So, yesterday I got one of those calls that we all do from time to time. It came from one of those companies that like to sell “leads” to Realtors. They call themselves a “lead generating” company, I call them a “lead diverting” company. BTW...I’m not going to name the company because I don’t want to give them a scintilla of Google juice.
If you think about it, the only entity that can really generate a lead is a buyer wanting to buy, or a seller wanting to sell. How they eventually get to a brokerage or an individual agent can take a tortuous route sometimes, but the company that sends it to an agent didn’t really “generate” the lead.
Let’s get back to this unaffiliated listing thing. During the call the representative was attempting to sell me a number of monthly impressions I could get, for a hefty fee, and a six month contract. When he mentioned that I would get these impressions from searchers looking at “unaffiliated listings,” I was a bit confused. I believed that if a listing was active, it was already affiliated with a broker. I’m pretty simple minded like that.
His company’s definition on the other hand concluded that if an agent didn’t have a profile on their site, or weren’t a paying member, than any listing they were able to acquire was “unaffiliated.” Since the listing agent didn’t have a profile on their site, that listing was up for grabs to sell to another agent.
In the end, I didn’t purchase the impressions they wanted to sell. It fell apart when I started asking questions like, “how many searchers actually click through to the agent,” and simple metrics like that. They pretty much know how many impressions they want to sell you, but that’s it. Now that I think about it, how would I know I actually got the number of impressions they were trying to sell? A question for next time I suppose. That call probably comes in next week.
So, here’s the takeaway. Set up a profile on every real estate site you can find...even if you don’t use it. Let’s keep those “unaffiliated listings” down to a minimum.
Keller Williams Parkland/Coral Springs Realty-GreatFloridaHomes Team - Coral Springs, FL
Trust Your Family's Move To Our Expertise!
I realize we are all entitled to make a living, but it is very frustrating to generate the business and then have them turn around and sell OUR BUSINESS back to us.
I guess that Freedom is what makes America great for some and frustrating for others. Joy
Sep 22, 2012 02:31 AM
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions
Interesting post, now I know what an unaffiliated listing is all about, so thanks for the lesson.
Sep 22, 2012 03:02 AM
Home Smart Realty West - Encinitas, CA
REALTOR - 760-889-8877, Encinitas/Carlsbad
We are easy sells From what I read. Looking for the magic bullet and not wanting to work for it is the go to philosophy many agents suscribe. One of the pay subscribing agents on an aggregator site has sold 65 homes in my area according to the site, I have never heard his name before not once and in fact his area code was out of area. For $199 a month you too can be listed like that agent.
Sep 22, 2012 03:11 AM
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes
Thanks for this explanation of unaffiliated listings. I do not give these people the time of day.
Sep 22, 2012 03:19 AM
The Outer Banks Real Estate Copmpany - Corolla, NC
Carova Beach - Living & Working in 4-Wheel Drive
CRAP! Well I guess that means I will be spending the week-end finding all the real estate sites I can find and "affiliating" myself with them :)
Sep 22, 2012 03:40 AM
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale
I'm intrigues by their use of the word "impression." To me impression means "what is left after the real thing is gone" like an "effect." So essentially, what are they selling you?
Sep 22, 2012 03:44 AM
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer
i've never bought into nor believed in any of those so called lead generation companies and as a contractor and a RE broker I've been lambaste wth them all several times over. It's the biggest ruse I've ever seen.
Sep 22, 2012 04:43 AM
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671
Great post Richard, the best thing to be done with these parasites is to ignore them and encourage all of the good agents to do the same, soon they will go broke and go away.
Sep 22, 2012 04:48 AM
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor
I think I would liek to remain unafilliated witht hat company. I got all the impressions I want from reading your post.
Sep 22, 2012 06:38 AM
INET Realty Honolulu, HI - Honolulu, HI
Your agent under the sun
Thanks for digging in deeper into that leads generating service! I am fortunate to not to have the need to buy into that kind of "service". I generate my own leads for free (and very little effort) thanks to the proprietary CRM with lead capturing feature that my brokers have developped.
Sep 22, 2012 07:01 AM
Alpharetta Home Solutions - Alpharetta, GA
It's not the listing that is unafilliated, it's the listing agent. Since they don't have a profile on this fly by night website, the listing is free game to re-sell to anyone however many times they can get away with it. What a scam. Thanks for the info.
Sep 22, 2012 07:28 AM
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL
That is truly a scam as most of the lead generators are, Richard. One of the most blatant that I have heard of. I usually just hang up when they tell me they can get me all the leads.
Sep 23, 2012 10:22 PM
ERA Coup Agency - Milton, PA
Rich - Don't even get me started on this... lol. I shoot at least two of these calls down every week!
Sep 24, 2012 12:19 AM
The Carver Home Team - Covington, WA
Newcastle & East Renton Specialist
Just goes to show that you can make anything sound like something great. In reality, it's not that great at all. If you call a dog a horse, it doesn't make it a horse.
Sep 24, 2012 12:43 AM
Family Abstract, Inc. - Horsham, PA
Rich, one step even more unconscionable are the trigger leads that the Credit companies sell to mortgage companies after the original mortgage lender (that spent all the marketing and advertising to get the client) runs a credit report. The credit agencies then sell these HOT LEADS to competing mortgage companies. They are called "Trigger" leads. My guess is that its a good name since the orginal mortgage company would like to pull the trigger and shoot the comapny for selling their hard work. If there is a buck to be made, they will sell it, IF there is a buyer they will continue to sell it.
Sep 24, 2012 05:34 AM
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!
Oh Lord, in my board, that would be soliciting another brokers listings and I would be subject to discipline!
Sep 27, 2012 04:18 AM
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"
Rich Lead geberators an politicians have one thing in common - they are artists of subterfuge
Sep 27, 2012 04:46 AM
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond
Welll Richard it seems that others feel as you do ...throw them in the ditch!
Sep 27, 2012 10:08 AM
Lebanon, PA
Rainmaker
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Richard Iarossi
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