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What Should I Do??

By Kelli McFarland

Real Estate Agent with Executive Choice Realty, LLC

May 15, 2007 08:50 AM

Ok, so I recieved the following email yesterday:

Hey Kelli,

This is Gabe Keogan, Senior Marketing Consultant with R.E.P.

I'm contacting you because I found you on NAR and I market for real estate agents nationwide. I'm going to be moving into your area this month and I need 2 agents who can handle a high volume of new prospective clients and work them till close.

We are an exclusive marketing company, and we only work with 2 agents or brokers per area.

If you would like to be considered for representation, please answer the following questions:

1. Are you a full time agent?

2. How many clients can you handle on a monthly basis?

3. What distinguishes you as quality agent/broker?

I will follow up with you after I've had a chance to review your responses. Be sure to include your contact information, best time to call and one alternative number to reach you at.

Thanks,

Gabe Keogan

Senior Marketing Consultant

So, I emailed this guy back and gave him my information and he called me back. So here is the catch:

This is a company that promotes Real Estate Marketing and what they do is provide you with a service to help boost your internet marketing strategies. They will route people to your website for a flat fee of $400-1100 instead of a pay per click depending on how much traffic you want per month. They also only contract with 2 other agents in your general area. They will build you 2 websites and maintain them both for $29 per month but an intitial charge of $1000. Now the cool thing is they do not make you sign a yearly contract, rather this is a monthly service that you can cancel at anytime without penalty.

So I guess what I need from you guys is an opinion. What do you think about the information that I recieved. Should I entertain the idea and get some more information or do you think that this is just a scam that in the end I will be kicking myself and wondering why I ever even tried it out.

I look forward to hearing all of your opinions.

Thanks,
Kelli McFarland

Comments(17)

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Mana Tulberg

805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA

Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

Kelli,

If I were you I would Google the company. Usually you could find a few articles written on them and see what others have to say about them. Just be careful with these marketing companies.

May 15, 2007 08:58 AM

Anonymous

klaus nicholson

I wouldn't even google them, it sounds like a win win situation for them

Sounds like you are going to pay 2100 dollars plus for what he says he will deliver. Check them out, offer to do a trial period with them. Offer to pay double what they are asking for the leads after closing and watch how quickly he starts looking for 2 other suckers in your market. Nope, nah, uh uh, clear!

May 15, 2007 09:06 AM

Damien Bonner

Bridgewater Funding - Kings Park, NY

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. dont do it.

May 15, 2007 09:10 AM

Ross Willingham

Tomson Real Estate - Stillwater, OK

Realtor Associate

Google'em if you want, but I agree with the Kalus and Damien and I wouldn't send them a dime.

May 15, 2007 09:15 AM

Phillip Cross

TBD - In transition... - Seal Beach, CA

ePRO Realtor - Relocation Spec

Kelli, Use Caution! There are several companies out there that will tempt you with great offers. Now if the deal was so terrific why don't they offer (as Klaus nearly suggested) to pay a referral fee.

"Hey guys, sounds great - However instead of putting the $2100 up front - I will pay you 20% of my gross commission per referral that closes!"

May 15, 2007 09:19 AM

Jim Little

Ken Meade Realty - Sun City, AZ

Your Sun City Arizona Realtor

Can you say SCAM? That would be my first reaction. Google them anyway, it might be interesting.

May 15, 2007 09:19 AM

Kelly Ross

Mason McDuffie Mortgage Corp. - Exeter, CA

Your Financial Security Begins at Home!

I have to agree with the consensus. My grandmother always said, be wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove. :)

Kelly Rider

Success Lending

May 15, 2007 09:21 AM

Matt Locke

Allstate Insurance - Alpharetta, GA

Agreed with the others... Scam...

www.GeorgiaHomeInsurance.com

May 15, 2007 12:02 PM

Kelli McFarland

Executive Choice Realty, LLC - Simpsonville, SC

Thank you so much for your comments! I am new to Active Rain and I am already in love with the support that I have found. I kind of thought it was a scam as well upon first receiving the email and I normally just delete these things however I figured I would for whatever reason just reply back and see what it was all about! When he calls back I will definatly ask him about the Free Trial but other than that I will not go forward with the $2100 worth of nothing. Besides I am pretty happy with the website I have now!

Thanks again for all of your insight!

May 15, 2007 03:31 PM

Leigh Bates

Atlantic & Pacific Real Estate - Flower Mound, TX

The Trinity Group

Don't do it... The idea is to MAXIMIZE, and there are so many other better ways to take control of your marketing $$$$. I just spent $600 on 2 websites that I pay nothing for monthly accept $40 to manage my pay-per-clicks and the amount of my monthly budget, which I could do myself if I wasn't too busy selling Real Estate. In the first week of my site going live, I had 20 registered consumers, and was already talking to 2 people about buying and selling. I'm happy to tell you more if you want - (I get nothing for promoting this company) just email me.

Otherwise - Good Luck, and Welcome to Active Rain!

May 15, 2007 04:10 PM

Thesa Chambers

West + Main - Bend, OR

Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon

I would run as fast as I can the opposite direction of this "company" there are much better ways to spend your money and Active Rain will get you up on the search engines

May 15, 2007 05:44 PM

Brian Foxworth SC, GA, FL, & TN Mortgage Loans

Palmetto South Mortgage - Columbia, SC

So -what did you decide?

Sep 05, 2007 03:29 AM

Penny Florence

Midvale, UT

I get these calls all the time. I just say I am not interested at this time, but if you want to send me some information or clients-go ahead and do so. Thanks.

I am a little leary of these types of companies.

Sep 05, 2007 04:03 AM

Brian Foxworth SC, GA, FL, & TN Mortgage Loans

Palmetto South Mortgage - Columbia, SC

I don't blame you. i get a lot of calls from lead companies as well - I just tell them that I get my leads for free from worg of mouth and my RealEstate Blog on Active Rain.

Sep 06, 2007 03:05 AM

Steve Hall

Brand Name Real Estate - Simpsonville, SC

Call Steve Hall, he does it all!

The best leads are from reliable sources, other Realtors, and should not cost you much if any up front. Promising a 20 - 25% referral fee to the lead provider is fairly standard and works out equally best for all concerned once a transaction closes. There are too many organizations now making a living selling leads or lead generating systems and as we all know, a lead can be great, ok, or terrible, depending on the real motivation of the potential client and how the receipient agent quickly handles the contact and establishes rapport. Good luck and as many have already posted, don't be too quick to spend loads of money up front for this kind of lead service.

Steve L. Hall

Realtor, Broker, GRI, e-PRO

Realty Direct One

Simpsonville, SC

Jun 07, 2008 02:36 AM

MARY IACOVELLI

MARY IACOVELLI REALTY, LLC - Simpsonville, SC

I agree it is a scam. Who knows where the leads are coming from and if they are qualified. When I was with ReMax, our lead generating website only produced about 1 out of 25 qualified leads! Most of these types of programs are not got for you the agent. Be Careful!! Mary

Oct 13, 2008 06:29 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I think it would be an absolute waste of time. It isn't really hard to get your site rated well. ANd pay per click isn't going to cost you that much if you use it wisely. I wouldn't have anything to do with it.

Oct 13, 2008 06:39 AM

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