“Traditional” real estate is changing. Agents that don’t get (or believe) that are in trouble. They just don’t realize it. Yet.

I really enjoy your blog and the quality of your reader’s comments.

To the point, I found the 60 minutes piece to be somewhat behind the times. How long now has this argument been going on, this argument that always seems to boil down to them versus us? I would say there is room for all. I would also note that many independents are dropping their commission rates to compete with the big brokerages. This will eventually create great leverage the result of which is yet to be revealed.

This ³US² is not an amorphous lump of discounters, to be looked at with disdain. At SellSmart we provide a yard sign, open houses, laminated postcard mailings while suffering the increase in postage, placement in the MLS, and every other service that ³THEM² offer. Other than a lower commission and a buyer rebate there is no difference between us and them. We provide innovative technology such as the Knockbox that adds another layer of service. Enabling buyers to tour a home right from the curb, at one of the most influential moments in the home shopping experience.

As you stated earlier;

³Virtually every agent I know has ³adjusted² commission rates for one reason or another²

Are those agents that ³adjusted² their commissions a threat to traditional real estate? I would say no and neither are we.

I have to take issue with ³you get what you pay for.² I cite Google Mail, Hotmail, Blogger, Wordpress and there are many other free tools out there that help shape the mindset that ³free is cheap² is dead. I note these especially because they are free yet so robust, but I am not trying to equate software to selling or buying a home. Just that the cliché ³ygwypf² as an argument is only that – cliché.

Thanks
Richard Cook
SellSmart Real Estate

Nice Posted! Its so very informative and knowledgeable for your visitors or readers.
Thank You for sharing.. Keep up the good work..

More Power,
Freddie Aguilar
Real Estate Investments

You get what you pay for is so true. I can’t wait for my Listing appoinment today. All the blogs and comments have prepared me for any objections. What a great forum to reinforce Stephen R. Covey’s 7th Habit “Sharpen The Saw.”

It will be difficult to get any organic search results with nothing more than a list of states on your home pages. How are you driving traffic to these directories?

I’m not meaning to pick on you, I just don’t get it. Help me understand….

“I know that no matter what I said or how intellectual (I think) I am, editors will paint their predetermined picture regardless of my words.”

That is certainly a true statement! I’ve been quoted in local and national publications before and on more than one occasion I thought to myself, “that’s not what I said”. These folks are master editors, and it’s not difficult to take a quote from two portions of a conversation, mesh them together, and give whole new meaning to the original intent. The 60 Minutes piece was obviously very heavily edited (yes, I finally watched it — Seth made me do it) so who knows what all was really said (on both sides) on and off camera.