RealEstate.com Rip Off

How many times have you followed up on a paid subscription lead and the people scream at you and said to quit calling them? You are not alone, apparently many of our fellow Realtors are experiencing irate customers. I was reading where RealEstate.com just announced a phase-out of its subscription-based lead-generation business for agents. It seems that a few of the online real estate generating lead businesses are laying off their employees.

While the slowing housing market may have contributed to the decision, many of these businesses claim it is more a matter of overall economics with the program. (Economics in my mind is no or slow business and no profits or perhaps their service and products didn't deliver-which is what I suspect).

The unfortunate part for Realtors who have had their services cancelled, is they are trying to collect half of the year for early termination fees. In one of the months they did not even provide the minimum number of leads promised and still demanded full payment. With the landscape we are working with -every dollar counts; so I say, the real estate community should ask for trial periods with online service companies and we all know they are plenty. If you can't find one- check out the blogs and ask others on Activerain. com or the new RISMedia blog.