Instead, let your sellers get behind the scenes and see who is looking at their listing on your P2 website. My sellers think this is so cool. I see them check in once in awhile to see who is looking, or that anyone is looking.

Let them know that your website is already "out there" and you don't need realtor.com extras.

Leesa, not to bash r.com but I will. I enhanced my listings for the past few years and I can directly trace several buyers that might not have found and eventually used me so I more than made my investment back.

However, despite the fact that r.com has a lots of visitors, it used to be number one for search but I don't think it is any longer, their technology is 1997 rather than 2007.

As a real estate search website, their star is fading and their prices are climbing. I decided not to renew, as a matter of fact, I didn't bother to enhance my last few listings when I could have and they sold despite not being on r.com.

As to your clients request, I would simply tell them that you will not participate on r.com and if they would like to have another agent handle their listing, you'd be happy to withdraw. That's just my opinion but that is exactly what I would do.

Leesa - "...rehased, smothered and covered!" Meet me at the Waffle House and we'll figure this thing out!

I'll invite Candice. She can easily handle Kid Rock! Right Candice? ;-)

I just can't get over how pricey r.com is.  With so many options out there and the state of the market, why don't they get a little more agent friendly?  When I posed this question to my rep she just shrugged.  I am dropping everything but showcase homes, which I feel does a good job presenting my photos, descriptions, etc.  It too is overpriced but there is value added to my listings.

Send them to http://NARWisdom.com and tell them to look at the poll in the top of the center column.

And while you're there, VOTE!

Or have them read this post:

http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=2033

If enhanced listings on realtor.com were such a great selling tool, would so many agents be bailing out?

And this is *exactly* why we tell sellers, up front and in writing, what we will and will not do. The "nots" include r.com "enhancements" and newsprint ads. Usually we put the nix on open houses as well. If (and they have) they come back later and say, "what about enhanced listings on realtor.com, out comes the document they signed. If they insist (and to date, no one ever has) then adios amigos!

Leesa -

I had a seller who was insistant that I put her home's "picture" on Realtor.com as well.  Checked into it and the expense was silly.  I ended up creating a virtual tour using HomePix (Homepix.com) - they will upload it to Realtor.com for you and all you have to pay is the 20 or 30 dollar upload fee for the virtual tour to Realtor.com and of course, the 3 month subscription price to Homepix, which was very reasonable but can't remember the exact price right now.  My sellers were VERY happy with that.  Worked out very well and the listing shows up on Realtor.com with a virtual tour now.

Cindy

Realtor.Bomb ! there days are numbered with all the other choices out there more coming online..

Bada Bing,Bada boom

I also like what Russell had to say about r.com here:

http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=2056

btw, if you get onto bloodhound, check out the banana post, it is totally over the top. You have to understand, this gentleman (and his team) does more than 1 transaction per day.

Geno is a good friend of mine working the streets of my hometown of Chicago and he is absolutely the best storyteller in the real estate industry. Kris Berg did her usual fabulous commentary when Geno joined Bloodhound.

As long as I put a listing in our MLS with a picture, I have a picture on realtor.com.  It isn't enhanced or anything special, it is just there with the basic information.  The biggest gripe I have with r.com is the fact that the listings are never up-to-date.

On a separate note: most VT companies have an agreement with r.com to post the tour for a fee - i.e. Circlepix's fee is $25 and the tours range from $90-$110 (side job),  I know that Obeo does it as well.

Darcy

Howard/Leesa - did either of you see Russell Shaw's follow-up post to Kris Berg's Genoa Petrol?

http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=2157

Russell Shaw is a funny, funny man.

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Russell is indeed funny. And brilliant. And incredibly sharing with his knowledge. He and his (small) team did over 400 transaction sides last year...

And Geno Petro is one of the best writers out there. Anywhere.

Wait a minute... How about a NEW solution?  

Those of us already using Point2 get Virtual Tours.  Rather than hiring Obeo / CirclePix / etc., to come out and take pictures, why not ask P2 to work out an agreement w/ R.com to allow us to pay $25 to post the P2 VT to R.com?  (Unbranded, and without the P2 logo.)

Then your client gets all of the photos, R.com has the VT, and you didn't have to spend $100 re-shooting photos.