JUST SHARING NEW INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED THIS RAINY SUNDAY IN CONNECTICUT.
ZILLOW HANGS VIRTUAL "FOR SALE" SIGNS
WEB-BASED HOME VALUATION SERVICE WWW.ZILLOW.COM UNVEILED A NEW FEATURE IN DECEMBER THAT ALLOWS REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND HOMEOWNERS TO POST LISTING INFORMATION ABOUT FOR-SALE PROPERTIES FOR FREE. INDIVIDUAL HOME LISTINGS CAN FEATURE PHOTOS AND A DETAILED TEST DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. AGENTS CAN INCLUDE CONTACT INFORMATION AND A LINK TO THEIR OWN WEB SITE.
SINCE ZILLOW.COM DEBUTED IN FEBRUARY, THE COMPANY HAS MOVED AGGRESSIVELY TO ADD SERVICES AND FUNCTIONALITY TO ITS SITE IN AN EFFORT TO STAKE ITS CLAIM AS THE GO-TO-DESTINATION FOR HOUSE HUNTERS, SELLERS AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS. THE COMPANY UNVEILED TWO MORE ADDITIONS TO ITS SERVICE IN LATE 2006. THE "MAKE ME MOVE" FEATURE ALLOWS CURIOUS HOMEOWNERS TO LIST A PRICE THAT MIGHT ENTICE THEM TO SELL. AND THE NEW "REAL ESTATE WiKi" ENABLES USEERS TO CREATE AND MONITOR ARTICLES IN AN ONLINE REAL ESTATE ENCYCLOPEDIA.
I AM A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT THIS AS I READ THIS. I FEEL THAT I HAVE MY MLS THAT I MY ASSISTANT INPUTS, I PAY REALTOR.COM TO HAVE IT GO INTO THAT SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY. THEN MY HOMES.COM WEB SITE WWW.GEENA.BIZ (I PAY FOR) AND WWW.RAVEIS.COM AUTOMATICALLY PULL MY L ISTINGS OFF OF THE MLS SYSTEM. NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH POINT2 AND ZILLOW TO HAVE MY ASSITANT INPUT INFORMATION IF I SO CHOOSE?????? MY QUESTION IS SINCE THESE LATTER SITES ARE FREE IS THE CONSUMER GOING TO USE THAT INSTEAD OF LISTING WITH AN AGENT. IS THIS GOING TO BECOME ANOTHER FSBO SITE?
SOME OF MY BUYERS DO CHECK FSBO WEBSITES BUT IT IS VERY RARE. IN MY EXCLUSIVE AGENCY BUYER BROKER CONTRACT WHICH IS ALL I USE - I CHARGE 4% IF I HAVE TO REPRESENT MY BUYER IN A FSBO TRANSACTION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE FSBO IS MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN ANY PART OF THE TRANSACTION. I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY TAKE LONGER BECAUSE I MENTION TO THEM TO TALK WITH THEIR ATTORNEY ON EVERYTHING THEY ARE UNSURE OF WHICH ADDS DAYS TO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK.
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