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Whew...I'm FIRED UP!! My email to The Today Show

Wow, twice in one week I've gotten riled up! Maybe it's good for my metabolism (I can only hope)

If you haven't seen what got me peeved in the first place here's my blog about on Redfin on the Today show today. I just couldn't let sleeping dogs lie and I've probably spent WAY too much time on this already, but for the first time in my life, I've actually emailed a TV show. I just couldn't "not do it".

Here's my email:

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I am appalled that a news organization of your caliber would stoop to sensationalistic teasers such as "What you need to do to get your home sold now" and "What your Real Estate Agent may not be telling you" and then have Redfin's CEO on to give scientific "secrets" which Real Estate agents have been employing for years. Mr. Kellon states that his people are not sales people they are scientists. Well many Real Estate agents are not sales people either, they are caring, highly educated consultants to their clients. Do Mr. Kellon's scientists spend precious time sitting at the Kitchen table with a wife whose husband is dying, willing to be there as a comforting reassurance that she's alone in the sale process? That someone cares and is looking out for her best interest? Would Mr. Kellon's scientists list a home even if it's chances of selling weren't great because the seller owes more than it's worth? Does he know that not every seller in this market wants to sell, but may list their home to satisfy the bank and buy valuable time before foreclosure....time which may allow them to find a job or a solution which will enable them to stay in the house they love? You see, the difference between companies like Zillow and Redfin is that real estate sales to them is nothing but numbers; statistics and data. I've used stats and value trends in my business for over a decade. However I also never loose sight of the fact that the sale or purchase of real estate is a very personal experience....often stressful, many times fun. I don't understand why you and others in the media continue to vilify the "traditional" Real Estate professional. I'm sure you could care less because I'm sure you too are all about the numbers, but you've just lost yourself a long time viewer. Colleen Fischesser

Colleen M. Fischesser

Broker/Owner

RE/MAX Select RealEstate

"Be Selective!"

425-432-5400 (Direct)

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If they send a hit man for me will you guys "get my back" LOL!!!

Colleen "Fish"

www.ColleenFish.com www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com

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Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select Real Estate. She has been successfully helping clients buy and sell real estate in the greater Seattle area since 1990 and specializes in South East King County including the communities of Covington, Renton, Auburn, Kent, Ravensdale, Black Diamond & Maple Valley. Voted by clients and industry professionals as one of Seattle Magazine's 5 Star, Best in Client Satisfaction for 4 years running, she and her team rank in the top 50 of RE/MAX teams in the entire Northwest region. Colleen is committed to remaining on the cutting edge of real estate marketing and technology while providing value-added, personalized service.

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Posted by South King County Broker/Owner Colleen Fischesser 425-432-5400 on 12/14/2007 11:13 AM

Comments (21)

maple valley broker, redfin, the today show, real estate sales

21 Comments on Whew...I'm FIRED UP!! My email to The Today Show

DEC

2007

Please don't hold back, tell us what you really think. LOL

That was a great e-mail. I am sure that those who played the story and the scientists (I wonder what credentials they have to be called scientists) have no idea what is involved on a personal level (or care) in every real estate transaction.

Colleen, Yep some days you just have to "give it back". The media is just so naive about real estate it is really stupidly funny!!

Let's face it....Redfin has great PR people. I wonder if the high-paid producers of the Today show would actually use Redfin for thier next real estate transaction? Somehow, I doubt it. Why? Because it is all about the service that Realtors, and only Realtors, provide. Good post!

Bravo Colleen. Thanks for speaking up for us.

Sandy

Being the owner of one of the oldest discount real estate companies in the country that also happens to be a full-service brokerage, I'm kind of in the middle on this one.

To answer your question about why the new media "vilifies" traditional brokerages, it's the commissions! When home prices were a lot lower, 6 or 7% probably wasn't out of line to pay to have your home sold. But, with average home prices in some markets being $400,000, $500,000 and more, the idea of paying 6% to sell your home doesn't make sense to the outside world. If you think that it does, answer me this: Does it cost you twice as much to sell a $200,000 home than it does a $100,000 home? Why do traditional brokerage charge as if it does?

On the other side of the fence though, I do think that there are some services that traditional brokerages offer that the "no-service" companies don't that are very valuable and that the public is unwise to discount.

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.

Great email. If they respond to you will you share??

