Comments on: Google in talks to buy Yelp; is real estate asleep at the switch? http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html Turn On Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:35:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Scottsdale Real Estate http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7265 Scottsdale Real Estate Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:19:05 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7265 I agree with you Brian, I don't think this will be a bad thing for the brokers and agents ready and willing to adapt. Google is in the business of collecting data and presenting it to the user. I agree with you Brian, I don’t think this will be a bad thing for the brokers and agents ready and willing to adapt. Google is in the business of collecting data and presenting it to the user.

]]> By: Portland Condo Auctions http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7059 Portland Condo Auctions Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:22:37 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7059 Google could be scary competition to the rest of us real estate web firms out there. With their power, they could eventually strong arm all of the MLSes to partner with them and feed the data into a single Google maps database. -Tyler Google could be scary competition to the rest of us real estate web firms out there. With their power, they could eventually strong arm all of the MLSes to partner with them and feed the data into a single Google maps database.

-Tyler

]]> By: REALonomics http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7056 REALonomics Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:00:37 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7056 Brian, the real estate industry is one of the greatest examples of collective Rip Van Winklism. The Google initiatives are but another example of our pervasive snoring and the depth of our slumber. We have long ago predicted that, barring our own transformation, "Non-Brokers" would snatch the consumer from the vice-like grip of an industry built upon control models. While Google (and others) create the new models of tomorrow that will attract millions of consumers to fresh and easy access to real estate information, we continue to spit shine a tarnished model with propositions like RPR. Regards to all and to all a good night! Donald Teel REALonomics www.REALonomics.net Brian, the real estate industry is one of the greatest examples of collective Rip Van Winklism. The Google initiatives are but another example of our pervasive snoring and the depth of our slumber. We have long ago predicted that, barring our own transformation, “Non-Brokers” would snatch the consumer from the vice-like grip of an industry built upon control models. While Google (and others) create the new models of tomorrow that will attract millions of consumers to fresh and easy access to real estate information, we continue to spit shine a tarnished model with propositions like RPR.

Regards to all and to all a good night!

Donald Teel
REALonomics
http://www.REALonomics.net

]]> By: Matthew Ferrara http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7042 Matthew Ferrara Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:52:37 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7042 While I agree that most of real estate IS asleep at the switch - implementing RIP, er, I mean, RPR or worrying about where their next tax-credit bailout will come from, I also think this is a non-issue. I know absolutely nobody who uses Yelp. Not a single person in my sphere of influence, which is mostly Gen X'ers who can barely tear their eyes away from their smartphones uses it, and more than half had even heard of it. Perhaps amongst the glitterati Yelp is a big deal, but I know more people who use the Zagat's guide and OpenTable.com and old-schoool Orbitz than either search or contribute (is that called Yelping?) on Yelp.com. In fact, I hadn't been there in months, so I just went and here's what I found: 3000+ restaurant entries, 2000+ shopping, 889 beauty and spas, and then on downward toward real estate at 297. With Pets right behind at 189 or so, I am just guessing that Yelp is a non-issue for real estate... I'm going to go "contrarian" as usual and suggest that these review sites are non-starters for Gen X and Y'ers moving forward. Especially Gen Y is more likely to post "where should we (eat/entertain/travel/play)..." to their social network and get direct people results from PEOPLE THEY KNOW than sit around reading strangers' reviews... Just like Consumer Reports is "so over" I think "yelping and yapping" review sites are likewise useless. I'll speak for myself: I'm tired of reading other people's complaints, and since I don't trust them in any way, I'd rather pay for Zagat's (or a professional review) or even take a risk on my sphere of influence's Facebook recommendation than spend minutes or hours reading "common folks'" reviews of anything. Last, but not least, I've yet to EVER see research that indicated anyone bought a home because of the nearby restaurants, hotels, bars or whatnot; most people still rank square footage, family space, nearness to job and even price far higher. So it's fairly unclear if searching for homes "by local restaurant or hair salon" is really a game-changing technology. Matthew Ferrara www.matthewferrara.com While I agree that most of real estate IS asleep at the switch – implementing RIP, er, I mean, RPR or worrying about where their next tax-credit bailout will come from, I also think this is a non-issue. I know absolutely nobody who uses Yelp. Not a single person in my sphere of influence, which is mostly Gen X’ers who can barely tear their eyes away from their smartphones uses it, and more than half had even heard of it. Perhaps amongst the glitterati Yelp is a big deal, but I know more people who use the Zagat’s guide and OpenTable.com and old-schoool Orbitz than either search or contribute (is that called Yelping?) on Yelp.com.

In fact, I hadn’t been there in months, so I just went and here’s what I found: 3000+ restaurant entries, 2000+ shopping, 889 beauty and spas, and then on downward toward real estate at 297. With Pets right behind at 189 or so, I am just guessing that Yelp is a non-issue for real estate…

I’m going to go “contrarian” as usual and suggest that these review sites are non-starters for Gen X and Y’ers moving forward. Especially Gen Y is more likely to post “where should we (eat/entertain/travel/play)…” to their social network and get direct people results from PEOPLE THEY KNOW than sit around reading strangers’ reviews… Just like Consumer Reports is “so over” I think “yelping and yapping” review sites are likewise useless. I’ll speak for myself: I’m tired of reading other people’s complaints, and since I don’t trust them in any way, I’d rather pay for Zagat’s (or a professional review) or even take a risk on my sphere of influence’s Facebook recommendation than spend minutes or hours reading “common folks’” reviews of anything.

