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February 4, 2011
Does Sex Sell Real Estate?
Written By
Peter J Ricci
Peter Ricci is the Director of Agentpoint.com.au, Business2.com.au, Ginga.com.au and ZooProperty.com and has been involved in designing and developing real estate systems and websites since 1997. In July 2001 Peter founded Business2.com.au to help real estate agents better understand the power of the Internet and the real estate landscape in Australia and New Zealand. Since then he has penned over 300 articles on a variety of subjects in the real estate technology industry. Business2.com.au is now the leading real estate technology site in Australasia.
109 Comments
Glenn
Wanting better results on Google? Here is my article of choice at the moment to explain what they need to do to get better results. It is written in fairly basic language and is easy to follow.
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2007-01-07-n13.html
Not google related but another great site that other readers might find interesting is http://www.ianr.unl.edu/email/encode/
This makes your email addresses very difficult for spammers to harvest.
Peter, what about an area we can swap interesting links like this sort of stuff.. or maybe you have something already that I have not found?!
Chris
Peter
As a former agent and now consumer of real estate, my number one frustration is the professionalism (or lack there of) that agents display.
eg I email an agent about a property – no response.
I email another agent about another property. No response. I call the agent to ask the same question a week later. I’m told that a reply was sent to me to my email. I suggest to the agent that may not be the case. Agent insists reply was sent. I ask agent to re-send email. Agent phones back later to say that the “server was down for a week” and in fact the reply was sent.
Point being that it was somehow my probelm that i didn’t get the reply????
Server down for a week???? Give me a break.
Rather than forever reading about REA v domain v myhome, we could have debate and feedback to agents about how they can service consumers a bit better?
Less navel gazing and more interesting debate!
Chris
and another idea…
Introduce forums!
I have in the past enjoyed reading the blogs and sometimes contributing but it seems that some people think they own the business2 blogs and treat it like their own personal page…often resorting to abusing one another or making personal insults.
Forums would be a good way to avoid the business2 ‘crazies’ and that way robert et al can have their own forums where they can play out their own little games…
Glenn
Ok, I thought I might as well inject a few more links… Here are few of the more interesting websites in my collection of real estate favourites that I though other readers might find interesting.
Joe Klock
Anthony
Chris,
How dare you comment on the professionalism of real estate agents. Robert and Elizabeth will now stick pins in your very own Chris Voodoo Doll.
Damn my doll looks like a pin cushion.
Peter Ricci
I have mentioned before that I have thought about adding a forum and installed the software to do this. However I do not have the time to sit and make sure everyone is doing the right thing. I can at least control things here a little better. I will never say never, but just not at this stage.
Not one person in here is right, not me or anyone else. The idea is to express opinions and see where that leaves you. If you are going to express an opinion againast the norm, then expect some backlas, but take it for what it is, another persons opinion.
Just because someone says smething is a fact does not mnean it is a fact, it is a fact in the eyes of the author only. We are all big kids, as long as it is clean I will let it go.
Glenn
Peter,
I am sure you could select a few people you know and/or trust to assist with moderation duties. As long as there is a set of rules in place it is only a matter of applying those rules.
Forums would certainly open up a knew dynamic for the site. I guess its a matter if you want to head that way, and if you do, if you want to keep full moderation control yourself.
Anthony
Peter – it would be a nightmare for you – i wouldn’t do it. And i am outspoken.
But you could provide a section – “suggest a topic/story” which in large is what this post is trying to achieve i gather.
Nick Buick
So… who hates real estate agents? Just Kidding 😉
Heh – I love the angry rants! thing that attracted me straight away to this site was seeing Peter unload on some website he took a disliking to.
Rant on ;).
Nick Buick
On the topic of slack agents – Its funny – when my partner and I bought our first property she was 19 and I was 21 – we litterally had to beg agents just to give us the time of day. Would get questions like “so, what do your parents do?”. Agents wouldn’t even bother to get out their listings book just tell us there was nothing they had that would suit us before we’d even spoken. After weeks of blatent rudeness we finally found a single little independant agent who actually took us seriously – we bought the first property she showed us and signed a contract on another place with her a couple of years later.
To be fair though, I’ve actually noticed I’m encountering some excellent agents of late. Showed up to take us through properties at a moments notice – followed up with phone calls and even scouted around for similar properties that are suitable for us. Most of the Ray White guys I’ve delt with have always been really helpful – I normally find the young blokes are the most helpful – maybe they’re just more on-the-level.
On the flip side… how HARD is it to find a decent rental agent??? The whole reason I stopped renting in the first place was because I couldn’t stand dealing with these clowns any longer. Every rental agent I’ve encountered either as a lessor or tenant has turned out to be a complete dropkick. My last rental agent set me up a Deft account then several months later, filed it against someone elses property. After he’d filed me couple of Remedy Breach notices for unpaid rent I was eventually able to prove I had been paying rent, and actually made double payments and they owed ME money. Instead of fixing the issue he added me to a black-list, kept our bond and never gave us back the extra rent he owed us. That was about the time I decided it was time to buy a house. As a land-lord I’m finding the same senario. They just don’t bother to do any work, don’t turn up for meetings, don’t followup or return calls. They promise the world and deliver nothing. All my friends who own rental properties find the same thing too, all with different agencies – does anyone else find this? I fired my last guy and just did the job myself, its not like its a difficult job in the first place.
Nick Buick
Ok last post and I’ll shut up for another week.
http://www.sitepoint.com this site is a gold-mine of interesting stuff related to web development – its Australian too.
For inspiration check out http://www.monstertemplates.com... beautiful looking web site design that is, in practice, mostly useless. But its good to look at the eye candy websites and get it all out of your system.
And I visit http://www.geektools.com at least once a day – really good for domain whois lookups, etc.
Peter
http://www.cssbeauty.com is a site I like, http://www.business2.com is also my favourite magazine and http://www.wired.com and http://www.fastcompany.com and then add in http://www.redherring.com . There are so many great sites out there. My favourite designers are scattered all around the world and I use over 15 designers, depending on the brief and depending on how much clients are willing to spend.
Dave Platter
I’m a big fan of Inman News and their blog (inman.com – subscription only). Also, I like to keep up with personal productivity sites lifehacker.com and 43folders.com. The latter site has a new video podcast called the Merlin Show that you can get on iTunes. I find consuming media about productivity is a great way to procrastinate.
😉
dave
Anthony
Is MyHome positioned as the only site to take on Google Real Estate?
It has been really bothering me the position PBL took on launching MyHome with the knowledge of GoogleBase coming.
My conspiracy theory radar went off – suggesting some boardroom deals involving google, myhome, domain and REA.
But then i was reading an article and all of a sudden the light flashed. MyHome may just be the only property portal with a strategic position to compete against Google.
