As real estate professionals begin to explore the world of the blogosphere, many will find that their presence online has been preceded by savvy 'webpreneuers' who understand the rugged terrain of Search Engine Positioning in a way that most Newbies to this virtual world do not.

Take for instance, an interesting experience that I had recently.  I was doing a training session for an agent and demonstrating the benefits which accrue to clients who utlize an agent who is involved in Social Networking.

We initiated a google search for our company listing by address.  It had been placed on real estate shows and exported to a number of different channels including Trulia.  We noted that Trulia was in the #1 position on the Google index.

Initially I was not concerned.  We upload our listings on Trulia, so I thought that in a fashion similar to oodle and other sites to which our listing were exported, there would be a link back to our site or the real estate show. This type of WIN WIN cross promotion ensures that clients are given the best information about the home from the Broker, who benefits from the FREE Listing AND provides Valuable data for Trulia and hence its' advertisers.

There were 4 entries on a search for the address of the listing so, we clicked on each of them. But, what was most disconcerting was that the Trulia link did NOT link back to our website from Google.  Instead, it took me to a page with some general information about the area including a street map and advertising.  There was NO EVIDENCE of the listing information or indication that this listing had been provided courtesy of a real estate broker. 

When, I stumbled upon this post, I understood WHY this is the case.  The discussion regarding 'NO FOLLOW TAGS' is highly enlightening. You may also want to read Trulia's explanation for their policy and decide for yourself if this ultimately assists or undermines real estate brokers.

As a blogger, listings which I post online do rank in the top search engine positions.  This is no small thing for a home owner who is hiring me to market their home to the largest possible audience.  With over 85% of potential buyers searching online first...this is very valuable online real estate. The entity which controls the information flow will in time become the defacto national MLS.  Today, in many markets, a home owner whose agent does not know how to position their home listing online will find that either it is non-existent for all practical purposes OR being used to sell advertising.

Home owners hire Realtors to not only position their homes online but to represent them.  When, our listing index on a major search engine is repurposed to suit advertisers AND stripped of the ability to link directly to the Broker who provides the information and knows the most about the property, I can't help but wonder who is really being served.  Is this truly in the best interest of the public and does this sort of 'misdirection' truly benefit the home purchasing experience for the consumer? 

I'm curious...Brokers & Agents, have you observed this?  Do you understand its potential implications for your business?

Related Links:

Inman News has a very intelligent discussion about various angles of this important issue.

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

The more things change...the more things stay the same. When I started my professional career as a real estate agent almost 13 years ago, there were certain things we had to get permission to do when we listed a home.

These included: obtaining written consent to place a sign in the yard and a keybox on the door. The listing agreement also indicated that we had permission to market their property and advertise. There was no mention of advertising on electronic media. Nor were there disclosures required for the condition of the property or lead based paint. Index cards with listing data were still being delivered to real estate offices everyday.

Today, we have to get permission for a lot more than we did back then. Today, the seller agrees to allow us to advertise their property on electronic mediums including video and still media and other forms of media (not specifically designated) Today, the seller has an advanced electronic gadget on their door which allows remote programmed access to agents and special codes for contract workers; a system which is digitally monitored 24/7.

Yet, Home owners have given agents much greater latitude in the marketing of their homes even as the potential exposure for a home listing has increased exponentially. Herein lies an interesting issue. I wonder if such broad levels of permission are inherently in the best interest of all concerned.

Property Mapping:

Take for instance, the issue of property mapping. The google mapping system and others such as maps.live.com provide extremely realistic 3 Dimensional renditions of property in most localities within the United States. In some of these programs, the home can be manipulated on the screen and seen in detail from just about every conceivable angle. Here's my question. When a homeowner allows us to portray their home on any website, are they giving us implicit permission to display every angle and street view of their home to an unscreened populace which may contain those with malevolent intentions?

Social Media:

The same issues could be raised with regard to some forms of social media. Is it conceivable that the owner of a luxury executive home may not really intend that his home be purposely purveyed for the viewing pleaure of mostly teenagers and college students on Facebook who are largely unlikely to be part of the audience who will be able to afford to purchase his home listing?

