Comments on: Reviewing Real Estate Agents: Under the Microscope http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/ The world of real estate and technology online Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:41:06 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: michel http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-4621 michel Wed, 02 May 2007 11:08:07 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-4621 Natural beauty,beautiful agile and vital life. Marvellous offer! dream heaven to live a vivid life.Low cost,no hidden charges.Grant u vital facilities.You are proud to order now! Natural beauty,beautiful agile and vital life. Marvellous offer! dream heaven to live a vivid life.Low cost,no hidden charges.Grant u vital facilities.You are proud to order now!

]]> By: Teresa Boardman http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2261 Teresa Boardman Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:59:35 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2261 This agent opted out of home thinking. When I saw that the basic information about me was wrong and that when I looked myself up a couple of my competitors who do not even do business in the same market came up I decided that I did not want my name in the database. I don't think I will lose any business because of it. What would prevent me or someone else from writing a false review? What would prevent home thinking from being sued if someone did. What are you thinking? I am thinking of letting agents know how to opt out, and of writing another review about your site. This agent opted out of home thinking. When I saw that the basic information about me was wrong and that when I looked myself up a couple of my competitors who do not even do business in the same market came up I decided that I did not want my name in the database. I don’t think I will lose any business because of it. What would prevent me or someone else from writing a false review? What would prevent home thinking from being sued if someone did. What are you thinking? I am thinking of letting agents know how to opt out, and of writing another review about your site.

]]> By: Chris Lengquist http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2091 Chris Lengquist Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:28:27 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2091 I just visited Homethinking as was largely unimpressed. (The other site wanted me to register...didn't want to.) My name was found two different ways. One had me with 0 listings and the other with 1. (7 at this time would be more accurate.) When was the last time the info was "scraped" or whatever? If it's always going to be inaccurate, what good is it? Can I hold them liable for any slanderous or erroneous information contained therein? Just a question I would have for an attorney if push ever came to shove. I just visited Homethinking as was largely unimpressed. (The other site wanted me to register…didn’t want to.) My name was found two different ways. One had me with 0 listings and the other with 1. (7 at this time would be more accurate.) When was the last time the info was “scraped” or whatever? If it’s always going to be inaccurate, what good is it? Can I hold them liable for any slanderous or erroneous information contained therein? Just a question I would have for an attorney if push ever came to shove.

]]> By: Karl Lingenfelder http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Karl Lingenfelder Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:51:31 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2068 Anon, who is "You" ? We should not be preaching to the Choir, but addressing the user habits of the millions of Buyers and Sellers out there who indeed, are looking at listings, then agents. While these widgets and other rating systems can be useful, they do need moderating to prevent puffing/stuffing and flaming by the agents or the public. As soon as it is perceived that the system is corrupt, it will be dead. The widget owners need to be careful of this. I also suspect that a thoughtful buyer or seller would not simply turn to one of these rating systems to find an agent and may even be skeptical of them. Most of the public will simply go to listings and leave it at that. Sellers respond to mailings (farming), referrals and for sale ads and signs. Transparency, user/public input, is the current trend and very W 2.0, but it needs to be credible. --- Karl Lingenfelder Anon, who is “You” ? We should not be preaching to the Choir, but addressing the user habits of the millions of Buyers and Sellers out there who indeed, are looking at listings, then agents.

While these widgets and other rating systems can be useful, they do need moderating to prevent puffing/stuffing and flaming by the agents or the public. As soon as it is perceived that the system is corrupt, it will be dead. The widget owners need to be careful of this.

I also suspect that a thoughtful buyer or seller would not simply turn to one of these rating systems to find an agent and may even be skeptical of them.

Most of the public will simply go to listings and leave it at that.

Sellers respond to mailings (farming), referrals and for sale ads and signs.

Transparency, user/public input, is the current trend and very W 2.0, but it needs to be credible.

— Karl Lingenfelder

]]> By: Erik Hersman http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 Erik Hersman Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:14:48 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2047 Anon, you\'re point of view is exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned that this topic would be controversial. The whole idea of agent reviews outside of the agent\'s control is completely disruptive. Your solution is what can be expected of someone who knows the real estate market well. The truth is, that many people don\'t know how to pick an agent, they don\'t know how to find even a few good agents to interview, they don\'t know who to ask that will give them an objective answer. So, what do they do? Unless they already know of a good agent, they search online, just like everyone does everyday for information. What do they find? They find the RE blogger with an 8/10 score on their widget, they find the guy who paid $30 to be featured above everyone else. It\'s the reality of where things are. So, you can choose to fight it or ignore it, but it won\'t go away. What the end consumer wants, or more accurately, what is easiest for them, will be what happens. Thus my position on managing your reputation online. Just because you ignore your online reputation doesn\'t mean it\'s not there and is not affecting you or your business. Anon, you\’re point of view is exactly what I was referring to when I mentioned that this topic would be controversial. The whole idea of agent reviews outside of the agent\’s control is completely disruptive.

Your solution is what can be expected of someone who knows the real estate market well. The truth is, that many people don\’t know how to pick an agent, they don\’t know how to find even a few good agents to interview, they don\’t know who to ask that will give them an objective answer.

So, what do they do? Unless they already know of a good agent, they search online, just like everyone does everyday for information.