REA and DOMAIN are obviously aware of the arrival of Google. It poses a serious threat to both sites. Consider their actions of late, REA branding for all the Print sections of News Limited and similar arrangements for Domain with Fairfax.
Now aside from
Peter Ricci
Anthony, I do not think any of the real estate portals have anything to worry about with Google Base, it is only if Google Launch A Real Estate Search Engine that they will all be worried.
MyHome’s major concern at the moment is fixing the site up so it looks like a professional product then:
Getting Agents involved = Getting listings on there = Getting consumers there getting them to come back.
Then……………..spending money marketing the damn thing instead of the millions being spent marketing pretty much nothing.
Glenn
Myhome should acknowledge some teething and usability problems raised at the launch and advise that they are extending the free listings out till 6 months. This is what they initially offered before reneging and changing it to 3 months wasnt it ???
This will get them some goodwill back and some time to fix the site and start increasing on their market share because at the moment that is woeful. Didn’t they struggle to get 180,000 even with the big media push.
If they cut everyone off at 3 months except for those that are paying they will be in for one hell of a rude shock.
As to Google, I agree with Peter. Google Base does not threaten any portal site other than private agents sights…. maybe. If they launch a fully fledged Google Real Estate service here in Aus, we will find out about it well and truly before hand because they have to set up relationships with the networks to receive data and you cant keep a secret like that under wraps for too long.
I have no doubt that REA and Domain will be developing a “Google Scenario” just in case they do launch. The funny thing is IMHO they will not be able to do much to stop it. They cant hurt Google financially and Google relies on a different advertising model which they dont compete with. It allows for local business to advertise on local listing results.. ie. The local finance broker, building inspector or lawn maintenance guy could only come up on the suburbs they want.
Financially they have the ability to provide the service free of charge for a long period of time or even permanently, living off the generated advertising revenues alone.
They have enough experience and clout that whatever format they decide would instantly become the standard. If Google said all listings needed to be provided in the following XML manner, everyone would provide it that way just to get access to Googles exposure.
Google never try and be the biggest and best product on the market… they rollour the basic features and do them very well from the start (take note myhome). There solutions are always aimed to attract to the masses. Their interface guys are one the best in the business.. They do get it wrong sometimes, but not very often. Something like real estate lets them integrate it into their search and map products which is the perfect and simply way to cross promote.
They are a big threat, but chances are they will release in the US first which will allow the current portals time enough to set up a defence. If they start up in Australia first as a test market, it will be VERY interesting times.
Anthony
Gentlemen,
I don’t know – Base – Housing seems like a pretty good solution that the Portals would have to be worried about.
I have been playing around with it,
Have a look.
http://base.google.com/base/s2?q=Buderim Queensland&authorid=&a_n0=housing&a_y0=9&nd=1&showrefine=1&hl=en&gl=US
No 12 is my upload. Obviously it’s still very US focused – but i understand thats what they are working on for AUS launch this year.
What more are you expecting from Google Real Estate – other than Branding???
Anthony
http://base.google.com/base/s2?q=Buderim Queensland&authorid=&a_n0=housing&a_y0=9&nd=1&showrefine=1&hl=en&gl=US
Hope that link is better
Nick Buick
Take my hat off to google once again… that is by far and away the most awesome thing I’ve seen all week.
I just dumped my entire listings database on there in a mater of moments. Can’t wait till they are searchable and I can test em out 🙂
Robert Simeon
I totally agree Nick as I too am looking forward to being fully activated as this offers agents an entirely new and exciting online medium.
Google – would no doubt be reading this blog with interest given that this is the Australian agency Base. The next step will be their Australian real estate search engine as our markets offer them the perfect demographic to launch their mini Google search engine.
As a business owner it is always nice to participate in new online innovations and I like their entry price.
Tom S
Peter, I agree with you completely that
Robert Simeon
Tom,
You raise some interesting points however, the independent agents will be all over a Google real esate search engine as will the majors as it will be free.
Given, the Google model is driven by corporate advertising whereby agents fuel the site for free listings. Potentially, this could see REA and Domain become free sites to agents.
Speak to any stand alone agency and they spend $1,200.00 per month to have an online identity with REA and Domain, with just a few properties. As against the major players who run upwards of 50 properties for roughly the same price – and better economies of scale.
Google – will roll out an Australian real estate search engine this is guaranteed.
Agents now face a strong probability that all property portals will be free to them and third party advertisers will be the sole contributors to their respective income models.
Peter
Tom
Got to say I agree with Robert Tom, I doubt very much that the best interest for any agent is to place the development of their own technology and web developments with major portals.
You then are left with a choice, develop it yourself or choose a 3rd party developer to do it for you. I am sure there are many fine developers that would love the opportunity to do this.
Regards Peter
Tom S
Pete,
Reset your server time for day light saving. It’s still reading 1hr . Now how many agents that run their own sites have had to do this today? Or maybe they had to call a tech to do it for them……….at 500 sites at $50 per site of spend or equivaleny value of their own time. That’s $25k well spent – I don’t think so.
Elizabeth
Good morning,
This Google prospect does sound promising. Free listings is very much appealing, but at the end of the day it is all about the leads. In this regard I would think that this too is not too much of a concern.
However, when we look at all the recent portals starting up, and how they are obtaining listings and displaying them, I start to ask the question “Shouldn’t Google be getting ready for our industry?”
With companies out there scraping listings, which I still consider to be illegal, and placing out dated content on their sites in order to make money, I am just a little gun shy.
I think that if Google are about to launch a real estate site, that they should spend some time researching the industry. We do not want another myhome with shoddy business practices and an arrogance that allows them to steal outdated listings from agents!
The initial upside is increased competition. It is the execution and approach to the industry which at the end of the day will determine it’s success.
Now just what is google going to do with all that data? Imagine if they could produce CMA’s and data reports for a fraction of the price of RPData.
I can see the house of cards falling.
E
Robert Simeon
Our real estate industry is facing changes a plenty and this announcement will have agents/agencies all the way across Australia reviewing operations as the vast majority will lock in the “Do Not Call Register”. Again – it offers the savvy agents the perfect online vehicles to counteract this impending legislation.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Telemarketing-protection-a-step-closer/2007/03/26/1174761369456.html
Nick Buick
Thanks for sharing Robert – what I want to know is – exactly what in gods name is costing us $33,000,000????
This sounds like the biggest under-the-table government wrought since Senitor Olsten’s $8,000,000 website.
QUOTE FOR DND REGISTER:
1 x SQL DB Hosted for 10 years @ $30 /mth = $3,600
1 x Software Dev contract to impliment system = $20,000
2 x Callcenter staff sallaries to file complaints @ $40,000pa = $800,000
1 x Beaurocrat to go to lunch with information ministers, release press releases and spin shite @ $80,000pa = $800,000
Existing office of Fair Trading body for policing complaints = FREE
At my calculations this whole thing shouldn’t cost me than… 2million dollars over 10 years.