There are so many new options exploding on to the market everyday, that right now the instinctive response is simply to try something and see if there are results. Some of this is fueled by an anxiety hidden underneath the cloak of the dreaded consequence of irrelevance if one misses the next new thing or important cue. But, we may be creating a potential minefield of unintended consequences if we are not careful to explain to our clients exactly how we intend to market their homes and YES...perhaps begin to consider asking for permission in a more specific manner. For their own protection as well as our own.

SECRET ENGAGMENTS:

Marketing a home for sale should not be a "Secret Engagement"...an exercise carried out apart from the informed consent of your client. Do you have a list which details what you will be using as a keybox and explain which websites you will be utilising and where pictures of their home will be viewable? Have you discussed the potential benefits and drawbacks of whatever marketing program you choose to employ? If you will be linking to a map...do they know how their home and neighborhood can be accessed and viewed?

Frankly, the reality is that this is no longer necessarily within our control as agents. Because listings are often exported by MLS systems through Broker Reciprocity to other channels which may mash-up the data in ways that are very different than the initial listing data, brokers may not even necessarily know everything which is done with the data they have collected from the homeowner.

RISK LADEN PROPOSITION:

Does this seem to be a risk laden process to you? May we be inadvertently giving our clients much more than they bargained for? Are Brokers taking listing information and assuming responsibility for a process which in all practical aspects they do not really control? I know this is a burning question being debated by MLS systems throughout the nation. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and if you are doing anything to limit risk & liability with regards to your disclosures and seller acknowledgments in these areas of potential concern.

photo courtesty of: Dave-F's photostream on flickr.com

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

Perhaps the most daunting task facing Multiple Listing Systems (MLS) systems and real estate boards today is issue of Relevancy. It would be misguided to assume that the search of choice for real estate transactions in the future will necessarily be the local real estate MLS. Unless significant changes are made which combine the best features of expertise and professionalism amongst MLS members with the enhancements available through technology today, the industry may find itself sidelined as the destination of choice for professional real estate information.

Today, I came across a Slideshare show by Frank Meeuwsen entitled "Nine Big Ideas of Social Media." Meeuwsen essentially details the movement from the static nature of Presentation to the vital energy engaged through Presence via the use of Social Media. In some ways, the concepts he explores are an interesting way to think about a pathway by which the fairly static medium currently employed by most MLS systems might engage the consumer and create a more dynamic process.

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Here are my thoughts on some real estate applications.

How Social Media Concepts Could Transform the Nature of MLS Search....

Social Media is About:

BEING OPEN: MLS Systems have learned this the hard way. Information is powerful when you're the acknowledged source expert and are willing to share. It is poisonous when perceived to be withheld.

RE-MIXING: MLS Systems will be challenged by their competitors to put information together for the consumer in a way that creates relevance. Sure it's great to know what's for Sale, but it's better to understand the underlying context and implications of that information. Consumers want to know whether a home is a good deal or not. Fear that they will avoid the real estate agent once they get this information is probably unfounded. When a Re-Mix works...the creator or aggregator of the content reaps the benefits. A well-designed MLS system could channel this positive cache towards the benefit of its members.

SHARING: People love to share stuff. The Internet has made this oh so easy. Why don't we take advantage of this? MLS systems could adapt to this trend by making it easy for viewers to share great listings or videos of great listings. How about enabling agents to allow the general public to share their thoughts on a listing? There's a remarkable amount of untapped connectivity hidden within the vast listing data pools residing withinmost MLS systems.

TELLING & LISTENING: Make it easy to talk. MLS systems could incorporate into the their systems options to instant message the agent, create links to agent blogs or websites, connect surfers to an agent's twitter account or download audio blog or recording about the home. MLS systems need to create more avenues for potential clients to interact and engage with agents long before it's transaction time. Social Media is about Relationships. So is selling real estate.

