Baron Briefs

“The average agent processes eight deals a year. We have an agent that can do that every week,” Kelman explains.

“Are you spinning me?” Stahl asks.

“I mean, seriously,” Kelman replies.

I reviewed the segment again this morning. I believe the key word Glenn used was “can”…. as in Redfin has an agent who can close eight deals per week if market conditions allow. If Redfin did have an agent who was closing eight deals per week, it seems Glenn would have said, “We have an agent who is doing that every week”. However, the impression of eight deals per week is certainly made. But it’s like a coach saying “we have a running back who can rush for 100 yards per game each week”. They’re both statements that speak of potential. In my opinion, Glenn was speaking to Redfin’s technological and organizational advantage over the average “traditional” agent rather than current performance.

Furthermore, “I mean, seriously” doesn’t seem like a confident response to the question, “Are you spinning me?”. I would expect “No”, “Absolutely Not”, or “Not spinning at all”.

In any event, I invite Redfin’s super-agent to publish his or her MyAgentRankâ„¢ badge on a website or weblog and allow their sales data to be vetted by the public.

An anonymous real estate agent in the comments of Realty Thoughts’ blog pens three things you should avoid doing when selecting your real estate agent:

1. do not choose an agent because they have 8 on a widget on their blog.

2. do not choose an agent based on what strangers have said.

3. do not choose an agent based on how much commission they give back to you before you even enter into a transaction.

Put another way:

1. do not pay attention to the real estate agent’s website or blog. Especially avoid any type of message that summarizes the agent’s track record and differentiates him/her from the hundreds of other agents in your market.
2. do not speak with any of the agent’s previous clients about his/her performance during a transaction. Because they are strangers, their input has zero value.
3. do not negotiate with the agent regarding how much of your own money you get to retain before you hire him/her.

Not likely. But some people believe this. My guess is they came up short on a deal and decided the whole bunch of them–Realtors, that is–are sleazy sales types who would cheat their own mother out of a commission.

And there’s no shortage of voices against Realtors on the web. Read the comments section of any bubble blog or browse the real estate section of Yahoo! Answers and you’re bound to run into Realtor backlash. Besides NAR and the individual Realtors themselves, nobody tells the other side. So, I now present a small sliver of the other side.

The endorsements below were received in a matter of 24 hours on behalf of one Realtor who signed up with RealtyBaron.com:

It’s hard not to believe this Realtor goes the distance for all his clients. Bottom line: hard-working, ethical Realtors do exist. You just have to know where to look.

Of all the moving parts in our system, AgentRankâ„¢ is the most difficult to communicate. Most people look past the role it plays in pairing homeowners with an agent. Frankly, I’m surprised how often homeowners choose the default value of 1 (out of 10). However, when I designed the system, it was the “eureka” moment. Without it, the system would be fertile ground for bottom-feeding, hungry agents who would inevitably disappoint homeowners.

I’m always trying to think of “real world” examples to use as comparisons. A few weeks ago, credit scores came to mind. Borrowers with better credit scores typically are seen as less risky and, as a result, receive a better interest rate. Today, however, I thought of an even better one while shopping for a printer with my Consumer Reports ratings in hand at Sam’s Club. AgentRankâ„¢ is nothing more than an objective rating assigned to a Realtor representing the quality of service a consumer can expect.

Just as consumers don’t have to test each and every printer when armed with Consumer Reports ratings, consumers don’t have to interview and haggle with each and every Realtor operating within 10 miles of their home. They simple pick a number–1 to 10–and let the bidding begin.

Speaking of AgentRank(TM), I added two more components earlier this week:

1. Market Forecasts
2. Weblogs

Market forecasts will be used to measure an agent’s knowledge of price trends. By comparing the agent’s forecast of median sale price against the metro prices reported by the National Association of REALTORS®, we’ll identify agents who have exceptional insight into the local market.

Weblogs will be used to measure an agent’s authority on matters of real estate. The popularity of an agent’s weblog in the blogosphere will help identify agents who are considered the experts in their local market and beyond.

Zillow launched MyZillow earlier this week allowing anyone to save a list of favorite homes and track their Zestimates after signing up for an account. It didn’t take long for mortgage brokers to figure out how to profit from it:

Every time a broker does a refi, they can use the appraisal to work up the estimate to match the real value. Then you can save that estimate in MyZillow. You get a monthly report on that homes value. Now you know about how much the home has appreciated, and how much of the mortgage is likely paid off. With this data, you have a pretty good idea of your existing client base’s equity, and can market to them accordingly.

Based on this information, you could send out reminders that they may have reached 80% LTV, and should look into getting their MI dropped. Or, you could send out offers on HELOC’s, or Cash Outs.

Not only do I fail to see how Zillow can possibly prevent this, but it’s also an end run around Zillow’s core business model–advertising. How long before we see a website using Zillow’s API to help manage marketing campaigns on behalf of mortgage brokers?

FYI, I’m not Zillow-bashing here. I’m hoping someone–Zillow or otherwise–can debunk this because the last thing I or anyone wants are more mortgage offers in the mail.

CORRECTION: False alarm. Somehow I skimmed over the fact the broker was referring to a previous client…not a prospective client as first thought. Not so sinister after all.