Its rubbish like this that is the reason we pay so much freaking tax in this country.
Robert Simeon
Nick,
I would assume that a large part would go to “Machiavelli’s” where all the pollies love to dine to discuss “work in progress” whilst in Sydney. 🙂
Nick Buick
Come on – I allowed $800,000 for a lowly paper-shuffler to go to lunch on, how much Penfolds can one stuffed-suit possibly drink?
Sam
How low can you go – http://www.ninemsn.com.au has a story on the homepage about the L plater hitting a bus shelter in sydney killing one and injuring 10.
They havea link to a reader video taken at the scene, if you click on it the video has an ad that for REA that must be endured before the video can be viewed. (not REA’s fault)
This juat highlights what a bunch of souless cyborgs thay are that run the nineMSN site, no taste, no sence of right ansd wrong, totally devoid of any humanity.
Robert Simeon
Elizabeth,
It is most obvious that you know very little about Google and what it delivers agencies here in Australia. In February, they delivered our business 32 per cent of traffic – yes nearly a third. Glenn, posted on another thread that his Google traffic ranges between 30 – 40 per cent each month.
Your quote that “Google need to spend more time researching our markets” identifies that you need to spend more time understanding where your traffic is coming from.
“We do not want another myhome with shoddy business practices and an arrogance that allows them to steal outdated listings from agents!” With respect Google are the Macquarie Bank in Australian terms for an online business – the biggest online player on the planet !!
Robert Simeon
Tom S – did I ever tell you that I find your posts and those of Simon Baker’s much like looking at identical twins. Now of course I am not implying that you are one of the same – however for a stock broker, I am amazed at your rationale for justifying online data supporting property portals especially, that of REA and the importance of remaining with them.
Yes, always an analytical mind like Simon’s maybe – McKinsey training together – nah – you must be a clone 😉
Glenn
Peter…
Rant time… but its a mini rant so please take is constructively.
At work I run a 2560×1024 multi screen desktop. I am soon to upgrade to a big widescreen but I have been running this for years now, well before widescreen lcd’s became available. At home I use an old laptop on the coffee table running 1024×800 and a higher res on my home office pc. I actually dont use my home office pc unless I want to do intensive work (photoshop, indesign, dreamweaver etc etc) that the laptop cannot handle but for web and email it is fine.
My issue is with your screen layout. Even on the 2560×1024 desktop I find that very little information is actually displayed on the screen when first looking at the page. It is all banners. Somewhere between 30 to 40% of the available display area is taken up by your logo and then the “New Media Information Blog for Real Estate Professionals banner”. Then you have your menu and a huge graphic of the house with portal logos.. which takes up around another 40%
This means that all I ever get to read on the first article is the title… I do not see anything else but the first line of the title. On the laptop screen I dont even get the title.
Now I use firefox so I have active the standard Navigation and Toolbars plus I have the Google Toolbar on all the time. I have another couple of toolbars on but I make them viewable only when I need them. This does not take eat up too much space on the page reducing the space available for the website itself.
Too me, this seems like a lot of wasted space. Any chance you designed this on a large monitor resolution?
Cheers
Glenn
Peter
I only have a 30 inch Dell with 2560 x 1600, doesn’t everyone? You can click top right skip to content and that will take you right down to article. I understand your frustration and will take it on board for next update.
Thanks Glenn
Glenn
Is that all! I thought somebody with your skills would have gone for a triple head of 30 inch monitors..
Nick Buick
Looks fine to me? I run dual 19″ LCDs 1280 x 1024 but I only ever browse the net in a small ie panel – never full screen (too much left – right scanning otherwise)
Mark
Check out Street Advisor – user reviews of their local streets.
http://www.streetadvisor.com/street/11199/review/default.aspx
Anthony
Thats potentially a powerful tool for agents to tap into – particularly if the site gets traction
Thanks Mark for the heads up
Elizabeth
Robert,
your response only demonstrates that you do not read what people have written.
Delivering traffic to my own website through SEM (and SEO which I have an agency do for me), is very different from building a new portal where the service and product on offer is an interface with consumers and my listings – AWAY from my site.
Google would need to research how best to deliver the latter in order to avoid following myhomes example.
It must be hard to be right all the time, in the face of being wrong. Or is it just the case that you do not understand the issues at play yuourself?
E
Robert Simeon
Elizabeth,
Ok I will keep this simple so that you don’t have to ask your nephew what I am driving at. Please ask Peter what he believes will happen if Google launch a property portal here in Australia.
By comparing Google to MyHome from an IT standard is like comparing a Cessna to a Boeing 747 !!
And that is something I do understand 😉
Nick Buick
I see what Liz is saying – and agree with her point of view to an extent – but…
From what I’ve seen of google recently – they’re putting together a very chic suite of products that are almost certainly being strategically planned to colminate into what could very easily become “the new internet” as we know it.
Think about it – they’ve already got massive market dominence for their search engine which is the best on the planet – Jackob Neilson refers to it as an “Answer Engine” because it can often answer questions without the user ever leaving google…
Build onto this existing idiology:
Mapping systems of the entire planet (got it already)
a RSS reader / site-mapping / content syndication from hell (got it already)
Configurable Portal / Email system (got it already)
Detailed Profiles on every business on the planet (in BETA)
Online classifieds updatable in bulk via XML (in BETA)
Once all components are successfully implimented – why would anyone ever actually WANT or NEED to leave google? You could access virtually any data you needed directly from their own ‘product’ in a concistant, google, interface. The humble company website is replaced with an RSS channel of their services and news and a classifieds section of their products.
Google would essentially own the internet. Don’t want your content / site to be part of it? No problem – but who can afford to say they don’t want to be on google?
In the tradition of Microsoft – they will 100% certainly copy this (and they already are doing so) with their own paralelle (probably not as good – probably windows default) alternative – but both models would still scrape all content from XML / RSS off your site.
The big losers here would be good old fashioned web designers – who would be replaced with SEO experts, and sites making revenue from 3rd party advertising – as google would now be the only guys selling ads.
I personally pray it never happens – but I am convinced this is where it’s headed – see my own article on RSS as the new WWW: http://www.thepropertymanager.com.au/content/cms/x/3552184/
Robert Simeon
Nick,
Great response – Google are the Macquarie Bank equivalent of online. If one measures the online to print spend in comparison it is mediocre – the agents that can afford to challenge new online markets are the ones benefiting.
Those are the real estate businesses writing over $5,000,000 million per year.
The rest will continue to struggle and disappear.
Nick Buick
Microsoft tried to own the internet in the early 90’s with a thing called Microsoft Net (MSN) – next to his Prom night, it was Bill Gates’ greatest failure. Perhaps Google will pull it off?