PLAY: Don't be so serious. Yes, real estate is about big business...but before that, it's about homes, families and individuals with diverse tastes and interests. Most MLS systems are incredibly boring places to visit if you're not looking for a specific listing right now. However, an MLS system could capture the mind of the next generation of consumers by creating a complementary site for playing the most fascinating past-time most Americans can't seem to get enough of...Buying, Selling, Fixing, Flipping & Trading Real Estate. Perhaps Second Life....real estate style! (Just kidding)

RELAXING: Goes along with play. Be less stodgy. The average consumer is much more relaxed in their approach to life. As professionals, we could take a lesson from the playbook & relax...just a tad. What about an MLS system in which the neighborhood got together virtually to share what was going on in their community?

LEARNING: Why shouldn't the largest portal of real estate listings in any given area in the United States not also be the best place to learn about homes, landscaping, titlework, re-modelling, design elements, mortgage financing etc.? And why can't this learning take place 24/7 all around the world at our MLS sites?

CO-CREATING: The best idea may be the one you haven't yet heard. If MLS systems enabled direct feed-back from consumers in real time, we might find out ways to improve and enhance the search process in a way that creates a better experience for everyone.

RAVING FANS: Created from the Sum Total & Successful Application of all of the above!

Just curious...Are there MLS systems across the country incorporating any of these elements successfully? I'd love to hear about any experiences you're willing to share. Here's the slideshare show...

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

In yesterday's sermon, my pastor juxtaposed two 24 hour periods which coincidentally occur next to each other at the beginning of this week. This past Sunday was the Sanctity of Life Sunday and today is the Celebration of Martin Luther King Day which commemorates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. who was born on January 15th. In his sermon, our pastor mentioned these two significant dates as he shared his thoughts regarding what it means to Become A Child Again...and what it means to Receive and Release the Grace of Forgiveness.

After the service, I was in conversation with a couple who were probably in their early twenties during this turbulent period in the 1960's. As they shared their experiences of what that period was like, the elderly white man fought to choke back tears. He said.."Why do people have to hate so much...Why?" Then he turned to me and asked..."So what does the Celebration of Martin Luther King Day mean to you?"

It's interesting that this sermon and this conversation was taking place just after what has been termed "The Most Segregated Hour in America." I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan which has more churches per capita than any other city in the United States. If that remarkable statment by Dr. Martin Luther King is is true, that means each week, for a couple of hours, I am in a place in which the dark cloak of religious observances obscures an even deeper darkness within the human heart. For you see, today...almost 40 years after Martin Luther gave his I Have A Dream Speech, only 7% of churches nationwide are integrated!

Grand Rapids, Michigan is home to mega churches. Mega church is a term descriptive of congregations above 2,000. In fact, some statistics indicate that mega churches are the fastest growing churches in America. Yet even these colossal structures struggle to integrate their gigantic audiences on Sunday mornings. In Grand Rapids, we also have access to Christian TV. Invariably, a quick glance at the screen reveals who is speaking by the color of the audience.

So, I've been thinking about it. What would the workplace look like if business followed the same rules that have continued to dictate the norms of church goers? What would our universities produce in the way of scholarship and academics if people of color were excluded? What would happen to our hospitals if doctors and nurses from other countries were limited to a paltry 7%? Who would clean our hotel rooms and harvest our produce if the 7% rule combined with the brown paper bag test to determine eligibility for work? And where would our military be if bravery was restricted to what you looked like instead of what you were able to do on the battlefield?

Today, in all aspects of American life, integration works because it has to. To compete on the world stage, we can't afford to negate our talent and intellectual wealth on the basis of the color of the skin. But, in the place where it counts the most...the heart, Americans still struggle. Prejudice, by the way is not an American thing...it's a human thing. It's that dark side of the human psyche that urges separation, disdain and disregard for another human being. It's the small part of i which must step on another in oder to feel significant enough. It's the cowardly side of me which fears what I do not know or understand.

