We need an IDX/broker reciprocity class
I don’t think half the agents up here have a clue about IDX and broker reciprocity. If agents just have to help themselves to using our Company website(we know, it rocks) as their free MLS searching resource, they should at least educate themselves on the published rules and regulations before they pick up the phone or flame us from the website.
I got a call (preceded by several nasty emails) last Friday night from an irate local agent (that I’d never heard of) wondering why her listings were on my website and demanding that I remove them immediately. I tried to nicely explain “broker reciprocity” (circa 2000) to her, to which she proceeded to cuss me out, told me I would be hearing from other Realtors, and hung up on me. She then had several of her agent friends email from our website, asking why their listings were on our site. Read the rules & regs or ask your broker ladies. Frankly, it’s not my responsibility to educate you, especially when you conduct yourselves in such an unprofessional manner.
Then Tuesday morning, I was on the receiving end of another good ol’ Southern cussout and hang up call from a competing agent (that I know) for not having his listings on OUR Company website. He claimed one of his listers could not find their listing on a Google search >> our website. Um, first it sounds like you need to focus on your own website if your clients are using ours, and secondly, we filter all kinds of spammy listings (mobile homes, less than 3 photos, misleading/false data, missing/lazy/illegal descriptions, etc.) to make it a better browsing experience for our target audience. We also listen to user feedback on their buying and selling experiences and apply that data to our filters on an ongoing basis. What makes it on to our website is our business.
To summarize: In a period of less than a week, I was cussed out and hung up on by one agent FOR having her listings on our website, then by another for NOT having his listings on our Company website.
- Do we need a broker reciprocity class? Yes.
- Are there too many agents with too much time on their hands? Obviously, 400+ did not renew w/ our board for ‘07—we were due for a purge though.
- Why are other agents so concerned or threatened by our lil’ ol’ mom-&-pop, non-corporate website? Well, I just don’t know.
I am curious as to why any realtor would object to having their listing advertised for free?
Unless he or she was trying to pocket it? If that the case, who’s best interest are you looking out for? yours? or the persons who owns the home you just listed?
just my 2 cents…thats about all they are worth.
Your 2 cents are worth quite a lot; you hit the nail on the head. The agent probably wants to hold out for both sides of the commission instead of splitting it with a buyer’s rep. Some agents will not upload photos or give bad directions on the MLS system so it won’t be shown by anyone other than themselves.
It’s a huge disservice to the seller, and sellers should always request an MLS “Full Report” from their listing agent. If you see an error, don’t like the description, photos, directions, etc., request a change!
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Too funny. I love your web site! Nice work as usual Shelly, and to your husband as well.