The only reassurance I get from this New World-Wide-Web Order is that its google leading the charge – not microsoft. The polarisation of philosophies couldn’t be greater: “Don’t Be Evil” company VS “Yes, We’re Evil – So?”… and if track-record counts for anything, Google do it better and win-out.
I really liked Anthony’s post a few weeks back about PBL being the only player positioned to benefit from this (still speculative) Google-Internet by aligning themselves with MicroSoft… nineMSN (pbl) x Microsoft Maps x Scraping Realter’s content – seems like a serious paralelle. I think he’s dead on the money – we’re going have an interesting few years ahead of us.
Nick Buick
Well – we all knew google were going to pull something big, but who expected this!
http://news.com.au.ealert.com.au/news.htm?story=1292999&sid=22000000
Elizabeth
Good afternoon,
Getting someone to explain it for you are you Robert? Unfortunately for you, what we originally were dicussing was a little different than Nicks totally understandable and comprehensive explanation.
Thank you Nick.
Nick what you say supports my thoughts that google will not be free. It might be free to put my listings up on the site, however I will need to spend more money with my SEM company to get Adwords for my website, and also adwords for my listings on google base to appear at the top of the search.
It is a whole new era of middle men who make you pay for a service which is evidently free.
Nicks scrapping comment makes me worry even more.
I go back to my original statement, I understand and appreciate that from an IT perspective agents need to get ready for google base. However, it is the case that google needs to understand agents needs, wants and fears before it launches a portal.
How often will google scrape my site to ensure my listings are up to date? How will I ensure that Anthony from ZeroAgents does not have an advertisement next to my listing saying that I am a theif and a liar?
Whilst the internet has a reputation of being a place where there are no rules, I can assure you that my business operates under considerable rules.
Now if google can address all these needs, wants and fears, there really is no problem.
E
Nick Buick
Don’t worry about scraped listings Elizabeth – your listings are already scraped (spiders) – they just aren’t being efficiently mined yet.
At least Google’s algorythm (so far anyway) is based on preferencial voting which means the guys appearing at the top will have a similar level of integrity / popularity as you do and therefore not someone you’d be too concearned about appearing beside. Compare this to a conventional property portal where anyone with a checkbook and an REIQ certificate can appear in the exact same territory as you do – and you have no control whatsoever.
If you ever get a spare moment – check out the Google Story by David E Vise. Pretty interesting read about how Google came to be, how it works and why its successful.
Dave Platter
(I work at the REA Group/realestate.com.au Ltd)
NOTE: this post is tongue in cheek
The good news about Google Base is you can search homes in Manly, and also get search results like this. It’s not quite my thing, but maybe if I type in “womanly”?
manly
Age: 26 Gender: Male
Location: Philippines Posted Apr 2
honest hard working dude and loyal.
Manly T
Product type: Apparel Price: $20
Brand: SUVs waste gas Posted Mar 28
Perfect for drinking Victory Gin in…
Manly Man
Sexual orientation: Gay Gender: Male
Location: Albuquerque NEW MEXICO Unit… Posted Apr 2
About Me – I edited my profile with Thomas
Peter Ricci
Good one Dave, it seems I have been looking for love in all the wrong places…
Adam
Mr Platter
If my clients search in REA at the moment in my own suburb, they get a predominance of results with ads from a major franchise group for AUCTIONS with bait advertising prices put into the backend.
Example. A waterfront property that is worth $1.5 Million based on a CMA and bank valuation comes up under a search for properties under $1 Million. The agent has coded a price under $1 Million in the property details, but they are hidden due to the fact its advertised as an auction. If clients do a search for properties UP to a Million, that property still shows.
I don’t see how this helps the credibility of your search engine either ( or our industry as a whole )
Thanks
Peter Ricci
Adam, I think the responsibility for this falls entirely with the Agent. It would be impossible to search all descriptions of listings for false representations on any portal. If an Agent baits like this then action can be taken against the agent.
With all portals Agents are required to place in a search price and then decide how that price is displayed. Either they can display the price as is, hide the price or place text in place of the price.
The search price is numbers only so it can be picked up in search results accurately. This problem with this particular agent would be the same on any portal.
I think advertised pricing is by law in most states required to be within a certain percentage of the wanted price.(10-15% I think)
So in my opinion it is up to the agent. Maybe you should take an image grab of the property and take action against the agency?
Adam
Action against the biggest ‘group’ in Queensland is pointless. I was merely pointing out that REA has spurious search results as well. Google, REA and DOMAIN are only as good as the data supplied.
The example I brought up would be one of hundreds other agents could point too given the opportunity. The auction driven companies seem the worst offenders. Churn and Burn, Churn and Burn.
Peter Ricci
My point being that agents are to blame NOT portals
Peter Ricci
And if they are breaking the law then it does not matter how big they are as they must answer to authorities.
Nick Buick
Come on Peter – REA’s system has 2 price fields – The ACTUAL price of the property, completly hidden from the consumer – and the DISPLAYED price which is totally unrelated to the actual (hidden) price. You can’t get much more deceptive than that. Not sure how many other portals do this also, but none of ours allow advertisers to pull this kind of thing – it exists for no other reason than to deceeve. We allow users to either set a dollar value, or set POA (and be neglected from price related searches). They can add as much marketing fluff as they want to their listing headline, body copy, etc – but when it comes to prices its an integer – pure and simple.
Sure there can be this legislation and that legislation – but no one polices this, how can they, its a hidden field – afterall.
REA aren’t sitting there detecting those listings which have a > 10% deviation, REA built the system that allows this to happen in the first place. And now that such a system is implimented, you can hardly blame agents for using it – you know as well as I do if agent A does something, agent B *HAS* to follow suit, its cut-throat.
Its the same as that Featured Suburb thing where an agent can pay a $100 a week (I think it was) and their listings appear in all searches for that suburb, regardless of any other search parameters. I was staggered when the REA guys started telling me about that. Its diluting the efficiency of their own system. Its pretty disappointing – REA are in the position to really set the standard here of being the honest, reliable portal.
I think REA deserve to be the number 1 portal at the moment and they do run a powerful, well-built system – but these sorts of things I think really let them down. The old google adge of “Don’t Be Evil” always sticks in my head.
Elizabeth
Good Morning,
Adam, I am afraid I am not following you. From what Dave Chico Platter provided Google has content which is not real estate related, yet on Realestate and domain there is nothing but real estate content. Isn’t the point about relevance to what you were looking for?
If I read what you are saying, and that is the age old adage “Garbage in Garbage out” in relation to data, then are you suggesting the industry needs tighter regulation?
Perhaps an interesting test would be to see how realestateview and realestateworld address the issue you raise. Surely as REI operated websites, they will have addressed this issue.
