How would you design Realtor.com?

Posted on October 24, 2006 by Jim Duncan

I have been thinking a lot about this recently, for a variety of reasons. Given the opportunity, how would you re-design Realtor.com?

sellsius°’ post last week – “Top 10 Complaints with Realtor.com” got me thinking. What if?

From a consumers’ point of view – what would you like to see? Be able to do?

From a Brokers’ and agents’ point of view – what would you like to see?

NB: Blueroof seems to have a mighty good site. As does John L. Scott.

On a related note, Maureen in Columbus has a poll asking for what people think is the best real estate search site.

About Jim Duncan

A Charlottesville Realtor who tries to stay on the bleeding/cutting/functional edge of technology and real estate trends. I have been selling real estate for the past 10 years, lived in C'Ville for twenty+ and am married to one of few Charlottesville natives left.
This entry was posted in General Real Estate, Marketing, Technology. Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.ChattanoogaRealEstateToday.com Karen Rhodes

    I would make it a simple linking site. An example is http://publicmls.realtown.com/ The public could choose the state then the MLS based on the area they are interested in. Inexpensive and easy to maintain. No add ons, no advertising, no one in between the REALTOR and the public. Sweet and simple.

  • http://maureen.realtownblogs.com Maureen McCabe

    I agree with Karen. A link to the brokers / agents website. Not competition with brokers/agents sites.

    It would make it look a lot better too. What a mess! I had not looked at it for a long time.

    Thanks for the mention of my poll.

  • http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com jf.sellsius

    I think from the broker perspective it would be nice if everyone was treated the same and not have to buy their way to enhancements. Also I’d want every link from my listings pointing back to me. Using my listings as bait to catch leads which do not go to me, who gave you the bait, is reason to be upset. The ads are distracting and can pull consumers away. Search could be better. There are only about 6 categories for 3 million listings—that’s a lot of hay to sift through.

    I do not know which the public would prefer: a perfect Realtor site or a perfect local or regional site. For relocators, a national site may be an advantage.

  • http://mocoreal.blogspot.com/ Todd Tarson

    I’d just like the site to be easy to use for the users, you know the ones interested in buying. I’d also like the listings to appear with accurate information and more photo’s.

    I’ve never paid a dime to realtor.com for anything (unless some of my NAR dues go towards the site) and still I’ve made money from the buyers searching and printing information on property they become interested in.

    This is why I really want to see my new regional MLS offer up our data to many online search sites. Even as a listing agent I could care less if a buyer found a property and didn’t call me for more information… as long as they become interested from the data it works for me.

  • http://www.knoxvillemls.com Jim Lee

    Darn, Karen Rhodes beat me to it with http://publicmls.realtown.com/

    http://activerain.com/blogsview/16773/A-nationwide-public-MLS

    I also agree with sellsius; a level playing with every listing agent & listing on an equal footing, no ‘enhancements’, and all links lead back to the listing agent (after all who’s responsible for it being there in the first place?).