This is an intersting article on how zillow and other companies are using the MLS's around the country to hand this info to consumers for free even though it costs brokers and agents money to operate. I would like to hear some thoughts.

http://realtytimes.com/rtapages/20060213_mls.htm

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Ryan Ward, REALTOR® - Keller Williams Realty Consultants. (404) 630-3187
Atlanta Real Estate - My featured area is Alpharetta Real Estate and it is where I call home. Read my Atlanta Real Estate blog.

If I'm a member of a professional organization that has standards of practice... why can't it also have a requirement that you complete XX transactions each biennium. Even setting this number extremely low would get rid of some agents that do almost no business and therefore regularly screw up the ones that they do actually do, and also require brokers to actually, you know, broker something.

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Aaron

Minneapolis Real Estate | Twin Cities Real Estate | Edina Realty Agent

I've seen sites like that here in Austin. I even looked them up in our MLS system to see who the subscriber is. Turns out there's some broker who has like a dozen or so different "companies" under his name, mostly worthless discounters who use spam tactics to try and get top ranking on Google and harvest leads.

I think people aren't dumb. If they see a site that looks shady, they won't deal with them. Eventually you have to know the name of the agent/broker who owns the website.

IMHO, every real estate website must be required by NAR to clearly identify the broker, the agent and advertise actual real estate services. Otherwise we're paying dues only to have companies like Zillow take our work for nothing, tell everyone how bad we are, and use the publicity to generate leads and sell them back to us! I tell all my clients about Zillow and similar companies...I want to do my part to spread the word about just how bad they are.

I make a point to talk to my clients about companies like zillow myself. They don't even come close to an accurate price in my market, Alpharetta. 15% low at least on my home alone. Personally (and ethically), I am against redistributing proprietary information for free as a company like this claims to do. Aren't they making money on someone else's dime?

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Ryan Ward, REALTOR® - Keller Williams Realty Consultants. (404) 630-3187
Atlanta Real Estate - My featured area is Alpharetta Real Estate and it is where I call home. Read my Atlanta Real Estate blog.

I couldn't agree more. Most times these folks work on brokers who are ignorant of the rules of IDX. One thing that we know for sure, that is that information unprotected will seek its freedom on the web.

In this case, it can and should be protected.

Eric

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