Comments on: REALTOR® with a capital “R” http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/ Seattle Real Estate Blog for those interested in Seattle real estate, popular culture, tech, news and opinion. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:16:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ross Quintana http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-35722 Ross Quintana Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:30:26 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-35722 I agree Realtor should not be able to be trademarked, because the public believes it to be a term to describe the profession and not a trade organization. They should lose this trademark. NAR membership shouldn't be required and I see the benefits as very minimal. They offer various things that most people never use and for all the money I pay every year I don't know what I really see in return. Each MLS can have their own code of ethics so that is a weak argument I agree Realtor should not be able to be trademarked, because the public believes it to be a term to describe the profession and not a trade organization. They should lose this trademark. NAR membership shouldn’t be required and I see the benefits as very minimal. They offer various things that most people never use and for all the money I pay every year I don’t know what I really see in return. Each MLS can have their own code of ethics so that is a weak argument

]]> By: Bob http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-3266 Bob Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:24:15 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-3266 "SELLERS are often clients too. They should have the opportunity to have their homes marketed to their advantage. There are two sides to everything, my friend." Thank you Marlowe for reminding people that there are two parties involved here. Great post as usual. “SELLERS are often clients too. They should have the opportunity to have their homes marketed to their advantage. There are two sides to everything, my friend.”

Thank you Marlowe for reminding people that there are two parties involved here. Great post as usual.

]]> By: Marlow Harris http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-2308 Marlow Harris Sun, 03 Sep 2006 16:24:47 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-2308 I agree that perhaps it is a disservice to Buyers if they do not know how long a house has been on the market, but SELLERS are often clients too. They should have the opportunity to have their homes marketed to their advantage. There are two sides to everything, my friend. I agree that perhaps it is a disservice to Buyers if they do not know how long a house has been on the market, but SELLERS are often clients too. They should have the opportunity to have their homes marketed to their advantage. There are two sides to everything, my friend.

]]> By: peter http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-2303 peter Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:17:42 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-2303 "You can search trulia, craigslist, msn live, etc…but your only getting whats posted by real estate agents. Why even bother? Realtor.com has it all. If your looking for fsbo, foreclosures, etc… try foreclosure.co" Often, these sites offer additional information, such as the number of days on the market, which the NAR, in its infinite wisdom, will fight tooth and nail to hide. Realtor.com is limited to the information the NAR wants buyers to see. This is inefficient and actually a disservice to buyers. Information is a powerful thing. Why can't the NAR understand that the market is changing; consumers will drive the market and are increasingly demanding more information. Why not adapt to the changing market? There's plenty 'o profit for everyone “You can search trulia, craigslist, msn live, etc…but your only getting whats posted by real estate agents. Why even bother? Realtor.com has it all. If your looking for fsbo, foreclosures, etc… try foreclosure.co”

Often, these sites offer additional information, such as the number of days on the market, which the NAR, in its infinite wisdom, will fight tooth and nail to hide. Realtor.com is limited to the information the NAR wants buyers to see. This is inefficient and actually a disservice to buyers. Information is a powerful thing. Why can’t the NAR understand that the market is changing; consumers will drive the market and are increasingly demanding more information. Why not adapt to the changing market? There’s plenty ‘o profit for everyone

]]> By: patricia http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-1918 patricia Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:16:08 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-1918 there is nothing wrong with competition as long as it a good competition.. NAR is doing a great job.. there is nothing wrong with competition as long as it a good competition.. NAR is doing a great job..

]]> By: Richard Johnston http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-1859 Richard Johnston Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:47:29 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-1859 I think the NAR is a wonderful organization for real estate agents who are Realtors. They do more than just collect money from their members. There are many sites online trying to provide info to homebuyers and sellers. The top real estate site is Realtor.com. This is where all the listings are listed. Why settle for second best? You can search trulia, craigslist, msn live, etc...but your only getting whats posted by real estate agents. Why even bother? Realtor.com has it all. If your looking for fsbo, foreclosures, etc... try foreclosure.com I think the NAR is a wonderful organization for real estate agents who are Realtors. They do more than just collect money from their members.

