Drumroll, please. The new HAR.com website was released today by the Houston Association of Realtors as a Valentine's Day gift for everyone to enjoy. The way I see it, this gift will be like a romantic trip to Paris for some and like a pack of tube socks for others
Erion, you got a nice write-up on The Future of Real Estate Technology today, congrats.
We are going to go through a MLS change soon, I don't look forward to it.
Chris -
First, http://www.har.com/ drives all traffic back to you the listing agent. What they are doing is getting more hits for you and your listings without charging you another dime. Have you checked out what it cost to join ABOR, Austin Board of Realtors? Ask an Austin agent how many leads they get from the Austin web site... I feel http://www.har.com/ is among the best boards in the country. I think you are taking what you have for granted and can't see the forest for the trees... Look at the big picture and and be thankful for what we have in Houston and the surrounding areas. HAR is our friend and should be commended for the outstanding work they are doing.
I sit on the Technology Advisory Board for HAR and have for 3 years. I am also now on the HAR Board of Directors. Everyone on the board is a REALTOR® with all agents in mind when we make the decisions we make. If you don't like what is being done, then maybe you and or your wife should run fro the HAR board of directors like I just did. You need to get the facts straight and and get involved in the inter-works of HAR. Just understand, you are HAR too. You do have a voice. Come to the Next Board of Directors meeting and see how things are discussed and how we ALL fight for the "AGENT"...
This is not meant to be personal. I just want you and everyone else to know the facts and to get them correct.
I am not writing this on behave of HAR, I am writing this as a fellow REALTOR®, and agent.
Danny Frank, Keller Williams Realty
Danny
In all fairness there is something to be said here.
Relatively speaking, HAR is one of the most Realtor friendly boards out there in terms of what it provides. Specifically, HAR is the only board that gives its Realtor members leads from their own listings for free. There's no denying that and to take it further, there are Realtors in other parts of the country pushing to get what we already have. In addition, HAR is the only board that allows its Realtor members some limited IDX solutions for free to incorporate in agent sites.
However, just because HAR is better than most boards, it should not prevent us to have a constructive debate about how it could become optimal. For instance, why is it that last year, I got 33 leads from HAR off my listings (which I am appreciative for) but I got 455 leads off those same listings marketed on my site? I'm not trying to say that I am smarter than HAR or that my site has better content than HAR. I am simply saying that when it comes to marketing, individual agents may have come up with great ideas that if incorporated in a content rich site like HAR.com, could mean more leads for those REALTORS whose listings furnish that great content. In a way, I side with Chris in that in some instances with the new site, HAR takes this identity of a standalone real estate startup like Zillow or Trulia, concerned primarily with generating a) traffic or b) revenue when in my opinion, its primary purpose should be to further the cause of its member Realtors.
But in the end, if you wish to change things, you should get involved and there I fully agree with Danny.
Watch and listen to to Bob Hale at Inman News. The story is called "Public MLS sites stir up controversy"
http://www.inman.com/index.aspx?vid=a7d02c5816260c7235c91d347a079d4c
Step away from the light.... LOL
Take a look what people from other areas of the country are saying about HAR and just remember, HAR must support all members, not just a few. They must do what is best for the majority of it's agents.
Highlights from the Center for Realtor Technology Blog following Bob's presentation at the Clareity Summit.
"At the end of the first day of sessions, Bob Hale (Houston Association of REALTOR Fame) gave a mesmerizing presentation about their marketing strategies, and just why it makes sense to fish upstream. I knew I had to dissect this and regurgitate some of the numbers that he presented.
"I've said it before - and I will keep saying it. Bob Hale and the Houston Association of REALTORS know how to effectively use their vast amount of data for the benefit and productivity of their members - meeting the consumer needs will ultimately service the REALTOR."
You may read the full blog entry at: http://blog.realtors.org/crt/2008/03/12/the-numbers-are-in/
No doubt people do not like criticism. If they are working the HAR board they are joiners, social butterflies and self important. Look up their prodcution. hahaha
Back to your point Erion, HAR is the big, single board with a good site. Too bad we give it away to build up the LOOK of a few board members. Realtors both listing and buyers agents need to have a protected source to show value to their buyers and sellers. This misguided effort to look cool is giving away the farm, killing value of Realtors, making people THINK they can buy and sell without us. What is next, contract free forms for the public. Click on the listing, get the contract autofilled out? Public FSBO listing? Why not take the REALTOR all the way out of the loop...? Oh yeah, who would pay the dues.
PS: The invite to join only lasts until you actually show up. Then you can get called alot worse than uninformed to your face.
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