Redfin created a Blog to comment about our Listings!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Sound Advantage Realty

After watching the innacurate 60 Minutes segment regarding real estate I decided to take a look at Redfin.

As far as I'm concerned they are just using a different business model than some of the rest of us and that's okay. However, what I've discovered on Redfin's website is not okay.

Redfin has created a Blog, check it out: http://seattle.redfin.com/blog On this Blog Redfin takes another brokers listings and makes comments about it. In other words, they are taking our listings, marketing them on the internet and at times not making very nice comments. Some of the comments are very sarcastic as an example check this blog: http://seattle.redfin.com/blog/2007/05/wallingford_price_cut_why_both.html 

This type of marketing is not okay! It takes others listings and markets them on their website and/or they are publishing negative information about other brokers listings. Either way this needs to be stopped.

Just like any other business, I don't mind if Redfin wants to get in the sandbox and play as long as Redfin plays by the same rules everybody else plays by.

 

 

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Rainmaker
202,803
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Better yet, I think the listing agents should show the sellers...

May 17, 2007 10:27 AM #6
Rainer
5,408
Kimberley Bauman
Sound Advantage Realty - Olympia, WA
Kim Bauman

The price decrease or increase is not the point. It is the fact that a broker is advertising/marketing another brokers listings.

Also, that the Blogs can be so negative and sarcastic is not okay. This could really hurt people, not just the people, but depending on the Blog and comments could impact the sale (or not) of a home.

May 17, 2007 10:29 AM #7
Rainmaker
202,803
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
I am totally with you Kimberley!  This is ridiculous!  Worst than a Presidential Election..
May 17, 2007 10:33 AM #8
Rainer
5,408
Kimberley Bauman
Sound Advantage Realty - Olympia, WA
Kim Bauman

And... I checked the corporate Redfin website. There is a Corporate Blog and a San Francisco Blog. The SF Blog is similar to the Seattle Blog.

 

May 17, 2007 10:35 AM #9
Rainer
4,718
Jenny Croshaw
South Florida Structured Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

It is a dis-advertisement, from a non-employee

My only though is Redfin should do a better job of policing their site and at least remove the address from the post. Even AR takes a while to police things (I know you should have but cant have seen some of my posts :-)

May 17, 2007 10:36 AM #10
Ambassador
1,543,388
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired Real Estate Professional

If I were you, I would be in touch with the Laurie Janik's office with NAR. I think they would want to be appraised of this. In fact I think they would be most grateful to you for calling this out. It could be the news item if a rebuttal show is ever done with a TV station If you can afford to, you might even want to take down your blog so as not to tip anyone with Redfin off about what you have discovered. Then you would have a couple posts with all that you will come to know about what actions might be forthcoming.

 

Sincerely,

William

May 17, 2007 10:47 AM #11
Rainmaker
194,787
Mike Montague
sales representative : Keller Williams Experience Realty - Barrie, ON
"Who Moves You?"
If this Company was doing this or in any way associated with the persons doing this in my town (or even my country), I would be sending links to this site to my board and any other governing Real Estate body asap.
May 17, 2007 10:48 AM #12
Rainer
5,408
Kimberley Bauman
Sound Advantage Realty - Olympia, WA
Kim Bauman
Complaints are already in process to all of the appropriate authorities.
May 17, 2007 10:50 AM #13
Rainmaker
202,803
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Seriously Kimberley, I agree. So sad.
May 17, 2007 10:51 AM #14
Rainer
4,718
Jenny Croshaw
South Florida Structured Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

William- News item rebutal?

Let me let you in on a little secret. NOBODY CARES WHAT CBS says except on this blog! Okay they got some negitive PR for NAR and positive spin for Redfish, but the more 'rebuttals' and 'public swings' taken by NAR will only put the whole thing in the media even more.

You will never win the PR game. It is too simple for the average joe...low cost good high cost bad...duh (not my argument thats CBS)...The best rebutal is excellent service and value...WORD OF MOUTH...remember that in real estate? I have been around PR for a while and if you don't have a 15 sec rebutal for the avg joe you don't have a rebutal.

