Hello, my name is "LetMeIn YourSite"

By Jessica Swesey, Thursday, March 29, 2007.

To attach a lead form or not to attach a lead form -- believe it or not that's still a pretty hot-button issue in the real estate industry. Not long ago pretty much every Web site with real estate listings on it required consumers to fill out a form before they could get access to the goodies. The form enables brokers, agents and lead generation companies to "get something" out of the exchange of information -- you get information, I get to spam you for the rest of your life. Or at least, that's how many have approached this.

But now the game has changed a little. Today's Web surfers are tired of having to give up information all the time and will either 1) create fake accounts (there are even services that will automatically create fake accounts for Web surfers -- see BugMeNot.com); or 2) Move on to the next real estate Web site. Also, there are a lot more sites now that do not force users to create accounts but will show listings or other real estate valuation info (Trulia, Google Base, Zillow, Broker IDX sites).

This "to lead form or not to lead form" debate heated up at a recent real estate conference where LeadQual co-founder Andrew Coleman's take was that real estate pros should get something from the visitor else they have nothing. But Point2's COO Brendan King said it's probably better not to do the lead form because even though you won't have the visitor's info right then and there the chances are pretty high you'll lose them entirely. But even if you must go the lead form route, it doesn't give you the right to spam this person, he said.

What's your take?

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Submitted by Jacob Donley on June 3, 2008 - 12:37pm.

Local Homes For Sale (www.localhomesforsale.com) is a real estate search engine that is currently restructuring from a business standpoint. But the idea of the site has always been the same. It's designed for customers that want to look for homes; LHFS is currently beginning its business in Northeastern Illinois. This site is a portal for customers to find homes by being directed to the brokers website when they want to know more about a certain listing. It doesn't ask for any customer information unless the customer specifically applies to be pre-qualified for a mortgage on the secure page. Local Homes For Sale's focus is to give exposure to the listings and options to home buyers. I feel that the site is the best option for the consumer today who doesn't want to give out their information. There's no registration. After all, if the consumer likes what they see, they'll use the service. They're more likely to never return if you fill their e-mail and postal boxes full of junk. Let the consumer decide.

LHFS is currently looking for realtor's who are MLSNI or the maps MLS service to participate in the Chicago Land area.