http://activerain.com/blogs/rndubaku Welcome to my blog where you will find information and topics pertaining to Commercial RE that I find interesting. Click on the link below my profile to support Education Advantage Foundation on GoodSearch.com!!! en-us 409311 <p>Ever check out <a href="http://www.PR.com" target="_blank">PR.com</a>?</p><p><img src="http://www.pr.com/images/logo.jpg" height="58" alt=" " width="67" /> </p><p>I&#39;ve come across it as many companies are using it to promote and highlight their associates and companies.&nbsp; This is really a great example of the proliferation of marketing through the internet.&nbsp; Although joining will cost you $ it is better to have a firm setup an account rather than the individual.&nbsp; This may be an effective way of generating business through direct online advertising of an individual or company.&nbsp; I would love to hear your thoughts on this medium.<br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ral Ndubaku<br />Commercial Brokers International <br /></p><a href="http://www.PR.com" target="_blank"></a> Ral Ndubaku (Commercial Brokers International) Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:10:14 -0600 http://activerain.com/blogsview/409311/Press-Releases-Online 373984 <p>It seems to me these days that the availability and easy access to listing websites are leaving brokers between a rock and a hard place.&nbsp; The are a number of websites to post listings on including costar.com, loopnet.com, buildingsearch.com, commercialmart.com, cityfeet.com, commrex.com, propertyline.com, iciworld.net and even craigslist.org.&nbsp; Although these sites proliferate the marketing of one&#39;s listing it also makes your listing available to the consumer directly.&nbsp; How many times have you been contacted directly by a prospective tenant or investor?&nbsp; The protection of commissions may be on the brink since buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants etc now communicate directly while leaving the broker out.&nbsp; The exception that still exists seems to be CoStar.&nbsp; The only problem with CoStar is that it does not reach as many brokers as does LoopNet.&nbsp; Neither does any of the other sites previously mentioned.&nbsp;</p><p>Recently I got a referral for a client that needed an industrial space.&nbsp; Unfortunately for him, he sought professional help a <strong>3 weeks</strong> prior to his lease expiration and he did not have the option of renewal.&nbsp; Nevertheless I felt very confident that I would be able to help him secure a new space for his business.&nbsp; After all, I was equipped with all the right tools and knowledge of the market. After a discussion with the client I had the information necessary to find him the most suitable space and immediately set up a search on LoopNet and Costar. I found that LoopNet yielded more results than did CoStar and of course the listings that were on CoStar came up on the LoopNet search results.&nbsp; I proceeded to contact the listing brokers and to my surprise almost every single person I spoke to knew who the client was!!!&nbsp; I contacted the client back to find out that he had been searching for a space on his own for a month prior to being referred to me.&nbsp; He had activated a LoopNet account and was doing all the work on his own.</p><p>Well I&#39;m not sure which direction we are headed as the internet becomes more integral in our profession and how it will affect brokers everywhere.&nbsp; I&#39;m interested to know what your thoughts are.</p><p><br />Ral&nbsp; Ndubaku<br />Commercial Brokers International</p><p><br />Disclaimer: I am not a representative of any of the listing sites mentioned above.&nbsp; I simply used them as reference as part of my commentary. </p> Ral Ndubaku (Commercial Brokers International) Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:50:20 -0600 http://activerain.com/blogsview/373984/Listing-Websites-Accessibility