Seeking additional opinions from everyone...
We used to design, as many still do, to require registration to view properties. Over time, what we felt was that this produced a huge amount of worthless leads that took time to sift through with an very low conversion rate. We have since changed over everything last year to provide all the information and listing up front while still offering registration as an option. The lead (if that's what you want to call someone who types in a name and email address), count has dropped quite a bit but the quaility of lead and conversion rate has improved dramatically. Our Clients are MUCH happier with what they're getting.

What are you doing on your sites and what's your thoughts on all the time wasted chasing bad leads as apposed to narrowing the scope to those that raise their hand for help?

No first hand experience, but that logic make a lot of sense since only people that are really serious and interested will go through the effort of registrationm making the list more relevant.

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My real estate web site and webmaster web site. Got a bit of everything, just look.

I have heard a lot of varying opinions about registration, there are probably as many opinions as there are Realtors (one million at last count). It seems that the vote on which is better lies on how they are currently doing it.

Here is mine, at least for the moment.

I don't make people register to see my listings. However, I do require registration to search the MLS. Some Realtors don't even get to make this choice. NAR's policy on VOW's require registration while IDX users do not unless required by their local board.

I know a lot of "consumers" have said in surveys that they do not like to register. My feeling is that these same protesters are likely the same ones that have 18 agents out working for them. You know -- the ones who won't sign a buyers broker agreement but tell you that they are loyal...blah, blah, blah.

Time will tell on which way is better but for now we will continue to use it as a way to sift out the serious and the loyal.


Jim

as a non agent, and a consumer I am really hesitant to give info before I can view, I just find it violates trust somehow. If I want to call you I'll call you, just show me something I like first

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Webmasters who spend their energies upholding the spirit of the basic principles [Of Google] will provide a much better user experience and subsequently enjoy better ranking than those who spend their time looking for loopholes they can exploit. Google.com

I wish you had to registar to every real estate site to view the MLS. You might not be selling a product but you are giving out information and the price of admission should be your identy. Everyone tries to give away the farm.


I have a friend that is an adult webmaster he said it is getting a lot harder to sell his memberships because adult material is found for free all over the place. Too many webmaster giving away what people would glady pay for.... well and then deny..lol


As for my real estate sites I try a mixture of things. One thing is for sure you get better quailty leads when you don't pressure surfers to registar. But if everyone's site required surfers to register before they viewed any mls info I would be all for it.

crap---dinner time to be cont.....

I would have to say asking site user to fill out a registration before searching is asking for to much info. People like to search and feel no preassure. Were dealing with sales here.. Tell me how any agents have had a phone call saying " Yeah I ready to sell my house please come stick your sign in my yard, ohh and I would be happy to pay you 7%." It doesn't happend, and with todays society people want information for free , no obligation and for you to respond in a timely matter and when you stick a registration road block up your creating a detour to another agents site that will give them the information..

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Edina is home to the first indoor mall. Search Edina Realty to find your new home.

Would those that feel registration is detrimental to lead generation care to share the average number of leads they get per month?

Our site is very new in the rankings so I wouldn't be able to give a good set of numbers yet but I can give a plug for our MLS solution. First let me say that I don't believe in requiring users to do anything until they're ready but this opinion may change over time

We recently added the MLSFinder IDX solution from Wolfnet and it allows the users to use our search engine without registering. However, it have advanced features, like saving searches and being notified when new properties become available, that require the user to create an account. This way they get the basic info and searches with no commitment and the advanced by giving thier info. The backoffice utilty lets me see all the information for users who have registered (including login dates and times, saved search criteria etc) and it keeps me informed when new property matches are sent to them.

This system also populates a Featured Home section with your agent id so it's very user friendly. We've seen good results with this system so far and I've been very happy.

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Jake Marsh
Prudential Colorado Real Estate
Denver Real Estate Agent - Denver MLS - Denver Lofts

Also Savvy has a good point (Wel I'm not sure if its his point) but that is if everyone doesnt require signups then you shouldnt or you are going to get passed over by all the people who want to look first commit later.

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Webmasters who spend their energies upholding the spirit of the basic principles [Of Google] will provide a much better user experience and subsequently enjoy better ranking than those who spend their time looking for loopholes they can exploit. Google.com

For MLS Access

I have also tried this on some sites a timed out redirect.


Using meta refresh

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="300; url=http://www.yourrealestatesite.com/signup">


--- Give them access for like 5 mins then redirect the page to a registration page once they have filled that page out then forward them to a nontimed out page.

That way you can get the best of both worlds.

Does it work? hmmm jury is still out