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Real Estate eFlyer Complaints

The NWMLS recently advised its members "be selective when sending out emails regarding your listings to other members and agents" noting numerous complaints from members receiving unwanted emails from other members regarding listings. Most complaints are from members receiving emails about listings out of their service area.

An example of abuse is an agent from the Bellevue workingprimarily on the eastside of King County receiving eflyers abouta listing in Bremerton which is in Kitsap County. We frequently receive eflyers about Olympia properties while our immediate area is Edgewood and Puyallup real estate. Agents don't want these "junk" eflyers especially for distant listings.

The NWMLS emphasized that our registered email accounts are for official communication purposes like ebills, and notices, and for communication with clients and other NWMLS members and agents. I understand that many agents feel this is an effective real estate marketing technique ... but I believe the NWMLS notice should be taken as a warning that continued abuse will result in new rules prohibiting eflyers and possibly resulting in hefty fines for offenders.

Before you contract an eflyer delivery please consider the repercussions on our industry.

Posted by Larry Wright on 12/04/2007 12:25 PM

Comments (16)

nwmls, real estate, marketing, internet, realtors, email, spam

Post is included in group: North Olympic Peninsula Real Estate

16 Comments on Real Estate eFlyer Complaints

DEC

2007

Hi Larry, Do you have a referral broker for Granite Bay, CA Placer county. If not please add me to your list.

I for one do not need e-flyers from agents in places I do not sell. It is getting out of hand. Great Post!

We just block sender if it's out of our area because it's becoming like SPAM.

Sincerely,

Grace Safrin

I have gone from delete, to unsubscribe, to blacklist, very quickly. I tolerate those that are somewhat local in nature, but I'm in North Georgia, and the increasing number of these I get, not just from the southside of Atlanta (outside of my area), but Florida, Texas, and Las Vegas, etc. are not just surprising, but irritating.

I have nothing against using email as a means to promote a listing, provided they are targeted and somehow relevant to my business. But many of these e-flyer companies seem to be just creating huge databases of names of licensees across the country and sending blind mailings. To me, it's nothing more than unsolicited advertising for commercial purposes, in which no prior interest has been expressed -- better known as SPAM!

If no effort is made to curb the practice, listing emails will likely lose all effectiveness -- even for those who use them sparingly and with intent.

Thanks for raising the issue!

DEC

2007

Thanks for your comments everyone. Most agents share your views but unfortunately there are some that insist on cluttering our inboxes with unwanted eflyers.

Actually a couple of weeks ago I started receiving "just listed" emails from an entire brokerage office; these were all MLS listed properties as well so I ws like: "whats the point". I put an end to that quite quickly; I treat that as spam.

DEC

2007

I have received these of course but I had no idea they were coming from a 3rd source - doh!! So that explains why I had the instant "denial" when I invited them to ActiveRain :)

Sooner or later, agents are going to realize that paying for eflyers is simply a waste of money. Almost every one I receive ends up in my spam quarantine.

I hate eflyers. I am not the person they are meant for. I can't wait for the Feds to make a law like the private right of action with Do Not Call.

DEC

2007

Thanks again for your comments. I just received a vendor's junk email offering to send eflyers to millions of agents across the country. Seems like such a waste.

It is a waste. I just unsubscribe. They have slowed down but I'm still getting some. If we have a buyer looking for that type of home, we're going to pull it up in the MLS anyway.

DEC

2007

Thanks Pam,

They've slowed for me also. I think agents are starting to get the word about eflyers.

MAR

2008

I usually delete all the eflyers without looking at them. I consider it spam.

MAR

2008

Larry,

I couldn't agree more. I don't want junk flyers in my email. I will put the sender in my junk mail folder, which will be unfortunate if they ever need to get in touch with me via email legitimately.

Sandy

Larry,

Check out the comment from 'Miss Elizabeth" Report spam, please. Ugh.

APR

We have a very unique property listed - 1000's of acres which needs out-of-state exposure. I thought an eFlyer would be one way of doing it. There aren't good search options available for buyers and Realtors to find something like this. You are always required to search one state at a time. We've joined Loopnet.com, but still haven't gotten any real buyers from it.

We always get a few new leads whenever we send out an eFlyer... If it benefits our client I think the eFlyer is justified.

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