This will be fun to watch!

‘Fort Lauderdale Realtor Group sues Miami Realtor Group’

The South Florida Business Journal reports things are heating up in South Florida.

“Through its false and deceptive advertising and other contact MAR has brazenly sought to drive and has driven members away from RAGFL and diverted new members from joining RAGFL thereby causing damages to RAGFL,” says the complaint, which alleges violations of the Lanham Act.

I can’t believe they cited the “Lanham Act”.

File this under Satire…

**Looks like you might have to click to remove an ad.**

Know Your Meme

Like many of you I’m heading up to San Francisco next week for the Data Summit and Real Estate Connect conference, both hosted by Inman News. So here’s a prelude to some of the things I’m looking forward to and thinking about:

I will be attending Inman’s Data Summit. The event will be hosted by Gahlord DeWald and Rob Hahn. I always enjoy getting together with Gahlord, he is a smart guy and I always learn something so it will be interesting to hear he perspective on the data issues plaguing the MLS/Real Estate Industry. Rob Hahn, aka “The Bard of the Long Form Post”, will be hosting too. Rob is always good at making me re-think my current assumptions or at least giving an interesting perspective.

Dan Woolley will be moderating the “Connect Tech” session once again this year and I’m sure he won’t disappoint. Traditionally a geek fest Dan always seems to bring together great minds for interesting conversation about XML and whatnot. The Connect Tech sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, July 27 and start at 8:30AM and end at 12:00PM.

This year Mike Wurzer takes a break from moderating The MLS Innovation Track (Brian Boero will ably take on the task) on Thursday July 28th, starting at 2:00PM. I’ll be on a panel entitled “Managing Your Distribution Channel and Vendor Relationships Profitably and Responsibly”. On the panel with me will be Curt Beardsley of Move, Inc. So please join me as I try not to look stupid sitting next to Curt.

I’m also a big fan of Brad Inman‘s Welcome Address. This year he will be speaking of “The Post-PC World”. But a lot of the hosting duties appear to be taken over by Chris Smith, Inman’s newly hired “Chief Evangelist”. I’ve seen Chris speak at an Agent Reboot Conference and just sat in on a webinar he hosted yesterday. Chris is the real deal, and a very talented speaker who really knows his stuff. The question remains can he go deeper to the the larger issues involving the real estate industry and not just do a presentation on “The Top 10…..”, I think he can, but as an “evangelist” does he even have to?

I’m also look forward to hearing from Joe Bebbia of Airbnb, which for some reason really fascinates me. It will be good to get Ron Conway’s perspective on things and I think David Pogue will be a good draw as well.

But the “Belle of the Ball” might just be Zillow. After a being valued at just about a Billion dollars these guys have to be pumped, and what a perfect conference to strut their stuff. But don’t think the other guys will be sitting still, word on the street is that there will be at least 1 big announcement next week ( I know, I’m a big tease).

Plus doesn’t it seem like there is a lot more parties this year? Almost every night there are one or two parties to go to. I sure hope my liver is ready.

Parties aside to me the next big issue, which we are already having to face, is the advent of these patent lawsuits. As an independent software developer I can tell you that its a big issue that I’m afraid is only going to get worse. It’s not just a real estate issue, this post by Craig Hockenberry spells it out best.

I arrive Sunday evening. I hope to catch up with everyone. And remember Vendor Alley’s first rule of conferences….Never, And I Mean Never, Go Big On The First Night!

See you there!!

This is brewing up nicely! We’ve got all the elements to a good story. Money. Power. Greed. And since it’s NAR Mid-Year I’m sure there is going to be lots of Sex too.

Draw!

It all started last year when NAR’s Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee (MLIPC?) made a rule change to allow Franchisors to display indexed IDX listings from their brokers on their respective site homepages. When implemented correctly this creates a better user experience and is also great for the site’s SEO performance. But of course the MLIPC had a bunch of rules/restrictions. The big one being you had to be a Franchisor, under FTC rules. I would argue, the restriction of displaying advertising around the indexed listings in another issue that needs to be re-looked.

Well it didn’t take long for large independant brokerages to raise a stink. They wanted the same ability as Franchisors. Letters were sent and chests were pounded in protest. Even the vendors are getting in on the action. And some flip flopping happen too. Most recently Ron Peltier, CEO of HomeServices of America Inc, who is a member of one of the groups requesting inclusion is now also saying he wants the policy repealed!

