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This Stinks

When I first heard the creator of a new website, called "rottenneighbor.com", speak about his new concept at a news interview, I thought that perhaps his idea had merit. He's just a young guy from California who wants home buyers to be able to have a place to check out the potential neighbors before taking the step of buying a home and then possibly being stuck with a loud, messy or obnoxious neighbor.

Home buyers can check school performance, the sex offender registry and home values, why not their neighbors?

Well...here's the thing about human nature: It's riddled with ugly vices, such as envy, prejudice, jealousy, spitefulness and the like.

After checking out the website, it's easy to see that it's giving a platform to every stereotype, persecution and slander imaginable. The site is open to any gripe without fact checking:

"-There's some ugly polish nerd boys and all they do is play video games and watch anime all day..."

-"german non citizen.she hates america..."

-"tax cheat!"

Neatly labeled homes on a map reveal mostly anonymous accusations pinpointed to an exact address.

The website likes to see itself as a real estate search engine:

-ABOUT US:RottenNeighbor.com is here to help. It's the first real estate search engine of its kind, helping you find troublesome neighbors before you sign the paperwork on your new house, condo or apartment. RottenNeighbor is the largest site anywhere in the world covering the neighbor space, and we're certain you'll agree that the value it offers is unmatched anywhere else!

I don't know about the value being unmatched. I can think of other venues that offer a similar value.

What bothers me is that the site makes its money from advertisers, and specifically real estate-related advertisers; among them, realtor.com and homegain.com. I find it sad that our industry would link itself with this type of platform.

I want my buyer clients to be able to check out the neighborhood they buy into and I encourage them to conduct neighborhood reviews. Unlike rottenneighbor.com, the schools sites, sex offender registry, or home values sites are based on statistics and officially recorded information, not rumor, slander and innuendos. That type of registry has no value in my eyes whatsoever.

Sandy Nelson
Realtor for Olympia area real estate
www.sandynelsonrealestate.com

Posted by Sandy Nelson Realtor® Olympia Real Estate on 02/21/2008 06:14 PM

Comments (12)

rotten neighbor, real estate, sandy nelson

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12 Comments on This Stinks

FEB

2008

I had heard about this site..but I was surprised to see realtor.com advertising! I agree with you, its hard to see "our" organizations advertising on a somewhat negative site.

I looked at the site too Sandy, and came to the same conclusion as you. I don't think I'll be sending anyone to the site.

Hi Sandy - I'm glad you posted this. I recently posted a blog that included this site. I have since gone back and taken this reference out and included your suggestions instead. Thank you.

Brittany, I imagine the real estate sites assume that a lot of home buyers check rootenneighbor.com as part of their overall property searches. I would venture that the majority of people on the site are just neighborhood voyeurs.

Hank, the site could maybe have some value if it was moderated, if they checked for facts and if the posters could not post anonymously. The way it stands it's just pathetic.

Melissa, When I first heard of the concept, I thought it could could have merit, but a closer look at the site content makes it obvious that it serves as a defamation platform.

Sandy

Sandy:
This is just tacky. You're right, if it was moderated and not anonymous, perhaps it would have more merit.

FEB

2008

Sandy - yes you're right. I did some some positive comments too. But it really doesn't serve as good information.

Katy and Melissa,

With no real value to offer, this site will hopefully disappear into cyber oblivion.

Sandy

It boils down to gossip. The really bad thing is that its mapped gossip. I just closed a home yesterday that is listed two doors down from a home on there. When I read it I was shocked that people could get away with making such statements.