and foreclosures. Can you blame the consumer for their reluctant? Everybody is suspicious about online activity, we are suspicious of even ourselves. Just look at all the phishing and cross blogging. We now have Short Sale specialists. Ok Deede I have a suggestion, Opt-Out and let the MLS do what the MLS does that the WWW can't! Expose the property to all the EBAs so they can bring their cooperative buyers. If the EBA doesn't like the compensation package then go sell an Internet FSBO. The internet is full of FSBO properties. What's wrong with selling an Internet FSBO, they got better prices than the MLS? Let me ask this question to the group. 1) How does Zillow and JustListed get all their information? 2) Who provides all those statistics? From what I understand Zillow buys their info directly from the Public Record feed, I could be wrong, but I bet we never find out. Where does JustListed get all the Just Listed Properties? Has our MLS offered the same information sharing at the same price that we pay to be participants in the MLS. How much money did our MLS get for that deal? Or did they just provide it for free. How does it benefit us for Realtor dot com to disseminate what we already provide through the MLS. I love the Internet but something stinks!

Robert King

Broker/Consultant

Charles Rutenberg, Realtors

Clearwater, Florida

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Gary Anderson Licensed Real Estate Agent, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Date: September 25, 2007

Deede if you're in S. Florida I'd be happy to service those "customers who have not technologically come into the 21st century". I work with a regional full service brokerage and I'm sure I could turn a nice profit with them.

<I see so many ways to take advantage of all of this new technology. Unfortunately, we must pass on most of our customers who have not technologically come into the 21st century. They just cost us too much time and money.

I would be very interested to hear how all of you are changing your businesses as you need to reduce your costs. We all need to look very hard in this direction.>
--
Deede Wockenfuss

Gary Anderson
The Keyes Co./ Realtors
e-Pro/ Internet Specialist
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.

mobile 954 253 8281
office 954 467 0105 x237
garyand1@bellsouth.net
www.fortlauderdalesbesthomes.com

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Robert King Licensed Real Estate Broker, Saint Petersburg, FL

Date: September 25, 2007

Suzanne has chimed in here with a few words of wisdom:

No one gets it (I should say few get it)...there is nothing any REALTOR, for a number of very obvious reasons, can do to stop it. Who wants to stop it Suz? Maybe if we understood how the WWW works maybe we could be more productive in a positive way and maintain a degree of control. If the WWW can be controlled? I’m not sure that is possible. We don’t even know who we are dealing with while on the net.
It is the convergence of consumer use and adaptation of technology and the content and "property" the consumer owns ...that content being the property data and the desire to access the property data...brought together without the use of the REALTOR as the intermediator...

I couldn’t agree with you more, But, which consumers are you talking about converging upon, the buyer, the seller or the middleman (us)? Or do I not understand? I’m having a problem with a few of your words “converge” “adaptation” “content” and “without”. Is “without” directed at middlemen (us) or are we to assume convergence adaptation and content pertain to everybody but the Realtor? So where does the third party (Realtor) fit in this convergence you are talking about? Maybe you are talking about ALL the information? Are we to assume this technology will converge on all the consumers and the Realtor will either comply and cooperate or go the way of the dinosaur? My, my that’s pretty powerful stuff. Can the WWW do all that?

