Some Thoughts on Lead Generators

Lead Generators in the Real Estate Business came into being because there are a hugh number of buyers searching the internet for properties and information on buying and selling. The public is in most cases not aware of the different types of web sites that are out there. The access to information that the internet has provided is tremendous and has exploded over the past 5 years or so.

There is the company web site. The national companies, RE/MAX, Century 21, Sotheby's, ERA, GMAC, Coldwell Banker, etc. all have national websites. Then each of their regions have sites and then local offices have sites.

Then you have sites like REALTOR.com and REMAX.com where you can search all listings throughout the country from one location. The difference between these two sites is that on REALTOR.com the flashing advertising is distracting where on REMAX.com you can see all of the same listings but advertising free.

Then individual agents have websites. From these sites you are dealing directly with the agent, you can get a feeling for who the agent is, what they offer and whether or not this is an agent you might be comfortable with.

Then come the "lead generators". These companies do not add value to the buying and selling process. They contact real estate agents and sell "zip codes" for a monthly fee to the agent. They tell the agent that any leads that come to their site in that zip code will be sent to the agent. You the consumer do not gain anything from signing up with a lead generator. Their sites do not provide anything you can't find on a local agents site. Informed REALTOR's are not signing up for these lead generating sites any longer. It is my hope that all REALTOR's will stop paying these company's. You the public are best served by shopping and interviewing real estate agents directly and then making your decision.

I have written this post because I am tired of constant phone calls and solicitations from these lead generating companies. Remember before the "DO NOT CALL" law came into effect how annoying unwanted phone calls were, well these companies are that annoying to me and I wish we could stop them.