I agree with Peter, if you see someone breaking the law, become involved and report them. Do not sit on the side lines and complain that no one does anything.
E
Adam
Last time we complained about an agency, absolutely nothing happened. That agent has since been found guilty in the federal courts of a number of offences, and today has a full page advert in the local paper with a ton of properties. They are still trading (well over a year after the trial) as they are awaiting an appeal. This is ONE agent, who of course has a lot of money (from their dishonest dealings – as proven by a jury of their peers) – Imagine if you were to try and take on a whole franchise ? with their financial backing ? The practise we talk of is franchise wide, in fact I bet there is a part of their training manual that encourages it (along with the part that emphasises auctions as a great way to extract print marketing money to advertise the agents).
No wonder the public get confused.
You as agents will often shake your heads at things other agents do to complete a sale, or gain a listing. If you don’t, can I please move to your market ?
I think we all look forward to Googles offerings when they eventually release. They never do anything half arsed.
Peter Ricci
Nick, you are incorrect. The first price field is Search price………..
Then.
Option 1. Display Price
Option 2. Display in place of Price (this can be text and numbers)
Option 3. Do not display any price details
Option 2 is the one where you can say whatever you like. This field has no effect on searching, but is the most common used for displaying information such as…
Offers over $######
By Negotiation
Around $###### etc etc
Peter Ricci
I do not know how you can blame portals as agents are the ones who input this data.
Peter Ricci
Adam , it is not you who take on these agents, it is state authorities. The only thing it will cost you is the time it takes to write the complaints.
Glenn
Dave did a search for manly in the main Google Base search… which provided all sorts of results. He did this because it suited his purpose which was to knock the google talk down a peg. If he would have done the result in google base housing then the results would have been dramatically different..
Also, lets not forget that Google Base is not yet for Australia.
As to REA’s hosting of bait advertising.
REA are not immune to the law. Just like the ISP’s discovered a number of years back, if an illegal act is brought to their attention they have to act because they have an effective control over that information ie. it is on their site and they can suspend or delete the offending data.
The problem comes down to proving it to them that the listing actually breaks any laws. Lets look at the subject property.. You say it is worth $1.5m .. how can you prove that satisfactorily to Realestate.com.au ??? Have you got a copy of a valuation as I dont think your own CMA will hold up well. I think in this sort of case you are always going to struggle if you cant prove it.
We had a case whereby a local agent uploaded property data that was listed for another office (about 30 min drive away) of the same franchise group. They were a little short of listings so they just uploaded another 30 or 40 more that did not belong to that office. Of course the other office did not mind, they were not paying for a realestate.com.au subscription and now their properties had great internet exposure.
I asked realestate.com.au to remove them and provided links to the websites of both offices which showed whose offices they belonged to. At first they claimed that it was not their problem and I would have to take it up with the relevant authorities. I pointed out to them that if the properties were not removed by the end of the day I would be contacting Fairtrading who might take objection to the fact that they were now aware that somebody was breaking the law and they chose to ignore their responsibilities and leave the offending listings public. I also told them that I would contact everyone of their subscribers in the suburb of these listings and advise that realestate.com.au chose not to remove them even though they were made aware that the office was getting their properties listed for free whilst they were paying out $500-600 per month. The offending listings were gone within hours.
I think it is a case that if you can prove that it is illegal activity they will always try and get you to do the dirty work but they have responsibilities to and sometimes they may just need a few reminders.
Nick Buick
Your right peter I do beg your pardon.
I guess I just think its asking for trouble returning results based on one set of data, yet displaying a different set of data to the user for what is essentially the same thing.
Elizabeth
Good Afternoon,
Glen you will never get an argument from me when it comes to some of the shoddy tactics of the franchisors.
My question to you all is, do we want more from the portals? Do we want them to put in systems that make us comply with the law? Whose law?
I can tell you that I see similar instances in the Wentworth Courier. So do we want the print media to apply the same rules as what we want the portals to?
I applaud you contacting realestate to get an issue resolved however you, and all of us, need to also follow up with the authorities. By only contacting the advertising medium, we are addressing a symptom not the disease. (Apologies for the clich
Nick Buick
I think all media have an ethical obligation (regardless of legislation) to their advertisers, end-users and themselves, to deliver a system which is specifically designed to make it difficult to post misleading advertising.
Allowing agents to hide their actual sale price and display a different price to users is encouraging deceptive behavour. I’m not an agent myself and all my friends and clients always just use fixed numerical prices so I’ve never really understood this whole “offers over $XXXXX” stuff. Fair enough if I’m speaking to an agent face-to-face to use this sort of vague terminoligy, but if its a written advertisment I want solid numbers – just seems a bit Caryard-ish to me.
I guess with an auction its harder – What do you guys think about this?
Robert Simeon
Anthony with his Zeroagents cape and stuffed undies has been quiet of late. Having previously gloated at the amazing cost savings that he negotiated for a client from a different state (not to be confused with state of mind). I see that the property Anthony sold is back on the market despite his amazing claims on this forum.
No wonder he has been somewhat quiet of late – too funny. Looks like our caped crusader otherwise known under the alias of “zeroagent” has delivered a zero result in a booming market !!
Or, just maybe he has listed another property in the same block and they decided to share photography costs – by using the same pictures. Gotta love the professionalism of the DIY agents.
http://www.zeroagents.com.au/Search/View-Property.aspx?PropertyID=1383
I am sure Anthony has a valid reason as why he boasted the amazing vendor cost savings only to see a fumble not to be confused with a stumble.
No doubt the cloak blocked his vision and he crashed into the garage door ?
Glenn
Robert,
I bet he was hoping like hell you didnt notice that!!! I wonder if he still thinks he should be congratulated over the result?
Robert Simeon
Yes – silence is golden. What is even funnier.
http://www.zeroagents.com.au
“List cheap, Sell Quick
Many agents will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get the sale. Real estate agents are remunerated predominantly on a commission only basis. Some agents get a retainer which is offset against future commission earnings.
What it all means is that real estate agents only get paid when they sell a property. The longer it takes to sell your property, the longer the agent will wait to get paid. The lower the price, the faster the property will sell and the faster the agent will get paid.
It is this relationship between property sales and real estate agents pay that can motivate an agent to do
Adam
Perhaps he is away on holidays like most sensible people ?
snoop
I noticed PDS have tidied up their site.
Does anyone use this service?
I gather the ubiquitous Ray white group are sinking more and more money into this.
Glenn
Am I the only one who finds the whole idea of portals trying to quote the biggest figures they can as ridiculous?
REA issued their March statistics email recently. One of the comparisons uses 394,000,000 pages of property information against Domains 123,000,000.
These sort of grandiose figures never impress me so I thought I would use the stats realestate.com.au provided to generate what I consider more meaningful statistics.
