"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."

(all this was buried in the comments of a post on RCG – http://www.raincityguide.com/2007/05/14/redfin-on-60-minutes-%e2%80%93-something-to-monitor/ )

And it wouldn’t surprise me one iota that the mainstream media would nix the idea of having an articulate, outspoken agent on their show who would be willing to challenge their vision of the status quo… Virtually every agent I know has “adjusted” commission rates for one reason or another. I think they’d have to dig fairly deep (at least around here) to find an old-school agent who wouldn’t budge off the mythical “standard” of 6%. Hence my choice of words when I said they hand picked the agent.

And I saw talk on RELiberation (a “network” site) PRIOR to the show airing where some said to have the NAR talking points handy in case the media contacted them after the show. What hooey. People need to learn to speak for themselves, not regurgitate some “talking points”.

I fully intend to watch it, that’s why I TiVo’ed it. I just don’t see it as earth shattering news and don’t really see the urgency.

I am fully prepared to “defend my position and commission”. I don’t really need any lessons from Glenn Kelman or the hand chosen Realtor of 60 Minutes. I’ve read most of what’s been blogged about the episode, I’ve read a lot of Kelman’s previous drivel, and I’ve heard the mainstream media’s slant before. Seriously, other than being able to respond to any clients direct inquiries about my feeling on the segment (and the bulk of my clients already know exactly how I feel about most of this) there’s not a whole lot of compelling reason to flip the TV on — particularly with 24 about to come one.

But I’ll watch it.

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….