What do they find? They find the RE blogger with an 8/10 score on their widget, they find the guy who paid $30 to be featured above everyone else. It\’s the reality of where things are.

So, you can choose to fight it or ignore it, but it won\’t go away. What the end consumer wants, or more accurately, what is easiest for them, will be what happens. Thus my position on managing your reputation online. Just because you ignore your online reputation doesn\’t mean it\’s not there and is not affecting you or your business.

]]> By: Baron Briefs » Blog Archive » A “Snarky” Look at Realtor Selection http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2036 Baron Briefs » Blog Archive » A “Snarky” Look at Realtor Selection Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:28:56 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2036 [...] An anonymous real estate agent in the comments of a Realty Thoughts’ post on agent review sites pens three things you should avoid doing when selecting your real estate agent: 1. do not choose an agent because they have 8 on a widget on their blog. [...] [...] An anonymous real estate agent in the comments of a Realty Thoughts’ post on agent review sites pens three things you should avoid doing when selecting your real estate agent: 1. do not choose an agent because they have 8 on a widget on their blog. [...]

]]> By: anon http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2033 anon Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:10:39 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2033 Here is how to rank an agent. 1. You find a few good agents 2. you INTERVIEW them 3. you choose the agent that best fits you. you do not choose an agent because they have 8 on a widget on their blog. you do not choose an agent based on what strangers have said. you do not choose an agent based on how much commission they give back to you before you even enter into a transaction. you do not find an agent because they paid $30 to be featured on a website, or paid to be an expert in an area how about this for a strategy...walk into a real estate office and ask for the top producer in the area you are looking for. That to me seems like the best and fastest way to get the best agent you can get. these new "sites that manage agent reputation" do not help agents, nor do they help the consumer...they are adword based, hope to get bought by google, web 2.0 sites. Here is how to rank an agent.
1. You find a few good agents
2. you INTERVIEW them
3. you choose the agent that best fits you.

you do not choose an agent because they have 8 on a widget on their blog.

you do not choose an agent based on what strangers have said.

you do not choose an agent based on how much commission they give back to you before you even enter into a transaction.

you do not find an agent because they paid $30 to be featured on a website, or paid to be an expert in an area

how about this for a strategy…walk into a real estate office and ask for the top producer in the area you are looking for. That to me seems like the best and fastest way to get the best agent you can get.

these new “sites that manage agent reputation” do not help agents, nor do they help the consumer…they are adword based, hope to get bought by google, web 2.0 sites.

]]> By: Real Central VA - Tracking the Charlottesville and Central VA real estate market and more » Thursday links 02-07-2007 http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2031 Real Central VA - Tracking the Charlottesville and Central VA real estate market and more » Thursday links 02-07-2007 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:31:51 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2031 [...] Thursday links 02-07-2007 By Jim Duncan Rate your agent sites [...] [...] Thursday links 02-07-2007 By Jim Duncan Rate your agent sites [...]

]]> By: Erik http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2030 Erik Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:57:18 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2030 John, while I agree that an objective certification might get you a much more fair representation as a real estate professional, the consumer would rather hear from their peers about you. In other words, a certification might give them greater confidence in you, but hearing positive/negative testimonials from their neighbors counts for a lot more. Websites that manage real estate agent's reputation are going to be doing it from now on. They don't even rely on you choosing to be a part of it, you already are by default. If that is the case, it makes sense for you to take charge of your reputation on these sites and at least let your voice be heard. Of the three sites mentioned here, AgentRank and Incredible Agents designed their system as an addition to their already successful business models. Homethinking.com is the only one that opperates completely independently of any other revenue model - they just charge for "premium" accounts. I guess I'm just not clear on why having a business model applied to this concept is a bad thing. John, while I agree that an objective certification might get you a much more fair representation as a real estate professional, the consumer would rather hear from their peers about you. In other words, a certification might give them greater confidence in you, but hearing positive/negative testimonials from their neighbors counts for a lot more.

Websites that manage real estate agent’s reputation are going to be doing it from now on. They don’t even rely on you choosing to be a part of it, you already are by default. If that is the case, it makes sense for you to take charge of your reputation on these sites and at least let your voice be heard.

Of the three sites mentioned here, AgentRank and Incredible Agents designed their system as an addition to their already successful business models. Homethinking.com is the only one that opperates completely independently of any other revenue model – they just charge for “premium” accounts. I guess I’m just not clear on why having a business model applied to this concept is a bad thing.

]]> By: john harper http://www.realtythoughts.com/2007/02/reviewing-real-estate-agents-under-the-microscope/comment-page-1/#comment-2027 john harper Fri, 09 Feb 2007 06:39:57 +0000 http://www.realtythoughts.com/?p=191#comment-2027 I was looking into one of these sites you mentioned a few weeks ago. The process did not seem to lead to an objective evaluation as much as it led to another business model to monetize. I think a truly objective rating system is the one offered by "Diamond Certified" http://www.diamondcertified.org/ where an unbiased group takes a good hard look into your business practices. I was looking into one of these sites you mentioned a few weeks ago. The process did not seem to lead to an objective evaluation as much as it led to another business model to monetize.

I think a truly objective rating system is the one offered by “Diamond Certified” http://www.diamondcertified.org/ where an unbiased group takes a good hard look into your business practices.

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