Heck who needs the MLS and all the fees with that kind of power to weld? Why not just create our own little community of believers and X the MLS out of the equation? Who needs the MLS if everybody is representing everybody else and cooperation is the key to consummation. You may be onto something here, Suz! Just think we could just represent our individual party’s interest or both parties interest if nobody happens to be is paying attention. After all the only difference between the information on the MLS and WWW is the Cooperating Compensation Package all those EBAs are working for. Right? All we need to do is just ad that missing link from the MLS to the WWW and then we can get some bureaucrat to back up our uniform fee, so nobody feels like they were gauged by some big time Realator as everybody seems to think. I new the WWW was good for something, just like a bureaucrat here to HELP! Who needs the MLS, its just another inconvenient truth that only subverts the real truth, who paid the <<commission>>? If we are going to disclose ALL the information why not disclose the most important information "<<the commission>>"? Just think if we were honest about ALL the information why not disclose disclose disclose?? Why do we hold back ALL the information anyway? Doesn't the“Consumers” have the right to know, they certainly do on the HUD-1 Maybe we should just disclose everybody's HUD-1 laundry on the WWW while we are at it? We disclose all the LPs on behalf of the lenders on the WWW, we actually comply with that information through the MLS as a technological convenience to everybody, why not the <<Commission>> the middleman gets? If there are no sub-agency relationships forcing the cooperating agent to cooperate, then why not just disclose ALL the information being we are looking out for everybody’s interest.

Robert King

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Melina Tomson Licensed Real Estate Broker, OR

Date: September 25, 2007

Imagine that a buyer finds three homes online, sees them without an agent, then calls an agent for advice. They pay you directly (hourly, flat rate, or commission, whatever your preference) and you help them make an informed choice and close on a home. Why is that a bad thing?? A home purchase has an emotional value and most people would prefer a real person, in their presence, helping them with the transaction. Online platforms will exist and will be used, but just like limited representation companies, it will be a small percentage of the home buying/selling population.

Our goal as agents should be to promote responsible home buying and selling. The Internet gives people a chance to sit in the privacy of their home, without a hard sell, and look at options. Our job as agents is to help them look at the options and make an informed choice. If a person can sit online and screen out homes without me, that is a plus as far as I am concerned. It means we are much more focused when together. That will never change because people will ALWAYS need help. Remember our value is in advisers, in guidance, in expertise.

I can also say that I think it is in the best interest of consumers. Agents sometimes have agendas and won't show properties below a certain commission or that are listed by a certain company (both practices are fine AS LONG AS that practice is disclosed to potential clients). I think it really puts pressure on unethical agents to be more honest. I have had clients come to work with me since their buyer agent was not showing them "everything" on the MLS. They were finding homes on their own. I personally think that holding on to that information has lead to some unethical behavior.

I really don't get the vehemence of disseminating listing information. The amount of time it would take me upload the listing information to all of those web sites individually is worth paying the MLS fee alone. Agents need to shift their thinking about how they do business. I am doing 4 hourly rate contracts right now for clients. 2 are buyers and 2 are sellers. The Internet helped them find what house they wanted, they looked at it themselves, and then called me for help. I can't tell you how many times people call me after talking with a larger firm that won't help them with transaction work, unless they pay them X%.

Jacques said: That may very well be the future. Today real estate is about being in front of the consumer and presenting value. Agents will ALWAYS be needed and will ALWAYS have value. They will just be needed in a different way. I don't think that is a bad thing. Maybe we could look forward to working less on weekends...

Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

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Sally Hardman Licensed Real Estate Broker, St. Simons Island, GA

Date: September 25, 2007

Deede says, “I see so many ways to take advantage of all of this new technology. Unfortunately, we must pass on most of our customers who have not technologically come into the 21st century. They just cost us too much time and money. I would be very interested to hear how all of you are changing your businesses as you need to reduce your costs. We all need to look very hard in this direction.”

Deede, I believed as you do, and 2 years ago, I opened a “virtual office” from my home. Last year we moved into a one room office, and now we are moving into a full fledged office. Although we made it work, I am so excited to be moving back into an office setting. We can now schedule meetings in our conference room, meet with our buyers in our offices where we can keep a copy of the buyers’ drivers’ license as a safety precaution, and have flyers and business cards available in a heavily trafficked area. I don’t know about anyone else, but our internet leads are dwindling, and we are going back to the basics, including an office complex..

We are in a resort area, so YMMV

Sincerely,

Sally Hardman, Broker/Owner

REALTOR®, ABR, e-PRO

www.SellingStSimons.com

St.Simons Island, GA

912-638-0697 (office)

Check out my blog: www.LiveInGlynnCounty.com

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