For the month of March 2007 Realestate.com.au provided:
1.03 Emails per property
87 Emails per agent
7.7 Emails per 1000 property views
24 Property Views per Browser
187 Emails per 1000 Unique browser
84 Average Listings Per Agent
For the month of March 2007 Domain.com.au provided:
0.89 Emails per property
45 Emails per agent
8.1 Emails per 1000 property views
13 Property Views per Browser
109 Emails per 1000 Unique browser
51 Average Listings Per Agent
I guess it is no surprise at all to see realestate.com.au leading most of these statistics quite comfortably. On realestate.com.au visitors stay longer and view more property and the portal delivers a much higher email enquiry rate per unique visitors.
On face value this appears excellent however it does seem that these increases are brought about only from higher quantity rather than quality as Domain actually deliver a (slightly) higher email rate per 1000 property views. Put simply, realestate.com.au has more listings and their participating agents have higher average number of listings so people view more and therefore enquire on more.
One thing that I would love to know is how much of Domains statistics are relative to private listings and FSBO sites. If they have not been removed (and I doubt they have) Domains figure for the “per agency” stats would be eroded even further.
What infuriates me even more than the “6 zero” orientated statistics is both offices quote huge numbers of registered subscribers receiving email updates. I would like to see both companies provide an age breakdown because I think we would find most of these 1.3 million subscriptions would be quite old and be no longer read. In fact, I am sure that both companies could provide us with open rates of the emails sent out. I reckon under 10% of the emails broadcasted to these subscribers ever get picked up. I think the other 90% would be full of old salespeople who have moved on subscribing and people who have added the address to their spam filter a long time ago. I bet realestate.com.au charge on the numbers of emails sent, not the number of emails opened with their e-brochure product. Does domain have a similiar product and a similiar implementation?
Rant Over!
Paul D
Yes you need a rant every so often. !!
I think the statistics you have worked out are much more relevant than the six zero type numbers, Glenn. I keep similar statistics for my own office. In the month of March we had 6.2 emails per thousand property views. It is difficult to measure how many people actually ring whilst looking at the property, but I would think it is in the range of another maybe 3 or 4 per thousand property views. Domain’s 1300 number gave that kind of result.
These numbers have changed a bit over the last couple of years. REA have in fact dropped as a percentage of total property views. In 2003 REA was between 9 and 11 per thousand property views. Having said that, they now deliver four times the number of property views than they did then.
I assume that the property.com.au viewers are also included in the REA numbers, because I haven’t seen them quoted anywhere else. I would also assume that the propertyguru numbers are also quoted in the Domain numbers. This means that people who look at either of those two sites (which essentially have the same properties on them as the “mother” site) are being counted twice, even though the numbers would not be that high.
It seems that because numbers are more easily able to be counted than newspapers ( where huge assumptions have to be made) and the websites delight in a measurable advantage over their competitors.
One thing is for certain the numbers seem to be increasing via the internet. We now spend the majority of our time dealing with internet enquiries, and the newspaper enquiries are becoming as rare as email enquiry was 5 years ago.
Glenn
Unfortunately the enquries are increasing but the handling of these by salespeople is very very poor. I believe the vast majority of email enquiries generated by the portals go unanswered.
I would like to see the portals develop better tools and resources for salespeople and agencies to follow up inquiries.
A couple of things that spring to mind include :
1/ email client with a web front end specifically setup for the purpose that tracks email opens and click throughs,
2/ a checkin service for enquiries with cascading notification. This could also provide reporting on which salespeople handled each enquiry within what time periods. If this was combined with 1/ then agency principals/sales managers could track and audit the responses to insure leads are handled correctly and in accordance with policy.
It is these type of services that REA and domain can use to insulate them against the entry of other players into the market like Google and Zillow.
Glenn
Peter,
Feature request for the site. I would love to see regular polls and voting on the site.. You get a stack of traffic from those directly and indirectly associated in the real estate industry so the results are sure to be interesting reading. Change them once a week or whenever you feel like..
Something like http://www.losingfight.com/blog/2006/09/11/pollpress-wordpress-plugin/
The polls could be used for a few purposes…
1/ To determine the demographic of your audience.. ie. What is your association with the Real Estate Industry a) I work for a real estate franchise or marketing group b) I own or manage a real estate agency c) I work for a real estate agency d) I supply or work for a company that supplies products or services to the real estate industry e) none of the above
2/ To get a feeling of the pulse of the industry. ie. If you own or manage a real estate agency, what percentage of your buyer enquries is sourced from the interent? a) 0-20% b) 21-40% c)41-60% d)61-80% e) 81-100%
–
3/ To just take a stab at guessing the future. ie. Will Google open their own real estate portal ? a) Yes – This Year b)Yes – In the Next Couple of Years c)Yes – But not for awhile d) No – Best you get for real estate will be Google Base e) Tell me, who are Google?
etc etc
Mia
To Glenn: You note low email leads above, and then state that those emails that are sent, frequently go unanswered.
As a prospective buyer, I tried using the ‘contact the agent’ feature both on realestate.com.au and on domain.com.au but found that only one or two agents responded per 10 enquiries sent – and more often than not, their response was along the lines of ‘call me at [phone no] and I’ll see how I can help you’. I no longer bother with this – I just pick up the phone and contact the agent straight away. So the portals do generate leads – but you’ll never know the difference unless you ask the caller where they saw the ad (a total of one agent asked me that so far).
And since this is a rant post, I’d like to rant about agents who list the property and don’t include the exact address. Then you phone them up to find out where it’s located and they have no idea what you’re talking about. Aggrh!..
Peter
Hi Mia and welcome to our site. I hope to see you contribute some more and tell your friends about the site.
I (Peter Ricci Site manager) am looking to buy also and although most agents are helpful, some I wonder how they make any money at all for their vendors.
I agree with price display and also address display. I also understand about some sellers do not want the price or address, but some agents still do not display either on all of their listings.
I think their thinking is that more people contact them the more chance they can sell. Well if getting off on the wrong foot is a good start to a selling process then those agents do need to think about their own futures in this industry.
Buyers and potential tenants want information and once they have this information want to make an informed decision as to whether they are interested.
Again thanks for the comment.
adam
Why would a serious vendor NOT want their address ? Agents do not put the address in our area, as they want to keep the listing to themselves. This is openly discussed in the franchises in our area. They take a book on which agent is calling for an address for a ‘drive by’ when the phone rings.
This speaks volumes on the agents abilities to please their vendors. As a matter of policy all of our listings are displayed with the address, and we lose maybe 5% at the end of an exclusive agreement.
I am currently looking and the worst offenders are First National, Ray White and The Profesionals. I am not telling them I am an agent either, but i’m taking notes on them. The scorecard so far is absymal. The best experience has been dealing with a private seller actually.
