Realtors Just Say "NO" To HouseValues

You've probably seen them by now: Slick TV ads telling you to go to a fancy website to get a free home evaluation, or to get Realtors to "bid" for the chance to provide their services to either home buyers or sellers.

The sole purpose of these ads and the related websites is to capture your contact information and then sell it to Realtor(s) in your area (sometimes your information is sold more than once). In return, these Realtors agree to pay HouseValues (and their sister company HomePages.com), HomeGain, FavoriteAgent, ClickSmart, and similar companies at least 25% to 30% of their commission for the referral.

So as a consumer who signs up with one of these companies, you're starting your relationship with a Realtor who has already substantially discounted their income (commission) by paying it out to a third party lead generation company. Why would you want to do that, instead of locating a Realtor yourself and avoiding the middleman? Even the Realtors are fed up with these services and their poor performance, with cancellations and nonrenewals so high that HouseValues reported a $5.34 million LOSS for the quarter (that's 3 months) ended December 31, 2006.

If you're in the market to buy or sell your home in the Santa Clarita area, or if you're relocating into or out of the Santa Clarita area, your best resources for referrals are the internet (do an internet search yourself) or referrals from another Realtor or a friend who has enjoyed the services of a certain Realtor and would recommend them to you.

Almost as bad as falling for the HouseValues-type TV ads is following the advice of a neighbor who says "So-and-so used XYZ agent/company, and their house sold!". Be sure you talk to "so-and-so" directly - their house may have sold, but they may have had a miserable experience in the process!

Buying or selling a home is a very personalized process. Your Realtor will get to know you and your family fairly well, including your current needs and desires as well as your future plans. Be sure to select a Realtor who can both get the job done and make the home buying or selling process enjoyable for you.