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Realtor.com Is It Worth It?

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Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC

Realtor.comIn today's ever changing market, I find it even more important to be the best I can possibly be. I tend to do all that I can to get my listings out there for the world to see. If I can attract that one buyer that just happens to be the person that thinks my listing is the perfect property for them, I feel I'm doing my job. Well, at least part of it.

When I list a property, you'll find it everywhere on the net. Mostly syndicated, but I have several sites I place them on myself. Problem is, our MLS doesn't allow the feed of the comments section. With most of the syndicated sites, Realtor.com included, all the potential person sees is a few pics and very basic information. Unless you pay a phenomenal fee to add your own information.

I have had several buyer clients that have asked for more information on properties they have seen on realtor.com. This makes me wonder if I'm missing out because I have opted to not cough up the dough to add more information to my own listings and have them branded.

I know there are several REALTORs(R) here in the rain that use this site as a tool in your marketing plan. Is it worth it? Have you noticed an increase in the sales of your listings (whether by you or another agent) because of this site? Strangely enough, I'm not that concerned about getting leads from the sites I use. Just selling my listings. I'm on a pretty tight budget this year, but want to get these properties sold.

Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

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Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

My Broker does the enhanced thing.  I guess it couldn't hurt I just get tired of everyone wanting more $.  I guess you have to spend it to make it but geesh. 

May 13, 2009 10:59 PM
Lissa Uder
RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC - Lebanon, MO
Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

The $ thing is what gets me. I'm being nickeled and dimed till I don't even have any pennies left! But if it works, I'll spend the money. Does your Broker find it to be effective?

Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

May 13, 2009 11:43 PM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

I will ask if he has seen a difference.  I am strickly buyer side now by choice and love it.

May 14, 2009 02:19 AM
Lissa Uder
RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC - Lebanon, MO
Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Thank you Paddy, I sincerely appreciate it!

May 14, 2009 02:30 AM
Mike Eddy
Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Wailea, HI
Maui Real Estate Broker
May 14, 2009 10:03 AM
Lissa Uder
RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC - Lebanon, MO
Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Thanks Mike! So, what did you decide? I'm still leaning towards the belief that it isn't worth the fees. I can tell everyone that their listing will be there, and it will. Just not as much as information as they would find on point2, zillow, GMACRealestate, or my own personal site.

???

Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

May 14, 2009 10:20 AM
Mike Eddy
Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Wailea, HI
Maui Real Estate Broker

Lissa - I am still undecided, and I tend to agree with you. I'm not convinced that it's worth the money so I put it on the back burner for now. Good luck with your decision!

Mike

May 14, 2009 10:56 AM
Lissa Uder
RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC - Lebanon, MO
Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Mike: I think maybe I'll leave this alone for a lilttle while too. I don't know why it's such a hard decision for me to make, but since it is do difficult, maybe it's just not that important to me. Unless someone can change my mind.

Have A Great Day!

Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

May 14, 2009 11:59 PM
Jim Norbuta
RE/MAX Traditions (Cleveland, Ohio) - Chagrin Falls, OH

Lissa,

Our volume was down enough last year that we  just qualified for r.com for under $400/year.

The  low volume is not an approach we would recommend.  We still thought about it before going ahead, even at this low price.

As a result, we'll be closing on new construction next week, and found a relocation buyer this week.

Go figure...

Many Blessings,

Jim & Joan

May 15, 2009 01:36 PM
Wendy Welborne-Kimery
Keller Williams-Lake Norman Mooresville,NC - Mooresville, NC

I think it is worth it.  I don't do print at all anymore.  The homes that are enhanced get more hits.  So better chance of being picked as "one of the ones" for them to look at when coming from another state especially.  I think it is well worth it and you may even be able to negotiate with them on price.  Not sure.  Our office got a break this year because almost everyone signed up for it.  This is my 3rd year being on it. 

May 16, 2009 01:29 AM
Lissa Uder
RE/MAX Next Generation, LLC - Lebanon, MO
Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

Jim & Joan: That's good to hear. My inventory is down right now too. I've sold many of my listings and before losing my Mother, I chose to spend time with her instead of prospecting and digging up new listings. Maybe I should check price again.

Wendy: Our area Homes Guide only comes out every other month. Our ads are due in 3 weeks before they come out. I feel this book is a huge waste of money!!! For quite a while, I quit advertising in it. Then my Broker lectured me about it and I feel obligated to do so. Realtor.com would actually cost me less than the print ad, and I'm sure be more effective. The only other print I do is for open houses. Thanks for your input. I really wouldn't have a problem with telling my sellers that I chose to spend my money on a more effective means of advertising and dropped the book.

Lissa Uder, Your Lebanon MO Real Estate Agent

May 16, 2009 02:02 AM
Bill Saunders, Realtor®
Meyers Realty - Hot Springs, AR
www.BillSellsHotSprings.com

Hey Lissa,

So sorry to hear about your mom..you certainly did the right thing spending time.

I am a total newbie with 3 whoppin' lot listings, and lots are pretty much a dime a dozen. I went ahead with the enhanced listings in hopes of more to come that might just havea house suck to them...well soon I hope. :) Anyway, I can at least report back to the seller that there were x amount of views to the pages. The lack of calls on the lots...well ya think PRICE might be an issue? :)

Still, I am lucky because they base the fee on your past earnings, which favors newbies like me. The stats will give me some fodder at price reductions, plus if you put extra pics of the property, up to 24, it will help you bump to the top. Of course, there are ways to spend every dime you make with featured agent and featured listing, etc.

Good Luck!!!

May 16, 2009 04:40 AM
Dawn Grasty
Prudential YSU Realty - Durham, NC
Durham NC Real Estate

My personal opinion is that it didn't make a difference in my business. I paid over $500, and this year didn't re-up. I may have made a mistake, but I didn't see an increase in interest during the year I had the enhance realtor.com service. Good to hear others' opinions. thanks for raising the question!

May 22, 2009 09:36 AM
Anonymous
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Jun 01, 2009 01:27 PM
#14
Myrna Eisenlauer
Re/Max Real Estate Group - Des Moines, IA

We do a lot of listing, and we pay the extra money for the personal info to be on Realtor.com. Realtor.com is still the no. one place buyers go to search for homes. If we don't pay to put our information on the listing, the inquires go to our company and are dispursed to the floor duty person. We definately get more email leads from Realtor.com than any other site.

Eisenlauer Team, Re/Max Real Estate Group, Des Moines Iowa

Jun 04, 2009 08:38 AM