So much drama! I love it!

So NAR had to act. Recently CMLS published a “Policy Consideration” (reconsideration?) document for discussion next week in Washington D.C. at the NAR Midyear meetings. Here’s my predictions:

Will NAR allow broker networks as well a Franchisor to display indexed IDX listings on their websites?
Yes.
Will NAR repeal the previous policy allowing indexed IDX listings on Franchisor websites?
No.
Weak Sauce:
Let Franchisors and Brokers compete with other real estate portals by allowing advertising around these indexed IDX listings (I’m not going to give them a pass on this one.)
Damn Shame:
It will be a long time before anyone does any real innovation in this area (listing display). Most likely anyone who does will face a policy backlash.

And the weird part about all this is that this isn’t the most complicated issue the MLIPC is going to face. Check out what else is on their schedule.

Syndication showdown.

To me the single most interesting thing about this issue is what a game changer MOVE (Realtor.com/Threewide) made by acquiring ListHub. You can’t have a talk about listing syndication today without MOVE in the discussion.

Greg Manship and I are moderating a panel of vendors next week at CMLS’ sold out Syndication Workshop. Panel includes representatives from: Zillow, Point2, Threewide, Trulia, Homes.com and Realtor.com. Zillow is in their “quiet period” so we don’t expect to hear much from them but it’s great they are going to participate.

Most of my questions will center around what responsibility does each vendor feel in regard to listing data. I might also dive in to the dynamics of the MOVE partnership. If there is something you would like to know let me know.

You can see the entire schedule at the CMLS website.

Conspiracy Theory Number 1.

Three little letters. IDS. Beware when NAR comes out to “save us” from all these Syndication woes and announces a new policy, IDS (Internet Data Syndication). They take a page from the past (IDX) they start issuing policies around the syndication of listings, and guess who they pick as their partner? Yup, MOVE.

Conspiracy Theory Number 2.
Substitute the name “MOVE” with “RPR” in Conspiracy Theory Number 1.

Stick your head out the window and put a hand to your ear. You’ll be able to tell who won by whether you hear the word “Checkmate!” come from Campbell, CA or Chicago, IL.

See you next week!

Denise "Wonderful Human Being" Lones

I hate bullies.

The story hit Inman News last month.  Daniel Rothamel known as the “Real Estate Zebra” –was hit with a trademark infringement lawsuit by “The Lones Group“, a company that produces a “Zebra Report” and “Zebra Blog” to market its services to real estate agents.

After threatening him and his family, Daniel today took the high road and succumbed to the intense pressure this episode has put on him and his family and agreed to stop using the moniker Zebra and stripes any further.  Daniel posted a letter he drafted to The Lones Group attorney today outling his decision.

One of things that stuck me was that nobody from The Lones Group ever bothered to contact Daniel directly before filling a fucking FEDERAL LAWSUIT against him and his family.

Really Denise Lones?  You didn’t even bother to call the guy and try to work things out?  WTF?  Have you ever heard of Karma Denise?  Have you ever heard of the Golden Rule?

In your “Secrets Behind Success” Blog you have a section called “Ask Denise”.  I’ve got a question for you Denise.

HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT?

OMG!

I’m not sure if this is a new trend or something that I’m just being made aware of, but people are starting to show up in listing photos.  And not just ordinary people, but scantly clad females……in a pillow fights?

Here a are just a few “listing photos” I recently pulled from this agent’s website (not craigslist!):

http://www.yourleaderinluxury.com/properties/index.htm

I wonder if this is going to be brought up at NAR’s next MLS policy committee meeting?  Possibly a new classification,  IDseX?

Thank you.  Thank you.  I’ll be here all night, don’t forget to tip your bartenders and waitresses!

Wanna buy a curling iron?

Since one of the largest hair dressers show was here locally (International Salon and Spa Expo [ISSE] 2011, pronounced “Ice”) we decided to launch at this event. Besides hair stylists share a lot in common with Realtors. First off they have to receive a license from the state to practice, many of them are independent contractors, they work at a salon (similar to a Broker office), and they rent a chair (think desk fee). A few key differences, they do more transactions (of course) and on average hair stylists make more money than a Realtor.

Plus the event (ISSE) was supposed to have more attendance than NAR‘s annual conference.

