RealTown's RealTalk

"As far as the IDX- our multiple listing services need to stop allowing membership to non-Realtors and the rest of us need to stop buying the leads. No customers- no lead pimps.

I support you whole heartily. How can we encourage our directors (NAR, MCAR) for this? Directors will get less perks."!

It's real simple guys. But let me assure you it's not about Directors and Perks.  It's really in your hands already you've just been "Alinskized" and don't realize it. It's just as simple as
OPTING-OUT when you input your listings. This is why I don't allow staff or team players to place my Listings in the MLS.  Actually I put my Listings in the MLS at the Seller's table just prior to them signing the listing agreement.  They see their property with all the pictures as any MLS agent sees the Listing right there in the comfort of their dining room.  You see when you input your listing you are AUTO-DEFAULT Opted-IN to the WWW via IDX.  However, in order to circumvent the WWW you MUST OPT-OUT when you Input your listing.  The come-on for IDX is always the same nonsense (((Exposure)))!  Will if (((Exposure))) is the magic button then why is sales volume so low and inventory so high???? 

It's really pretty simple, and I want to thank my E-Pro Coarse for educating me in this regard. The MLS is for Realtors and their Affiliates, however when the MLS can be accessed by anybody through IDX then the MLS becomes less effective, why because the consumer can circumvent the Realtor causing reluctance, creating more inventory, subsequently more expired and withdrawals, not to mention the price reductions.  It's like the talking house, it's fun and exciting but when you get down to it, why would you want to opt-out of one on one via a presentation that sounds so unprofessional, I've yet to hear a professional sounding talking house and I firmly believe that the first impression may be your last impression?

What ever happened to talking to the buyer directly.  If that doesn't happen I want the next best thing, a Professional MLS Board Certified Member Realtor to bring me a buyer!  Back when I had a Real Estate Website and everybody else thought Websites were for geeks, I was a STAR in the HEAVENS.  But when everybody else muscled in because of IDX and the magic button (((Exposure))) the bottom fell out of the market.  Why?  I don't have a reason, other than the statistics seem to point toward ACCESS to INFORMATION, basically we've given away the goose that lays the golden eggs, The MLS.  We allow to much information in the hands of those who mis-understand what only a Realtor can explain.  Now we've upped the anti with DOJ, FTC and Anti-Trust interpreters of the law, and everybody is running for the hills.  It all boils down to "freedom of information"!  Everybody thinks the Government can legislate FAIRNESS!  Yea right?  If you want to correct the problem then I suggest Opting-OUT when you input your listings.  This way only the MLS representatives get the information that is important. Look, if the buyer's agent is the buyer's representative, why would you want the buyer to circumvent their agent.  Look at the stats, we are in a FREE FALLING MARKET.  The consumers perception is their reality.  They see what we've produced, and they personally don't trust us?  Can you blame them?   We don't even know how to represent ourselves let lone the consumer.

Robert King
Broker/Consultant
Charles Rutenberg, Realtors
Clearwater, Florida