Comments on: An all Carrot and no Stick Industry

By: REALonomics

REALonomics — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:32:43 +0000

Thanks, Mike. Unlike travel agents, real estate professionals will not be replaced in the transaction process. Earning “pennies on the dollar” is the exact opposite of our position. REALonomics is one of the few sources that actually believes real estate revenues can increase with better and more numerous value propositions that are delivered, not in the cumbersome way we now deliver them, but in new streamlined and more effective ways. REALonomics is dedicated to the survival of the industry, not its demise and REALonomics is not a proponent of Zillow or Trulia, just realists, who ask the question, why aren’t we doing this? Why are industry outsiders (what we call “non-brokers”) creating the innovative models? A model like http://www.CityBlogUSA.com combines transparent resident blogging with exclusive agent presence in every city of the country, including your community at http://www.KentuckyBlogPage.com. Hundreds of agents are jumping into CityBlogUSA because it is an innovative, consumer-centric means to expanding their local business. Best of all it was created by an agent! Thanks for the great thinking and comments…REALonomics.

By: Mike Parker

Mike Parker — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:02:44 +0000

Your point is well taken, but let’s gets real for a second.
Zillow and all the other companies you mention have millions of dollars from the corporate world and all they want to do is to get the agent out of the way. If the agent is out of the way, they have the opportunity to have their way with the consumer, not in the consumer’s best interest.
I agree that the process needs a little work done to it, but completely disagree that it should be completely re-vamp like you are talking. Sounds to me like the corporate world talking.
What I am hearing from you is I will make pennies on the dollar compare to a decent living. I by no means have become rich from selling real estate, but I do live a middle class lifestyle. My consumers are extremely well taken care of; they are informed and have all the current tools of the trade available to them. You are asking me to provide all the current tools of the trade at a fracture of the price. Not Gonna Happen!

By: REALonomics

REALonomics — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:08:30 +0000

Mike. Thanks! Yes, let’s go a step further and ask ourselves how we get paid, how we should get paid and how we might be paid in the “New Real Estate Economy.” As an agent myself, a property owner and a consumer, there is nothing more powerful than information transparency. As real estate professionals we will still have to take listings, show property, qualify both sellers and buyers, negotiate transaction and service the closing…this is how we get paid. However, what we are now struggling with is the new economic models that can produce better profits from an unimaginable array of sources. But we are going to have to get ourselves out of the traditional rut and meet the consumer on neutral territory. Companies like Zillow, Trulia, e-Partner, CityBlogUSA and others are making money within the industry by providing better models that are more appealing to the needs of the consumer. Thanks for the input! >>REALonomics.

By: Mike Parker

Mike Parker — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:32:12 +0000

Would you like to go one step more and tell us how we get paid?
Mike Parker

By: FBS Blog » Blog Archive » Are Listings Information or Advertising?

FBS Blog » Blog Archive » Are Listings Information or Advertising? — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:53:00 +0000

[...] Update: Realonomics has an excellent post today on a similar vein: An All Carrot and No Stick Industry. [...]