Have NAR sue them...I promise they will take down the post. Good use of your dues.

May 17, 2007 10:54 AM #15
Rainer
4,718
Jenny Croshaw
South Florida Structured Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

Here is another one from their site

http://seattle.redfin.com/blog/2006/12/casa_de_appliance_boxo.html

Jason

#1 Agent AR

May 17, 2007 11:10 AM #16
Rainmaker
123,974
Nick and Joslyn Solomon
Century 21 Moline Realty - Cambridge, MN
The Solomon Team - Century 21 Moline Realty, Inc.

Oh my goodness - I can't believe it.

I'm in Minnesota, so Redfin isn't a current worry of mine - I have my own "demons" to fight here.  But I'm sure at some point they will get here, and either way, this should not be allowed to happen. 

Perhaps the sellers only ALLOWED a $1,000 drop in price.  Did they stop to consider that?  I'm sure they will have their share of sellers who won't lower their price, or only want to lower it $1000.

I've heard a story of a real estate agent whose clients said they would lower it $1,000 every week until it sold.  It sold a lot sooner than they expected, and they didn't have to drop the price that much.  You never ever know.  There are people like me who don't like odd numbers (Yes I'm a little OCD) and are just waiting for that "9" or "7" to go away.

Can't anything be done about this?

May 17, 2007 11:17 AM #17
Rainer
4,718
Jenny Croshaw
South Florida Structured Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

Holly Cow it was a scam! They were using hired bloggers and got BUSTED!!!!!

I apologize this was awful...I certainly would never have supported RedFish's own agents doing this

see the AR post

http://activerain.com/blogsview/101400/Redfin-Fined-5-and

May 17, 2007 11:43 AM #18
Rainer
21,701
Brian Warden
Choices Real Estate - Bosque Farms, NM
Where are they getting other's listings to comment on? If it's through IDX, this must be a violation of the local Board's IDX policies, isn't it? If not it should be. Maybe those in areas affected could agitate at their local board for making this a violation of policy!
May 17, 2007 11:49 AM #19
Rainer
5,408
Kimberley Bauman
Sound Advantage Realty - Olympia, WA
Kim Bauman

That is so AWESOME!!!

If you haven't checked the link posted by Jason Smith, please do copy and paste it into your URL.

According to that Blog the NWMLS has fined Redfin a substantial amount. Of course, Redfin will be filing an appeal.

May 17, 2007 12:18 PM #20
Rainer
4,718
Jenny Croshaw
South Florida Structured Real Estate - Miami Beach, FL

Now that's PR you just can't buy!  Precious...the PUBLIC HATES and Distrusts FAKE corporate blogging!!!

Haha Redfish you will find the media hates corporate liars and scams even more than NAR!!!

May 17, 2007 12:26 PM #21
Rainmaker
936,593
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate
What better way to get your name in the public than to blog about it.  I bet we don't forget who Redfish is for awhile.  Redcrab, redjellyfish, redworm - what ever their name is.  Still think their business is  a little fishy!!!
May 17, 2007 12:51 PM #22
Rainmaker
305,081
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA
Finder = Redfin
May 18, 2007 07:21 PM #23
Rainer
2,897
Shane Petersen
Windermere Real Estate Nortwest, Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattlenulls Green Real Estate Agent

The PR pros at Redfin have created a machine that is way out of check.  Ive read about pocket listings previously and now this which must be a violation of NWMLS rules?  The problem is I dont think Redfin  cares about being fined.  Its acceptable PR for them...if there name is in the news good or bad they dont seem to care.....eventually it will catch up.  I had an interesting experience with Redfin recently.  Read my blog post:

Redfin: The Real Estate Scientists a No-Show!

Jan 07, 2008 02:19 PM #24
Anonymous
Daniel

Come on guys!!! I am not an agent but have been looking for a house for a while. The fact that you all are so offended by something so small tells me that they were already getting under your skin and your just using this to vent about. REDFIN is the best site out there and their agents are the best I've met. Hands down. When you can compete, you can complain.

Mar 02, 2011 01:51 PM #25
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