And...it is a taught thing. No baby comes into the world possessing it. Children have to be socialized to absorb the fear. And then life's experiences reinforce the mistrust. I grew up abroad. Yet, I went to school with a lot of white kids. From time to time they would forget that I was a different color and talk frankly about Africans. Now, these were missionary kids. Children whose parents were on a mission from God...to save lost souls in a foreign country. In exasperation one day I said..."Don't you guys realise that you're talking about me when you say these things?" They looked at me in surprise. It was then I understood another powerful revelation about prejudice.

Prejudice is largely an unconscious evil. We have to be deeply separted from the intimacy of the human experience to blur recognition of ourselves when we encounter another human being. This poison seeps so deeply into the human soul that many of us can no longer touch it or acknowledge its control in our lives. In prejudice we entertain a deep level of absence from who we are created to be.

We may be largely unaware that our choices are determined by a perverted guidance. We may never have questioned it and so it remains largely unexamined. So, that is why, after working all day in environments in which we meet all sorts of different people, some of whom become friends...we retreat to our private domains. And none so fiercely as the cloistered ranks of Sunday Morning Church.

On Sunday evening, ABC News carried a broadcast about a small largely black church in Ohio which has determined to close it's doors once a month and go to visit it's neighbors in their churches. When Pastor Biggers was interviewed he spoke about "Closing His Doors" and "Opening His Heart." Pastor Biggers understands that prejudice is as much a black thing as it it a white thing as it is a red thing or whatever color you want to put on it. He gets it...Its a human thing.

And that's the crux of the issue...the condition of our hearts. So when my pastor spoke about forgiveness yesterday and the need to become like a child, he was absolutely right. We can never truly honor the sanctity of life and understand what Martin Luther's Dream was all about until we forgive each other from the heart. It is childlike humility and openess which allows the scars of the past to be exposed to the light and the power of forgiveness which enables us to reach out and touch our brothers and sisters without malice. And the truth is...that we must do this for ourselves. Because avoidance dehumanizes and dimishes all of us like it or not.

So, what does the Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther Kings' birthday mean to me? Well, it is a call of personal and communal affirmation. It means that once again the nation remembers its' higher calling. It is a reminder that our deepest connection is a spiritual connection which transcends all the divisions which superficially separate us. It is a stark reminder that we will know that our nation has truly begun to heal when Sunday Morning begins to look like the rest of America does during the week.

* As an additional note, An Event is being planned for June 29th, 2008 called Missions Sunday. This event is aimed at encouraging congregations of different races to visit each other. The goal is to have 1000 churches participate with their members across America .

*These pictures were forwarded to me by fellow Active Rainer Carol Smith from Toledo, Ohio. Thank You Carol. I hope this article portrays the Spirit in which you sent them.

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved

I've always been fascinated by the Apostle Peter.  Perhaps, because I find it so easy to relate to his impulsive, talkative nature and his propensity for speaking from his heart. My favorite story about Peter is related in several different gospels. But only the Gospel of Mathew actually tells us about Peter's water walking adventure. The other two gospels only focus  on Jesus walking on the wingtips of the waves.

Here's a brief recap of the tale if you're not familiar.  The disciplines have just finished cleaning up one of those monumental miracle events for which Jesus was famous.  A Dinner created and multiplied from 5 loaves and 2 small fish of has just been served to 5,000 men besides women and children. There's even leftovers! 

Afterwards, Jesus tells the disciples to get in the boat and head towards the other side of the shore of the sea of Galilee while he dismisses the enormous crowd.  As the day darkens into evening, Jesus is alone on the shore and the disciples are still trying to make it to the other side of the lake. They're having major difficulty because of stormy weather related conditions which have produced huge waves. 

Somewhere between 3:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 a.m. in the morning, (the fourth watch of the night in Roman tradition), they are haunted by a  strange phenomenon. Terrified, they observe a figure walking towards them across the tidal waves and they are sure they are being visited by an apparition from the netherworld.  But the voice of Jesus calls out to them to assure them saying, "Take courage! It is I.  Don't be afraid." (Matthew 14:27)

Now, this is what I love about Peter. He's not afraid to challenge the ghost.  He talks back!  In spite of his very real real fears he says..."Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." While many sermons I've heard over the years focused on the fact that Peter steps out on the water and begins to sink, what has always held a peculiar fascination for me is that Peter didn't allow his Fear to define the parameters of engagement.  He challenges "the ghost" to prove itself.

