When I was at Inman News, an executive at NAR told me, during a period when we were reporting heavily – and sometimes critically — on their online listings policy, "If Brad Inman didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him."
So it is with Redfin and Glenn Kelman. Sometimes it’s good to have a lightning rod. It helps control – or distract — your own constituency. It can relieve pressure, deflect anger, or lead to new understandings.
I don’t think Redfin will catalyze a new real estate experience — directly. If Kelman and his team execute well with the $12 million they received this week, they’ll end up like ZipRealty, which isn’t bad. People sometimes forget that ZIP, for all its struggles, is now a company of 1,800 agents that did over a billion in sales volume in Q1 of this year alone. And how many real estate companies aren’t struggling with profitability these days?
So I am happy for them. But I’m happy for the rest of us too. Redfin’s continued growth ensures that we can look forward many more spirited debates, ham-fisted NAR memos and media splashes. These things will do more to shape the future of our industry that anything Redfin will do directly
And for that we should be thankful.
– Brian Boero
Local, Mobile, Social and the future of real estate
20 Tools to Bring your Real Estate Business to the Cloud
15 Ways to Make Your Marketing Mobile
Brian,
I agree with you and Davison; no one has "hit it yet" and yes, we need these pieces and parts (redfin, blueroof, etc) to inspire and jar the imagination.
Maybe it's about recognizing that real estate IS local and local success will go to those who can take these "pieces and parts" and put them together in a way that serves their local market.
It's the 80/20 rule. No one application (mls, idx, trulia, etc) can address any more that 80% of the market. It's those who can craft a strategy to serve that critical 20% – the cream- who will win…and win BIG.
In the Hamptons, that's gonna be me.
Thanks for the inspiration. md
Brian ~
Do you have a speel chekker???