We should not be afraid of change. Change can be good if we stay flexible and adapt. There are more new business models than can be counted...from do-it-yourself-real-estate to auctions and even websites consumers can use to have agents bid their experience and rates. Craigslist is becoming a popular place to sell homes and land. I have a prospect that had a great piece of land listed with an agent for months. He withdrew the listing, put it on Craigslist and it sold within a couple of weeks! (Our listings are going there next. I might find a buyer!)

REALTORS© are putting up all kinds of barriers to keep the discounters and limited service businesses out of the market place. And, DOJ is taking notice. There was another article in the Washington Post this morning on the anti-trust investigation of our own national association. In this case it is about who owns the listing. Here is an excerpt:

Uncle Sam Buys Online Realty

By Robert MacMillan
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2005; 10:24 AM

Officials from the National Association of Realtors plan to meet with U.S. Justice Department officials in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday in a bid to stave off a federal lawsuit that could increase competition in the online real estate market and potentially lower the soaring cost of home prices.

Read the entire article at Post Article.

It is understandable that those steeped in the business for many years don't want change. I believe it is here whether we want it or not. I say "LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY." The more protective and arrogant we get, the quicker we will fail and, maybe that's OK.

My personal thoughts are:

• I work for a broker. My listings are his listings. We own them. Period.


• I have the flexibility to negotiate my own rates and firmly believe in the "unbundled" service approach.


• If my selling clients want to lower the standard buyer broker coop rate, I will firmly support them. (See my recent post on agents getting arrogant).


• Our business is an open book to our clients. They always see our costs no matter what business model they choose.


• State real estate boards (and brokers) need to tighten the requirements for getting a license (and a desk). It's almost a joke how easy it is. The school I attended taught us how to pass the state test...very little about the practical world.


• Limited service brokerage is a lawsuit waiting to happen. We don't give up the most critical part of the transaction; disclosures, negotiating, ratifying and getting to close. If we are the listing agent of record, no amount of indemnification agreements will keep us from being named as a party to the transaction that turns ugly. We may ultimately be held harmless but, who wants that kind of headache? And, we would feel as if we didn't exercise our full responsibility to our client.


• This is still a relationship business. It's just as important as what we ultimately charge. Keep the relationship. Stay competitive.

We hope we are provoking some thought, emotion and change action.