New web based services are popping up all of the time, some with questionable business models and some legitimate. One I was informed about today, tells us that they save consumers thousands of dollars and the name of the website is refrealestate.com.au. Now if there is a questionable model for business this is it.
The site has a large database of agents names throughout Australia. Basically a potential seller searches their area and contacts an agent via a web form. But no, this email goes to refrealestate and then they contact the agent in question. This raises a few important questions.
- Do they use this information to contact other agents?
- Do they charge agents a fee for the referral? (they have to make money)
- Do agents know that they have a page that they are ranked on?
The savings
It claims that $2000.00 is the average saving. I am presuming they are going off institute fee structures. Now any dummy can save that money in a first meeting with an agent. The best way to save money is to invoke competition. If a vendor wants the most out of the agent, the best way to approach this, is to work out what they are getting first (products, services) and detail this information. This is the best way to rank an agent, then the time will come to negotiate a fee. Then a decision is made.
I must say I am getting sick of all of these new websites just trying to pilfer more money out of agents, so I am going to do something about it. All these services do, is denigrate the actual offerings of the professional agents. If the first step a person takes is wanting to get the cheapest deal, then they have already fallen down the stairs.
I am sure agents do not mind being advertised on various sites, as long as it is complimentary. I doubt many would judge this site as any help at all.