I am sure all of you have heard of Trulia. But have you heard of another part of the website called Trulia Voices?
Voices allows questions to be asked and answered by consumers and agents a like. It seemed like a great idea in the beginning and I have seen some great questions asked by the public. On the flip side, real estate agents and mortgage brokers have given some detailed responses.
But my question is: Is Trulia Voices now Tainted?
Here are a couple of problems I see happening to a good idea:
1) Responses can be rated by giving a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" : anyone can rate a response, but it seems as of late that great answers are being given bad reviews, while those with short and lacking responses are getting rave reviews.
Trulia will not allow me to rate my own posts. So I tested out the system. I created a second account and kept my information fairly neutral. With this new account I would now be able to rate all my posts with a "thumbs up". I didn't do it, but I discovered how easy it is to be anonymous and how easy it would be to discredit your competition. The system can be used for the wrong reasons and manipulated.
2) Anyone can answer a Question : I keep seeing agents from other parts of the country commenting on questions in Minnesota. One question referenced Park Avenue in Minneapolis, with an agent from God knows where (not from MN) asking for more information on the property.
If you are not licensed in the State of the Question, don't answer it. (kinda like here on the Q & A section of Active Rain)
3) Answers and Questions can be down right Ridiculous : I got a chuckle out of this one I saw for St Paul.
Q: Is St. Paul as cold as Minneapolis in the winter time?
A: Actually, Minneapolis is significantly colder. This is due to the people there who are very snobbish and standoffish. The people in St. Paul, however, are so warm, caring, and intelligent that it is typically fifteen degrees warmer in St. Paul! (Except in summer when many St. Paulites, who are much richer and smarter than Minneapolitans, leave the city for their lake homes, thus making St. Paul cooler than Minneapolis in the summer. (posted by Duh GetaClue)
The person who answered has been voted as the "Best Answer".
I am sure I could bring up other concerns, like the relevance of who has answered the most questions, but is there really a point? Oh, yes, there is. Trulia Voices, in my opinion, is tainted. It is NO Active Rain.
This must be how the writer above views people from Minneapolis
I did not even know about Trulia Voices. There is so much out there, and it changes/pops up so quickly, that I started feeling like always running behind the locomotive.
I checked it out once or twice, even answered one question, but didn't like the feel of it at all. I never noticed the rating system, and now that I know it's there I won't be back. It sounds like junior high cliques.
Jennifer--I would have rated that answer as being one of the best answers as well...Can you guess which side of the river I am from? As for TruliaVoices, I set up an account and never went back. Only so many hours in a day and I have a hard time keeping up with AR. As for Q&A areas, I just stay away as I don't want to be associated with some of the participants...Thanks for sharing!
Jon- yes, there is alot out there and we cannot do it all. I am curious if Trulia will really last..only time will tell.
Sal - AR has a great platform and it came along at the perfect time, when no one else was doing it. Now everyone else has to play catch up.
Chris- I have noticed that as well. I suddenly had three thumbs down one time on a really good answer. I know it was good because the person asking the question called me to speak further. The other agent has alot of thumbs up so it makes me wonder if that agent was "manipulating" the system.
Kris- Trulia Voices was taken over by alot of people on AR (not a bad thing I might add) but it shows how the system is flawed. Agents can post a question, then answer their own question to get a better ranking. I have seen alot of dumb questions come through with equally dumb answers.
Teri- Ha! You are the only agent to comment on the Minneapolis /St Paul comment. I thought it was pretty funny. I too, have a hard time keeping up with my outside blogs and AR.
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I am sure all of you have heard of Trulia. But have you heard of another part of the website called Trulia 
I did not even know about Trulia Voices. There is so much out there, and it changes/pops up so quickly, that I started feeling like always running behind the locomotive.
Thanks for the tip. Very interestng post.