There are many sites online trying to provide info to homebuyers and sellers. The top real estate site is Realtor.com. This is where all the listings are listed. Why settle for second best?

You can search trulia, craigslist, msn live, etc…but your only getting whats posted by real estate agents. Why even bother? Realtor.com has it all. If your looking for fsbo, foreclosures, etc… try foreclosure.com

]]> By: Seattle’s Rain City Real Estate Guide » Zillow vs. “average” agent http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-1779 Seattle’s Rain City Real Estate Guide » Zillow vs. “average” agent Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:13:39 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-1779 [...] My definition of Pandora’s Box is the one one that attributes “the box” to a “woman’s womb” from which new life springs forth.  While I do not necessarily agree with Inman’s new three part series on negating the mls offering started yesterday, or all of David Barry’s undertakings around the country, clearly I am not the only one trying to pry open Pandora’s Box.  The box WILL be opened! Whether the DOJ or David Barry choose in the end to take the ultimate credit, truth is, it is just simply time for the box to be broken open by everyone at once. [...] [...] My definition of Pandora’s Box is the one one that attributes “the box” to a “woman’s womb” from which new life springs forth.  While I do not necessarily agree with Inman’s new three part series on negating the mls offering started yesterday, or all of David Barry’s undertakings around the country, clearly I am not the only one trying to pry open Pandora’s Box.  The box WILL be opened! Whether the DOJ or David Barry choose in the end to take the ultimate credit, truth is, it is just simply time for the box to be broken open by everyone at once. [...]

]]> By: Marlow Harris http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-1720 Marlow Harris Thu, 17 Aug 2006 01:38:59 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-1720 I agree that making NAR membership mandatory for MLS participation is problematic. No one should be forced to join a union or professional organization. However, if one reaps the benefits from that union or professional organizations political efforts, and then declines membership, that is also a problem. I believe a real estate agent should not be forced to join the NAR, but I understand why an MLS may want to make that mandatory. It's difficult to legislate ethics, as we all know. Better to make membership optional and hope that members will see the benefits and join for themselves. After all, membership in a professional organization is one of the key qualifiers when establishing an individuals "professional" status. Without membership in a professional organziation, one can hardly be considered a professional! I agree that making NAR membership mandatory for MLS participation is problematic. No one should be forced to join a union or professional organization. However, if one reaps the benefits from that union or professional organizations political efforts, and then declines membership, that is also a problem.

I believe a real estate agent should not be forced to join the NAR, but I understand why an MLS may want to make that mandatory. It’s difficult to legislate ethics, as we all know. Better to make membership optional and hope that members will see the benefits and join for themselves. After all, membership in a professional organization is one of the key qualifiers when establishing an individuals “professional” status. Without membership in a professional organziation, one can hardly be considered a professional!

]]> By: Charles Gross http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/comment-page-1/#comment-1718 Charles Gross Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:55:29 +0000 http://360digest.com/2006/08/13/realtor%c2%ae-with-a-capital-r/#comment-1718 While Mr. Barry's ultimate motives may be suspect, his argument is correct. As both a member and competitor of the NAR, I have had my problems with that organization. I gave up my membership in the NAR several years after the Homestore debacle. Wanting access to the MLS now, I was forced to become a member once again. There is nothing wrong with competition. Brokers should have a choice with MLS's just as we now have a choice which phone company we use or which company we get electric power from. While Mr. Barry’s ultimate motives may be suspect, his argument is correct. As both a member and competitor of the NAR, I have had my problems with that organization. I gave up my membership in the NAR several years after the Homestore debacle. Wanting access to the MLS now, I was forced to become a member once again.

There is nothing wrong with competition. Brokers should have a choice with MLS’s just as we now have a choice which phone company we use or which company we get electric power from.

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