My husband predicts that in the next 2 or so years, companies like Trulia, GetMyHomesValue, HomeGain, Zillow, RealEstate123XYZ, etc., will push themselves to the top of local real estate markets by optimizing their websites for keyword searches in just about every local and/or regional real estate market in the U.S.
Then these major companies, with substantial capital for SEO work, will send the local Realtors--you--Buyer leads for substantial referral fees, which will force you, the Realtor to work harder than you do. Soon, every web-based real estate entity out there will be muscling into your real estate market for a simple, but costly referral fee.
Try a keyword search for "Bozeman real estate," "your city homes," etc. and you may very well see Trulia, and the like come up on the first page. A quick Google search for "San Diego Real Estate" finds Trulia in the #2 spot on page one; "bozeman homes for sale" finds Trulia in the #1 position on page one; "St. Louis Real Estate" finds Yahoo in the #3 position on page one; "Miami Homes" finds Trulia in the #4 spot on page one; "abilene land for sale" finds Trulia in the #4 position on page one, etc., etc. Realtors will still remain Seller Agents (for now) but we very well may lose a portion of the Buyer Agent commission...
Taunya Fagan Prudential Montana Real Estate, giving you the advantage...®
406.579.9683 taunya.fagan@prumt.com
You are right. All the "big guys" are trying to muscle in. The phone rings off the hook every week with someone trying to sell leads. Seems from those who buy the leads that they don't pan out much. So all this means we have to keep working harder to keep up and do work organically. Where are more hours in the days?