Great post. If real estate wasn't a relationship-based business, the internet would have realtors out of business by now. Keep up the good work!

meghan mullee

Colleen, I saw it this morning too and I wondered the same thing. Maybe we should be flattered that they compare our business to science....but as they say, this is not "rocket science" or any other kind of science! In my market I consult with a lot of engineers....and don't dare tell them their numbers are all wrong when they get fixated on analyzing their value. Based on my experience, I can assure you that a scientific brain does not usually grasp or know the first thing about marketing and selling real estate. The media is so repetitive....with the same old, same old, same old stories about the housing market. The Today show obviously must be digging at the bottom of the barrel to come up with a different twist and has provided this bogus "expert" to comment on the subject. Too bad he was not original in his thoughts!

Randy, the numbers are important-no doubt. But it's the personal side of things, whether it be negotiations, pricing, staging....this is what sets the professionals apart from the "salespeople" AND "scientists"

Jo, today was one of those days! LOL

Mary, I know Meredith Viera has been trying to sell her house for a while. Do you think she's never heard "price it right" from her agents? Is she listed w/ Redfin? I doubt it.

Thanks Sandy, and Stacy I'll definitely share, although I doubt I'll get a response other than the canned "we received it" email.

Bob, I didn't forget you.....I'm running to an appt and will respond when I get back. I'm "processing" ;-)

I think NBC is very anti business, anti Realtor, and anti Republican (I just watched the most offensive anti Gulliani rant on MSNBC that included mafia references to how Rudi runs his campaign). They are awful.

TV shows are always looking for ways to increase viewers and attract more advertisers, so you can't really blame them for their sleazy tactics. Well, you can, but you won't get anywhere. You should offer yourself as a resource. Maybe you could appear on the show to do a point-counter-point?

Someone should do a show "What the MEDIA may not be telling you" because they NEVER tell the real story, NEVER tell the whole story and ALWAYS skew facts to try to bring in viewers...often at the expense of innocent hard working people. I never watch Today and I'm glad I missed this one.

Collen,

I watched the video clip and I wasn't that offended (not that Realtors in a whole weren't de-valued), but I believe they insulted their viewers showcasing a filler like Redfin. As you listen to him and look at him- it is obvious he is not a professional and he surely doesn't have a face that shouts " I am an expert on selling homes so, Listen to Me". I have a feeling that Redfin was a paid sponsor and that three minute plug was staged. Just consider the source and one good thing is he did promote and reiterate to house sellers to lower the price to get things moving. Thanks for informing me!

share the email addresses you used and we can all join in - this was insane!

Colleen, Your Posts are always great!

Happened just the other day. Hi this is so and so could I take a look at the house for sale in (Ashburn this time)? Sure, are you working with a realtor, and how did you find me? Well not really, I have a friend who told me about this house and said you would show it to me. Is your friend a Redfin agent? Well yes. Tell your Redfin agent that I will be glad to show this home to you... but this listing has only 1% commission if he/she doesn't do the showing. When would you like to see this wonderful home? thanks for calling, see you then.

Great Post.... NBC (not better communicators) Yuck at least with the Dailey show you know it is supposed to be comedy.

List and Sell (and do a full job of representing your clients) Gary

www.RentonHomeFinder.com

DEC

2007

Let us know if you get a response.

DEC

2007

Colleen,

Boy I've been holding my breath since day before yesterday waiting for NBC to call you back? What happened ... oh well. And they put his same goofy stuff in the paper this morning. As you said in your other post he is a scientist???d1?

List and Sell (and don't hold your breath waiting for a Redfin agent to show up with their client) Gary

DEC

2007

Colleen - good for you my husband (a letter to the editor type of guy) would applaud you tremendously and remind all who read this that one voice can make a difference but a thousand voices rains thunder and the media likes to be the thunder not the recipient of the storm

DEC

2007

I just completed another Redfin transaction, today! To be fair, I want to say that the transaction they facilitated was seamless and the communication was thorough. The only place that I feel that the borrower could have been better represented was in the negotiation process. Based upon my knowledge of the property, the values, and the strength of the appraisal, I am not sure that a "real live" agent could have done any better.

I always recommend professionals that are "full-service" and will continue to do so. There is just too much to be lost with discount representation.

SEP

2008

How do I email the Today Show? I can't click contact us as my default email isn't what they use. anyone have an email? TIA

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