Linda Kay's Blog

~ The "Local Agent" Whose Office is 3000 Miles Away ~

I'm not naming names here but I've got a story to share with other Realtors and with consumers who might be looking for local agents online.  It's a story about an agent who is advertising his services to sellers and buyers in the Sonoma real estate market---even though his office is nearly 3000 miles away. 

The story starts with an email from this New York agent asking if I would be interested in a referral. He said he had clients with a home to sell in Sonoma Valley.  We discussed a referral fee and agreed, in email communications, on 25%.  Several days later, I met with "his clients" at the property, which had belonged to a deceased family member.  They said they'd never been to Sonoma Valley.  They came from out-of-state to interview potential listing agents.

They told me they had found the referring agent on a well-known real estate website, which shall also remain unidentified here.   They'd never met the agent.  They said they contacted him because he was advertising himself as a Sonoma agent and they'd read his favorable client testimonials.  They were absolutely stunned when I told them their "Sonoma agent's" office is located in New York.  To quote one of the sellers, "So much for local expertise!" 

After our meeting, I visited the real estate website where this agent is advertising.  His name appears on a list of many Sonoma agents INCLUDING MINE.  I wasn't surprised to see the names of several out-of-area agents claiming to be Sonoma experts but nearly all on the list work out of offices within 50 miles of here. 

I checked with the California Department of Real Estate to see whether this New York agent is licensed to sell real estate in California, too.   He is not.

This story is not over yet.  I've called my broker for advice.  I don't know yet if the sellers want to list with me but if they do, I frankly have no desire to pay a referral fee to a New York agent who is misrepresenting himself as a local expert in Sonoma only to refer "his clients" to an agent who REALLY has the knowledge and expertise they are looking for.

It's not clear how this saga will end but it raises questions about misleading advertising on real estate websites and the practices by some real estate agents.  Most importantly, it should serve as a big red flag to consumers.

The moral of the story for consumers is this:  If you are searching for local agents online, make sure you dig deeper than their ad on a website.  Call the agent, ask them detailed questions about their knowledge of that specific market.  Ask about the types of properties they sell and how long they've practiced there---and ask for references from past clients.  Heck!  Ask them where they do their grocery shopping, get their hair cut, and which local restaurants they like best. 

Just because they say they're local doesn't mean they are!

Want to know about the best real estate in Sonoma, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, or Healdsburg?  Call, text, or email me.  I promise the straight talk you want and need.

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707.337.1182 | Kirsten@KirstenLindquist.com | SonomaIsHome.com

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Shame on Move, Inc., and you better be prepared for the $hyte storm if you client is picked for a "news" story..

Yesterday I wrote about a company that puts listings on the web, with a twist, Questionable Advertising & IDX = One Very Angry Client. They pick certain homes and write "news stories" about them, listing information about the owner. Name, employer, past employer. Of course they name the listing agent and listing brokerage, staying within the rules concerning IDX.

I had a frantic email from my client, I did some research, and it is not good. Along with the consumer complaints, I found an article promoting this company, BlockShopper, from Move, Inc. They have brokered a deal, and Move, Inc (as in Realtor.com) is now promoting Blockshopper to agents and brokers as a great way to reach into hyper local markets.

Consider the very angry email or phone call you will get if Blockshopper picks your client to write a "news story" about. And it doesn't pertain to only active listings. They pick solds in the area too, and write their little "news stories" about those as well. Again, listing names, employers, any info they can find on the web.

I stopped using Realtor.com last year, the cost didn't make sense to me. I have had second thoughts about it, but after hearing this, would not do it. Now I have an answer to home owners when they ask me why their home is not featured on Realtor.com. I will certainly not associate myself in any way, shape or form with this type of yellow journalism.

And now our trademarked name is forever associated with this type of advertising. Another reason why people associate realtors with bottom feeders. If you think the general public knows the difference between a Realtor® and Realtor.com®, you have another thing coming!

What really bothers me is that Move, Inc must have done research prior to brokering this deal. They obviously didn't care.  And if you think it doesn't affect you, think again. Imagine that client of yours who has a higher priced home, who gets picked at random for one of these lovely "hyper local news stories". They are really not going to like this, and you try explaining to them it is not your fault.

Although my first post is a members only post, I opted to make this a public post. I want as many as possible to know about this. I certainly am going to be asking our local and state associations how we can allow this to continue. The money I pay to be a member of NAR to protect myself and my clients is certainly money being flushed down the toilet. There is no protection of our clients, no protection of our trademark, nothing like that when the perception is we are associated with this type of behavior.

And to my fellow agents in Connecticut, this company is now in our area. Prepare your clients for becoming a targeted "news story" and their personal information being displayed.

 

Real Estate in New Milford, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Washington, Warren, Kent and Sherman CT.

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Andrea Swiedler, Realtor®
Prudential Connecticut Realty
337 Danbury Rd, New Milford CT 06776
Office: 860.355.2646 X 19, Cell: 203.460.1775
Email: andrea@andreaswiedler.com

A Slice of New Milford

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SHORT SALES: Andrea Swiedler and/or Prudential Connecticut Realty are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan. If you stop paying your mortgage, you could lose your home and damage your credit rating.