Peter gets out of the boat and actually dares to do the impossible!  In-spite of huge waves, driving winds...he finds himeself walking on top of large looming waves of water.  But circumstances have their way of bearing down on all of us.  As he begins to look at the predicament in which he has just placed himself by stepping out of the relative safety of a boat and into the deep uncertainty of an unchartered course, he realises he's in deep trouble and rapidly begins to sink.  But not before asking for some divine assistance..."Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30)

And God does!  Reaching out a hand, Jesus catches him and in an instant, the impetuous disciple and his Master are back in the boat.  But not before Jesus chides Peter for his doubting.  I think perhaps he must have truly enjoyed those few moments of watching Peter step outside himself.  Can you imagine that show...two men totally in defiance of the laws of gravity and turning all the rules and laws of nature upside down.  Can't blame Jesus for wanting Peter to do it for just a tad longer...

I can imagine the conversation of the other 11 who remained in the boat.  They're probably too terrified to stop Peter, but probably NO ONE says "That's a great idea Peter, Go For it!" In fact, they're probably wishing Peter would just SHUT UP.  Maybe whatever it is out there will just GO AWAY instead of come towards them.  But, NO...blabber mouth has to speak up and then jump out of the boat in the middle of a storm.  But, they can't help but watch.  To their surprise, Peter's doing it...He's walking on a Lake!

You see, Jesus command is not just to Peter who is marooned on a watery highway, it's to everyone within hearing distance who needs to hear the message.  He is clear and precise..."Don't BE AFRAID, TAKE COURAGE."  Why is this important.  I think it's because he's showing us a powerful lesson.  The water and the waves did NOT have the power to destroy Peter or drown the boat contrary to what they assumed.  Peter's walking on the water had clearly demonstrated that nothing is impossible.  Rather it was their FEAR which was the biggest hindrance to their deliverance.  He instructs them in one passage to "TAKE COURAGE."  Instead of succumbing to the shrill call of FEAR, take the powerful, life restoring grace of COURAGE.

And it works!  Instantly, the wind dies down and they are able to steer the boat safely towards the shore.  There's a powerful message in this ancient story for the stormy conditions which are over shadowing the real estate industry right now.  The winds of adversity and the waves of bad news are swelling with intensity on a daily basis.  Many have already been overcome and succumbed to the the reality of not being able to support themselves and their families. 

But for every boat full of fearful people, there's a Peter.  Look for them during these times. Folks who are not afraid to call it like they see it...not afraid to ride the lions mane if it means it's the last breath they take.  You might have someone like this in your office or hear about their exploits.  Don't waste your breath deriding these brave hearts for being silly and out of tune with reality.  TAKE THEIR COURAGE.  This is their unique gift. 

We've always had these inspirational souls in our midst.  They are disciples disguised in the garb of ordinary affairs.  They are the Abraham Lincolns who said NO to Slavery even at the cost of perhaps irreparably damaging the union.  These brave souls may be bent over men & women like Gandhi or Mother Teresa who challenged the status quo with a bull horn that was much louder than any sounds that emanated from their frail frames.  Or they may be a mother, teacher or mentor who challenged you to move on by leading the way when you'd all but given up.

The point is, A WAY will always be provided to those who choose to TAKE COURAGE rather than hold onto FEAR.  So, if you're struggling with looming waves of uneasiness and despair, you're not alone.  There were 11 others who remained in the boat.  Remember that the miracle working power resides within you.  Peter walked on his own two feet not those belonging to Jesus.  Use what you've got and step out.  Don't allow yourself to be overtaken by the storm...Use What is IN YOU to tame it! 

Versions of this story can be found in the following Gospels:

Matthew 14:13-36, Mark 6:30-56, John 6:15-24 

Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved