Todd Held

Wow! I don't know where to start.... As a member of Rotary, I have known for years about networking, community involvement, loving where I live, etc etc. As a Realtor, I have also known for years that you will never win when you are going against what a clients friends or family tell them. The social involvement from them has always overidden my expertise, yes, always. If mom and dad throw in their two cents about real estate, and it doesn't jive with what I have said, here comes the train wreck. Best example is when explaining fair market value vs. tax assesed value. In our market, they haven't been the same in forever. My clients have always focused more on what can they afford in the area where they want to be vs. what can they afford anywhere in town. As a second generation Realtor, when my i was "learning the ropes" this is how my mother's clients shopped also. I am really curious to know what market the folk's quoted in the article are familiar with. As a licensee who has worked on the east coast and west coast, the two markets I worked in were very similar, with area and its amenities being at the top of buyers lists. Todd Held Associate Broker

I agree with Tyler wholeheartedly. The focus of the article seemed to be the "advertising" aspect of the transaction. That's the one thing an unlicensed assistant can handle. What about the guidance through the transaction? The advice? Dealing with "issues"? negotiation strategy? It still stands that buying a home is probably the largest financial transaction a majority of Americans will ever make, how is a computer going to advise them? Anyone that can prepare a market analysis of a home without having walked through it is in my opinion perpetrating a lie. That funky smell that fido has left in the carpet can be very detrimental to the pricing AND marketability of a home.And believe me, many sellers don't realize the smell is even there. See you in 2020 ;) Todd Held Associate Broker

You're absolutely right, things are different everywhere. That's why I am amazed that sites such as Zillow and Trulia have survived. They don't reflect our local market in a true light. I'm not sure I agree with your comment about soliciting business from someone though. If they ask you a question, you may talk to them. I think that this is an area that the legal eagles have yet to explore.Its my understanding that if the consumer posts a question on the internet, they've just opened the door for a lotta Realtors, licensees, etc to have a conversation, and if the consumer likes what they hear, then someone might lose out. I don't give legal advice, but I do provide different points of view, and also input based on past experinces, as well as Real estate advice. I think most licensed real estate professionals will tell you we come across as Realtors, attorneys, home inspectors, pyschiatrists , baby sitters etc. Todd Held Associate Broker