Whinge Whinge
Glenn
Mia,
Email enquiries are certainly on the downturn with more buyers getting frustrated and heading for the phone just as you have. There is a few reasons involved I think and they relate to technical understanding, culture and systems.
The first real estate group to create an Aussie version of the Weichert Lead Network will gain significant traction in our industry. I posted the link to a video in another post but if you missed it here it is again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtj2m4lsh_g
I guess it is important to note that to get that business working ok they have to hold back the enquiry from a salesperson until they are ready to buy or sell real estate. The problem with most agencies is we try and get real estate salespeople to answer the enquiry and when they dont get that instant result for minimal time investment they just dont place any importance on the lead. They write it off and go looking for the phone calls where they can “control” the enquiry better. Email has no control. Like always there are exceptions to the rule, but I believe that unless portals make back end systems for salespeople to handle this enquiries easily and professionally it is best to have admin staff provide the first contact on enquiries.
Dave Platter
Great conversation.
I would like to add to it just one small thing: only actual traffic to realestate.com.au is counted in the site’s unique browser count. Traffic to property.com.au or any other site in the REA Group network does not count towards realestate.com.au’s total.
All that said, at current growth rates, realestate.com.au looks like it will surpass 4 million unique browsers in the next few months.
Watch out Peter. Soon, we’ll even get more UBs than business2.com.au! 😉
Dave
Glenn
Dave,
Can you find out for us how much as a percentage of the UB figures for realestate.com.au is Australian based, and has that changed over the last year or two.
What I am trying to find out is if the global expansion of REA has assisted Australian agents by having the “Australia” button at the top of their other international sites
Cheers
Scott
Hi Glenn,
I would suggest that there are already numerous back end systems out there for salespeople to handle this enquiries easily and professionally, and to assist sales agents to effectively deal with leads.
Systems such as HubOnline (who I work for), MyDesktop, OSL, Complete Data, etc – are all aimed at enabling agents to work smarter and follow up leads much better.
Unfortunately, the individuals or offices need to implement these systems and train their staff on their use.
There are an absolutely mindboggling amount of agents that still use manual or card systems to track contacts.
Further to this, there are a lot who do use technology, but in a very segmented way.
For example, they may use Outlook, ACT or Access, to keep contacts names and categorise them, but they need to then use another system to send information to these contacts, one more to report on activity, etc.
In my opinion, the key to this is a completely integrated system, which starts out with the ability to actually recieve emails within itself, then bive users the option to followup, report, etc.
If an agent wants to really be on the ball, a PDA with push emails, or enabled to have emails shown on it via SMS prompt or direct from a webmail interface, will give that agent immediate notice of an enquiry.
It is then up to them to get back to the contact asap.
One other area where agents let potential buyers, and possibly vendors, down is that they may contact a lead straight away but then do not follow up. Also, related to Mia’s comment above – many agents will also not offer other services or even answer the questions from users correctly.
Peter Ricci
Hi Scott, maybe REA and Domain could actually send XML data back into systems such as Agentpoint and others such as Hub Online (which you own and probably already do), My Desktop, Port Plus etc etc) and provide plug ins to work with programs such as Outlook, ACT etc.
If you provided feeds back to agents systems (including my own) and CRM packages then we could accept them and add that data against property information stored.
This would allow agents to have one place to access this data.
Mark
Does any one know why realestate.com.au are so quite about their recent investment in http://www.homeguru.com.au?
A recent post on CEO corner talks about ‘Just who is the REA Group’ – http://blogs.realestate.com.au/ceocorner/2007/05/just_who_is_the_rea_group.html- no mention of homeguru.
REA own 60% of homeguru and only 50% of realestate.com.au home loans… interestingly the home loan business gets a mention along with Clarke computers and a bunch of other businesses recently acquired.
Maybe it’s the whole lead generation thing they don’t want to be associated with.
Robert Simeon
Maybe their due diligence – identified the wrong “guru” !!
Peter Ricci
I received 5 Home Guru flyer/brochures in my mailbox today
Chris B
Has anyone heard about or use http://www.open2view.com.au
snoop
Interested in an agents view of these Lead gen services like Homeguru.
Does anyone get any value out of them???
Elizabeth
Good Evening,
My suspicions are that this entry will fall on deaf ears given that this website is dominated by men, however, Peter et al I would like to raise the issue of Women in real estate in all realms.
We know that women/females comprise approximately 52-60% of the buyers out there in the market place and we place a great emphasis on reaching them. A few years ago we all saw the Professionals even change their brand in order to appeal to women (not sure it worked).
However, where are all the women in senior positions in the industry?
We have Christine heading up the REINSW.
Then there is Leanne Pilkington in Laing and Simmons.
But where are women in all the other senior positions?
Are there women in senior positions in all the suppliers such as Agent Point? My Desk Top?
What about the Franchise Groups? Surely Leanne cannot be the only woman in a senior position in amongst this group? In the USA there is a woman who is the CEO of Coldwell Banker, however I fear that this is not the case in Australia.
Are women able to achieve higher than Marketing Manager and Senior Sales Agent in this industry?
As the percentage of women increases as the main market, are we as an industry actually changing to reflect this? or are we just using our Systems and internet presence to attract their dollars?
I would be interested to hear from Robert S, Glen and Sam (some old favourites), and also hear from those within Franchise Groups.
E
Sam
I mean r e a l l y – someone has to stay home to cook and clean and keep a mans dinner warm while he has a few beers with the boys after a hard days work.
John
Elizabeth
You are obviously a leading woman in real estate given your numerous posts and knowledge displayed throughout various posts?
So why don’t you disclose who you are?
Elizabeth
Sam you really gave me a good belly laugh then. Thank you.
John, I was not aware that because I was a woman that I had to provide you with my full details.
Seeing that you do not provide them either, are you asking me to adhere to a different standard?
E
Peter
Elizabeth, I know more people in real estate that are women than men. I also contract 2 designers that are women. Creatively speaking their attention to detail surpasses men.
In Sydney McGrath gets a lot of attention but Sarah and Kate Lorden are two great examples of quality agents in Sydney and I am sure there are many more fine examples across Australia.
As for dealing with women in business, I find they are prepared to work more and not delegate their work as much as men.
Regards Peter aka Peta
Glenn
Elizabeth,
I dont think the problem you are highlighting is one restricted to Real Estate at all.Far from it in fact. I believe the majority of industries all suffer from the glass ceiling to one degree on the other whether it’s because of discriminatory pressures, maternity career interruptions or a host of other reasons trotted out whenever the subject is brought up.
I dont think anybody would argue that it is there, but like always, there are exceptions to every rule of course with exceptional woman that has smashed her way through the invisible barrior, shattering it into pieces.
Don’t go blaming your industry peers why there are more brothers than sisters in charge in when you go to work.
If you can get an answer to your questions you better write a book because you will sell millions.
