I am the owner/founder of Forsalebyweb.com. Change in the industry has been met with resistance. However, cumulatively, the current mortgage market, slow sales, hybrid commission models and rise in web-based innovations will create dynamic changes as the industry addresses its identity crisis.
Anthony, Great! I'm glad you've finally agreed that I've agreed with you all along. As you now clearly see I never had a problem with providing quality service. That was never an issue. The issue surfaces only when you force people to use your service when they don't need you. Why do you assume that people that use alternative ways to sell their houses are getting "limited service"? Why do you assume that they experience problems? Show me some actual homes that have had these problems. I'm not talking testimonials. Show me some real houses with problems. WHAT THE HECK IS THE NEW "EXTREME" LIMITED SERVICE MODEL? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU MADE UP YESTERDAY? Why do you insist that these new models won't work when they've worked all over the country? Please provide evidence that alternative business models with sound objective fail. All of your concerns can be easily addressed with transparency. What do I mean by transparency? DISCLOSE the actual services/duties that you want to provide in a legally enforceable representation contract. DISCLOSE your level of fiduciary. DISCLOSE your level of agency. DISCLOSE what you will/will not include in your service package. It appears many agents have EXTREME paranoia when the solution can be addressed in the form of a disclosure. Btw, about your poor assessment of FTC and DOJ. >>>>>" EXACTLY! THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING! Why is the DOJ and the FTC brow beating ,and strong arming, MLS's and State Legislatures coast to coast into changing rules, regulations, and codes of conduct to accommodate that which already existed and had been working just fine? >>>>>> Where do you see this happening? They ( FTC and DOJ ) are not fighting to change rules, regulations or code of conduct. You've been completely mislead. THE FTC AND DOJ are fighting to stop recent changes in laws and regulations that could inhibit competition. It is the local NAR offices that have been passing recent rules and regulations. Let me repeat. It is the local NAR offices that have been lobbying recent changes to rules and regulations. Some have been lobbying for consumers to pay for services they don't need. Some have been lobbying to push people to use agents to negotiate contracts. The FTC and DOJ are fighting to stop these lobbying/changes from happening so that new business models can thrive. If you want to wrestle with people that are wasting time with new rules contact your local NAR office. Here's a link to a company which I have no affiliation with. Their customers are completely happy with the services they get for $555. Frankly, I'm a bit confused how you can make claims that people are unhappy when they save money through alternative business models? http://www.buyhomes.com
Anthony, You seem very confused. Would it clarify a few things for you if I were to post a few links to hundreds of actual consumers that have been happy with what you call limited service? Show me some links to consumers that have been unsatisfied with limited service listings? Like I've stated the industry has been doing just fine for decades.....so why the need to change rules and why the need to review old rules that have been working fine? >>>> When you go to your dentist, doctor, lawyer, accountant, mechanic or what have you; do you pay them a fee to post your need on some database and then wait for someone you don't know, who doesn't represent your best interest, and who has a waiver of liability (should you be harmed), to service your needs?>>>>> No. Where do you see this happening? Where do you see harm? What is the probability of harm? Let's show some real numbers and take out all the you say I say nonsense. I'm ready when you are.
Anthony, My appology if the humidity is high today but your persistence that everybody GETS REAL is more insulting than anything written so far. Perhaps your ideas are more real to you than me but that doesn't make it real to everybody else. I don't think anybody here disagrees with you regarding your duty as a professional. I also don't think anyone has a disagreement with you regarding your standard of service, your licensing requirement and the efforts and dedication you've applied to maintain your license. The liability issue is also correct. Everybody and myself included in the industry agrees with you. But how you manage your business affairs and whether you earn a profit is your responsibility. Don't whine to the consumers, it's not their responsibility to come up with a model to make you a profit. The problem is when you force people to use service they otherwise do no need. I like your take on what will make a limited service model work and all the waivers needed to make it work. You've completely missed the point in that consumers shouldn't need your waiver in the first place. Last, the industry has been providing limited service for years. What do you think happens when a listing agent sits all day at open houses offering dual agency or no agency to the public or exclusive agency without service? You really need to look at the whole forest not the individual trees. We're not talking about elephants but services that consumers don't need. Of the millions of home sold each year how many have gone bad caused by alternative models? Show us some #s. Your take on limited service is quite limited at best. Unfortunately.