Last, but not least, I’ve yet to EVER see research that indicated anyone bought a home because of the nearby restaurants, hotels, bars or whatnot; most people still rank square footage, family space, nearness to job and even price far higher. So it’s fairly unclear if searching for homes “by local restaurant or hair salon” is really a game-changing technology.

Matthew Ferrara
http://www.matthewferrara.com

]]> By: Jaime http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7040 Jaime Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:07:04 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7040 I wonder what impact, if any, this monumental move will have on our insignificant piece of the pie? Is this really going to change the way the Remax and Keller Williams of the world do business on a day to day basis? I guess I'll just have to get my "Google" badge on my site like most realtors put the "Zillow" badge on theirs. Because really, isn't it all I need to show that I'm keeping up with the times? I wonder what impact, if any, this monumental move will have on our insignificant piece of the pie? Is this really going to change the way the Remax and Keller Williams of the world do business on a day to day basis? I guess I’ll just have to get my “Google” badge on my site like most realtors put the “Zillow” badge on theirs. Because really, isn’t it all I need to show that I’m keeping up with the times?

]]> By: Brad Nix http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7038 Brad Nix Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:26:05 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7038 I also heard Google is talking with Trulia. The 800lb gorilla seems ready to be noticed. http://bnix.posterous.com/google-on-a-christmas-shopping-spree-with-int I also heard Google is talking with Trulia. The 800lb gorilla seems ready to be noticed. http://bnix.posterous.com/google-on-a-christmas-shopping-spree-with-int

]]> By: Barrett Powell http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7033 Barrett Powell Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:38:32 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7033 Ok, here's where I show my age...back when the web browser first appeared as Mosaic and then Netscape Navigator, Microsoft went shivering and running for cover. Why, because they knew the Internet changed everything and the browser was the "window" to the real power. Back then Yahoo was simply an aggregator of list of websites. Fast forward to today. Microsoft releases Bing and is in talks with Yahoo to try and stem the NEW "window" to the world...Search. It aint just real-estate here folks. Google is poised to be the next real monopoly. You will see what they want you to see. You will pay what they want you to pay. You will live or die by the grace of the big "G", and it isn't God. Ok, here’s where I show my age…back when the web browser first appeared as Mosaic and then Netscape Navigator, Microsoft went shivering and running for cover. Why, because they knew the Internet changed everything and the browser was the “window” to the real power. Back then Yahoo was simply an aggregator of list of websites.

Fast forward to today. Microsoft releases Bing and is in talks with Yahoo to try and stem the NEW “window” to the world…Search.

It aint just real-estate here folks. Google is poised to be the next real monopoly. You will see what they want you to see. You will pay what they want you to pay. You will live or die by the grace of the big “G”, and it isn’t God.

]]> By: Louis Cammarosano http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7032 Louis Cammarosano Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:21:42 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7032 @ Brian "the brokers and MLS operators who seem locked in internecine struggle while the rug may be being pulled out from under them." Organizations fight the battles that they have the resources and inclinations to fight. Certainly Native American tribes if they were at war with each other probably didn't stop just because the US army was around the corner.... @ Brian “the brokers and MLS operators who seem locked in internecine struggle while the rug may be being pulled out from under them.”

Organizations fight the battles that they have the resources and inclinations to fight.

Certainly Native American tribes if they were at war with each other probably didn’t stop just because the US army was around the corner….

]]> By: Nick Bostic http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7030 Nick Bostic Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:13:53 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7030 This was a fairly predictable move after everything that's been happening over the last several months. If they control SERP's and now a ton of Yelp reviews, my next prediction is that Gowalla or Foursquare will start to integrate those reviews, at least as an option. I know in my neck of the woods, "friend" reviews on those social geo-games are fairly limited, I would love to see Yelp in there too. Keep your eyes on the data, if someone else has it, Google probably wants it. And buying Yelp is a heck of a lot easier than trying to roll their own at this point. This was a fairly predictable move after everything that’s been happening over the last several months. If they control SERP’s and now a ton of Yelp reviews, my next prediction is that Gowalla or Foursquare will start to integrate those reviews, at least as an option. I know in my neck of the woods, “friend” reviews on those social geo-games are fairly limited, I would love to see Yelp in there too.

Keep your eyes on the data, if someone else has it, Google probably wants it. And buying Yelp is a heck of a lot easier than trying to roll their own at this point.

]]> By: Brian Boero http://1000wattconsulting.com/blog/2009/12/google-in-talks-to-buy-yelp-is-real-estate-asleep-at-the-switch.html/comment-page-1#comment-7029 Brian Boero Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:00:58 +0000 http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/?p=3450#comment-7029 @Louis When I say asleep at the switch I am speaking more of the brokers and MLS operators who seem locked in internecine struggle while the rug may be being pulled out from under them. @Louis

When I say asleep at the switch I am speaking more of the brokers and MLS operators who seem locked in internecine struggle while the rug may be being pulled out from under them.

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