Cheers
under the radar
There are some excellent female entrepreneurs out there – and some excellent male ones…. and theres a whole lot of losers ;).
Its my belief that unless your involved in the red light industry, business has utterly nothing to do with what does / or does not hang between your legs.
If there’s one thing I can’t stand its luke warm ‘women in business’ groups with ‘business woman of the year’ awards and blahdeeblahblah. Like its so much of a miracle that women are capable of sustaining a business in the 21st century that they need a damn ticker-tape-parade. If I was a woman – I’d be sourly offended.
You don’t see Rupert Murdoch or Kerry Packer publicly self-gratifying themselves over the fact that they run a successful business… Murdoch’s too busy making money – and Packer’s dead… that’s how hard he worked.
Paul D
The fact that there are not enough women in the top spots, is often not because they weren’t asked. It is definitely NOT because they are not good enough. Many times, when asked to run for positions (not only in the real estate field) they are just not willing to commit to the time involvement. This is entirely understandable, because many have families to consider. So asking the question why? is a little more complicated than just answering ” we should have more women in the top jobs !” It often takes a woman with really good support systems, and sometimes, unfortunately, that support system is not there.
under the radar
I got a family too. I work 100 hours a week – every week. I don’t have time for a “support network” to deal with the trauma of this job.
You don’t get the top job by sitting around waiting for it to be ‘offered’. Go take it – there’s nothing stopping women from doing this.
Well, except that their brains are scientifically proven to be much smaller than ours ;).
j/k
Paul D
I was euphamistically saying that men have a better “support network” ie. their wives or partners, than women do. In other words women support men better than men support women. Perhaps that’s why you CAN work 100 hours a week. You should probably read a book on how to be tactfull somewhere in those 100 hours. I bet your wife/partner is not able to work 100 hours in her job, even if she wanted to.
under the radar
You’re right Paul – she is the support network now that I think about it. She’s also responsible for providing the tact in our relationship… unfortunatly for you ;).
Elizabeth
Good Afternoon,
Some very interesting comments and thank you all for contributing to an entry which I though would be treated as an Elizabeth Rant.
I think that everyone has some valid points, and lets all face the cold harsh reality. Women are the ones who get physically pregnant and are more responsive to their childrens needs. However, this does not apply to all women, and does not mean that these women are not capable nor career minded.
Not sure I agree that everything is there for the taking.
WHen I look at the REINSW, apart from Christine, all the senior positions are men and have been for some time. Paula has left, but she was only a Training and education position.
REIA, well there is a female in charge of Communications, but little other representatives elsewhere.
Now some interesting information from my local LJHooker office this morning. It seems that all but one of the senior female employees at LJHooker corporate have ‘left’ since the new Managing Director has arrived. What is very interesting is that when these women have been replaced, it has been with a man.
So when I look at our industry bodies who are supposed to represent ALL of the industry, they being the REI’s – and when I look at a franchise group who appears to be cleansing its senior ranks of women – I just wonder what is going on in our industry.
If more and more buyers are women, why is it that in some instances we are willing to take the money from women, but not give them a job?
E
Elizabeth
Good Evening,
Well it seems I may have stirred a hornets nest.
The local L.J Hooker team came to see me today with some interesting news. The last senior female in LJH corporate appears to have resigned in the last few days.
The lass from my local LJH office appears to be taking it personally calling it a ‘mens club over in Alexandria’.
No wonder they say ‘Thank you MR Hooker’… they certainly have no women left to say ‘Thank you Mrs Hooker’. Or is it the case that the CEO believes that Mrs Hooker should be at home preparing dinner for when he finishes work?
It would seem that with this news, there is no one in touch with the dominant female market in real estate left at LJH. Interesting times ahead!
E
Sam
Another csse of s group of heros deleuding themselves that they are good at what they do. Truth be known they don’t feel comfortable around women because they feel threatened, and so they should, women can do twice the job in half the time and stay sober for weeks on end.
Sam
Ummm..should read ..Another case of a group of heros deluding etc
Elizabeth
Good morning,
As a woman I am just delighted to read the appointment of Gail Kelly as the new CEO of Westpac.
It seems evident that the investors in Westpac agree, assisting the bank stocks close higher in a bull market.
Proof that a woman can have a hugely positive impact in a senior role, and this is before she even commences work.
Meanwhile, over at misogynist MR Hooker, would the last female executive please turn off the light in the womens toilets.
E
Peter Ricci
Well E, We will only see more and more of this in the future. My take on it is that women tend to want a lifestyle, rather than just working to make money and get higher up the ladder.
After all we are only here for a short while and really who wants to be just working and working and working!
snoop
REAS Profit announced yday.
86M out of the Aust and NZ market
9000 paying agents.
Thats how much per agency???
45% ebitda.
Huge amount of money isnt it?
Thanks agents for making shareholders rich.
Glenn
One of the best parts of this I like is Simon Bakers comment on myhome.
“It’s like starting a 400m race when everyone else is at the 300m mark,” he said.
The players involved in myhome were some of the worlds fastest corporate runners and might have made a race of it even with that handicap but somebody tied their shoes together when they released that original dog of a site so the race was over for this year.
snoop
Yep
Well yes Myhome blew it technicaly and in execution first time round.
As for Simon ,Read the annual report release his bio makes it sound like he did everything single handed.
.
Elizabeth
Good Evening,
Glenn I think the problems with Myhome are beyond the website.
When they charge everyone but one franchise group to list on the site, that tells me they have no idea how to deal with the industry.
This particular franchise group is not even a shareholder. Goodness knows what Elders have as a deal. Let alone what access to agents listings Elders have!
As a shareholder in REA, the results do read well. As for making me rich? Well I have doubled my money, but the shareprice has taken a tumble in recent days due to the global market.
Snoop I like to think of my Thank-yous to realestate in two ways.
a) It has been a nice little investment, and if I choose to sell I can make a nice return. There is no dividend, so perhaps not a stella revenue stream for me unless I sell out.
b) I get many leads from both realestate and domain, which affords me a strong position to haggle with the print bods.
Mind you I do not always say thank you!
E
Glenn Rogers
The B2 web site is now loading properly, nothing to do with my settings, this is on one PC and a lap top.
I think the hosting is in the US so whatever was wrong is now fixed.
Good news.
Nick
Why are REA being such a bunch of cash-grabbing bastards these days? They’ve rebuilt their site so it makes no mention of agent mobiles any longer and now they are running around threatening any agent that isn’t paying them $900 a month with disconnection if they mention a mobile number anywhere in their listing. It’s disgraceful.
How much luck do you guys have with Domain? Are the enquiry rates comparable? I’m seriously thinking of using them instead from now on.
Dorothy Lowrey
Peter Ricci is absolutely right in stating that real estate websites are not industry portals, they just want to be popular. It hasn