Our booth location wasn’t the best, the show was in the main Long Beach Convention Hall we were set up in the arena, with the “Wellness” crowd. Not so bad. Our neighbors were a company called Minx, who did shrink wrap nail coverings, across from us was what I can only refer to as “boob tape”. The video being looped was interesting to us for the first 10 minutes but then got kind of creepy. Believe me, beauty isn’t pretty.

Open for business!

We set up our booth and were ready to rock. The show opened on a Saturday and the attendance we pretty tepid. This made sense we one of the other exhibitors pointed out that a lot of salon and spas are open on Saturday. Makes sense. We only signed up a couple subscriptions and called it a day.

Line 'em up!

Pandemonium!! It was like a giant CVS designed by someone does casinos in Vegas. The music was loud, you had different hair performers who would speak in to a microphone as they cut hair. Freaking crazy. My favorite was a girl in lingerie on stilts. Guess what she was selling? Curling irons, of course!!

Hair stage performer in action

I sat in on a couple break out sessions, learned a lot. We closed up the booth around six, with a few more orders. The feedback we got from attendees was great. But there were no other vendors selling technology directly to stylists, the other software companies were targeting enterprises sales to salons and spa owners. I look at this more of an opportunity than a problem.

Monday was “student day”, lots of students (dressed mostly in black and for whatever reason girls love to wear knee high boots, with short shorts, which was fine by me.). We had a few “be-backs” come back and order.

While I was hoping for a lot more orders due to the size of the show I came back encouraged. We plan on hitting a few spas and salons locally and see how that pans out. I need a hair cut anyway.

The news just hit the wire. Trulia just took the term “interlopers” to a whole new level by opening a new inside sales office in the Denver Tech Center, in the same neighborhood as RE/MAX’s World Headquarters.

And they are hiring sales managers, sales reps, customer support, HR, their very own “boiler room”!

Dave Liniger, co-founder and Chairman of RE/MAX has been critical of sites like Trulia for being “the guy who shows up at a pot-luck dinner bringing only a fork.” And with a big move like this I thought it might be interesting to see what exactly Dave’s new neighbors will be doing just up the street.

Just how does Trulia’s sales team operate? Last week a post by Michael Arrington on TechCrunch blasted a new company for naming their new start-up, “SalesCrunch”. The founder of SalesCrunch is none other than the founding VP of Sales for Trulia, Sean Black. Small world.

On SaleCrunch’s site they have a section called “SalesSchool”.

Posted is a short video, named “how Trulia Scores and Process Leads” where Sean Black Interviews his former Trulia workmate Lead Generation Manager, Steve Rossi who talks about how Trulia sells products to agents.

It’s a must see for anyone in the business of selling to real estate professionals. Lots a good tips from someone in the front lines.

But then at about 1:10 in to the video Steve reveals something that I almost missed. Turns out Trulia mines the syndicated listing data, that powers their site, for valid prospects to sell their wares. Meaning agents who just sold a million dollar home get prioritized for a sales call to buy Trulia’s products.

Now I know that the listing data coming from syndicators like ListHub are stripped on many of the restrictions that a typical IDX vendor must adhere to. But this practice just seems wrong.

Typically most vendors are restricted from using MLS data to mine/contact agents. In fact many MLS providers seed their listings data with false e-mail addresses that flag when an unscrupulous vendor tries to use the data to market to their membership.

The irony here is that many agents and brokers have criticized sites like Trulia (and even Realtor.com) for using their own listing data to generate revenue (advertising) and charging the same agents to “enhance” their own listing data. Now it turns out they are also using the listing data to target who the best agents and brokers to sell to!

Something tells me that Trulia shouldn’t be heading over to RE/MAX to borrow a cup of sugar anytime soon.

UPDATE [ LOOKS LIKE SALESCRUNCH MADE THE VIDEO PRIVATE]
UPDATE 2 [LOOKS LIKE ITS BACK UP. WEIRD]
UPDATE 3 [ITS BACK TO BEING SET TO PRIVATE- What are they hiding?]

The list is out!  Once again Inman News has release it’s list of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate for 2010.  The list was broken down into several catergories:

Categories of 100 Leaders:

• Brokerage
• Economists, Academics and Consultants
• Government
• Media
• Mortgage and Ancillary Services
• Online – Blogging, Social Media
• Technology
• Trade Organizations, MLSs

Yours truly made the list under the Technology category!  I’m just two spots away from Steve Ozonian!

Vendor Alley has been forwarded a page from the official RPR dress code policy handbook. Take a look! (Click the image to get a a larger view)

Tough gig!

; )