December 1, 2008 – 6:52 pm
Looking for a way to advertise your flat fee real estate services on the Internet but not sure where to start. Bloomkey.com has recently developed a nationwide real estate marketing platform for real estate brokers. Registration is free and open to licensed real estate brokers.
Bloomkey’s unique flat fee marketing system allows real estate brokers to customize their service offering and market to a Internet audience of home buyers and sellers seeking alternatives to traditional real estate services and commissions. Founded by the Internet’s first nationwide real esate broker, Bloomkey is the leader in online flat fee real estate services. Bloomkey affiliates have already assisted thousands of consumers throughout the United States and Canada. Join the revolution at www.bloomkey.com!
Technorati Profile
January 5, 2008 – 11:22 am
When you’ve made a commitment to selling your home, it’s important to look at all of your options (selling with a real estate agent, going it alone, or selling with flat fee mls). In each case, you’ll find that there’s a certain amount of information that’s available to you.
The problem is FSBO sellers need to find all of their information on their own - just as they sell their homes on their own. Selling with a real estate puts you on a “need to know basis” - your agent will tell you what you need to know, nothing more and sometimes less. When you’re working with a flat fee broker it’s far easier to find the information you need.
What information can flat fee brokers give you? Here’s a sampling:
- Marketing info - your broker can help you find the best ways of marketing your property
- Showing info - your home will sell faster if you show it right
- Details about what repairs you should make and which upgrades you might want to overlook
- Access to home inspectors
- Tips about home warranties
- Specifics that can help you with the closing process
If your flat fee broker can’t give you the info you need, it just might be time to find a better broker.
Conflict of interest for state regulatory commissions
The Consumer Federation of America is on the offensive again, attacking state real estate regulatory commissions for their "blatant conflict of interest." How has this been swept under the rug during the ongoing disputes involving the FTC and DOJ? This seems to be one of those "no-brainer" topics needing to be addressed in order to facilitate fair, unbiased industry regulation. Currently, traditional full-service agents are serving as the lawmakers for almost 70 percent of states across the nation. It’s no wonder why minimum service laws are being created! Commissioners are doing whatever they can to eliminate competition in the form of alternative models like flat fee brokers, arguing the industry is already more competitive than any other. The competition is there in numbers but not in choice. The industry is not "competitive" unless consumers have an opportunity to choose from a bevy of different levels of service. Some consumers may need "full representation" and contract negotiation assistance while others have enough experience to handle all aspects of the transaction short of marketing exposure provided by the MLS. If the rules are created for the benefit of the consumer, give them the gift of choice and let them decide.
See Also
Author Danielle Babb has announced she will be releasing her book, "Commissions at Risk: A Real Estate Professionals Guide to Beating Online Competition," in October 2006. This book will help position agents on how to re-invent thier business based on the use of technology. The book comes as a response to the growing popularity of "low cost and flat fee brokers, as well as automated systems that cause distress for real estate agents." Flat fee MLS and discount brokers serve as a valuable tool in marketing a home for sale as it maximizes a homeowners potential exposure and allows sellers to retain all the rights of a for sale by owner.
