Some may say, I give too much information away too easily.
Some of those same people say, you MUST have clients sign-in and give their information before allowing them access to your Sacramento IDX listings of homes for sale.
I look at this as how would I want to be treated?
When I was looking to buy investment property throughout the United States, if I was required to turn over my name and my email, I just simply went elsewhere to gather my information. It wasn't until I was ready to purchase that I felt compelled to give my information out to someone that I wanted to do business with. And just starting off, I didn't know who I wanted to do business with...I was just in the "gathering information" status at that point.
I feel that turn around is fair play. I treat others as I wish to be treated and that is why I chose not to require possible clients surfing the Internet looking for homes for sale to sign-in on my website or blogsite IDX.
I'd be interested in knowing how the vast majority of fellow agents here on Active Rain deal with this issue and whether or not you find this a daunting dilemma as I do, sometimes. This recently came up after receiving an email from an Internet provider who found me on Active Rain and called to solicit but wanted to let me know that I was giving away my information, too freely.
I have to share with you a little story that happened recently that makes me ponder what kind of agent would resort to searching on my IDX versus on the MLS.
I've received a couple of calls over the past few months from agents calling about a house for sale that they found on my IDX. I wonder if they don't want to pay their MLS dues so as to have access to all the information or are they unaware of the difference between IDX and MLS? Either way, I don't think I'd want them representing me, would you?
What's your take on all this? Do you feel strongly one way or the other?
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Sacramento Real Estate serving Home Buyers & Sellers in Elk Grove, CA, Folsom, Roseville,, Granite Bay ,Placer County, El Dorado Hills, West Sacramento, love 1st Time Home buyers, too. (916) 417-2699
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I feel as the buyers and sellers get more internet savvy, they are going to be less likely to sign in, when there are plenty of other sites that you can look at what is on the market without signing in. I hate to sign in because I know I will get a call or contact from an agent. I would imagine that most people feel that way.
Most of the consumers today want you to provide free information, but will not commit to working with you. Since over 85% of our business is directly from the Internet, I can assure you that we make our money by not providing all the information until we have a committment from the buyer.
Steve, personally I think that the public is extremely Internet savvy already and just move on until they find a place to look for listings without giving all their personal information out before deciding who they trust to handle the largest investment in their lives.
I think we are there already. But, can't tell you how many people who supposedly are Internet selling predators that tell me not to do it. Even some of our own kind don't agree with me. How many of me are out there?
Jim, do you think you get that commitment by holding back your information?
Gena - I would agree with Jim. I don't let them have the info unless they sign in with their contact info. It does not mean they have to work with me and I never ever pressure them to do so but I think it is more unlikely that someone is going to use you if you never make contact at all.
I give my web site visitors five ways from Sunday to find property without signing up for it. They have a choice to sign up if they want to, but it's not necessary. In fact, and here's a tip for you Gena, I have set up preformatted searches at the top of my site, so buyers can search popular neighborhoods such as Land Park / Curtis Park, East Sacramento or Midtown with one click. If all they want to search for is Sacramento foreclosures, I have a category for that as well.
Bill, do you get a good response from people by requiring a sign-up before they use your site? I know that my IDX site sends me an email when someone is using the IDX but until they actually sign in with their name, email, and or phone number I usually leave them alone.
Since the information is out there for free at Realtor.com and all the local papers on-line etc. it seems that counter productive to require their information just to look at houses. I know that we need to capture them but I wonder how many leave if they are required to sign-in before they are ready.
Elizabeth, that's exactly what I do, as well. Many times I make it simple for them by putting in as you say, Midtown Sacramento homes, East Sac homes, Curtis Park homes and Land Park homes or Elk Grove homes for sale so that they can easily click and don't have to through all the rigmarole they can perform their own search. And, of course they always have the ability to sign-in, give their information with their request.
Transparency in business for 2008 seems to work, well.
Gena
It is difficult to ask people for personal information when they can access it without being bothered for it. I think giving people the option is a win win for everyone.
by the way, Do you have an outside blog that I can add to my Blogroll ?
Thanks and look forward to reading your thoughts on the world of real estate.
Gena - good issue to raise, and one that sems to inspire a bit of debate. I personnally don't like the idea of restricting access to my site - it buyers and sellers can't get it from me they will go somewhere else. Because of how my seraach app works, once they learn enough about how it works and want more, THEN they can provide the information to sign up. Works well. What I find interesting is an occasional buyer who is searching and working with another agent. That agent's site must be [ertty bad, or they are not providing the information to their client that they should be.
Jeff