I’ve always debated the pros/cons of user registration. Originally, the pros of user registration focused on the content. Now, with addresses available to the public, that takes a big bite out of the need for it. Favorite Homes were another big reason. Not anymore. Favorites can be handled via cookies with no registration (But you’d be SOL if your browser security settings didn’t accept cookies). The only real benefit of user registration, AS IT STANDS TODAY, is access to Sqft, list date, and approximate age. That’s about it. Anything else I can think of can be accomplished without forcing registration.

The Supposed Quandry

If you ask any Realtor….anywhere….that utilizes user registration, they’ll live and die by it. Some will even force you to register to see the exact same information you can get for free in other places. Why? Sales. Every registration is a potential sale. Every user is someone actively looking at homes, and has now provided a means to be contacted by. I HATE that. I really do. I have NEVER sold a house to someone because they registered on my site. NEVER. Could I have? Definitely. If I wanted to push hard, sure I could convert some of those users into sales, but that’s not how I roll. I don’t like to be pressured to do anything, and I sure as hell won’t do the same to someone else.

Obviously, that puts me in an interesting position. I still have to make a living, but I also have to do what’s right. Like I’ve said many times, Don’t Sell, Don’t Eat. Take the address issue for example. I fought for quite a while to get addresses displayed. We finally got them. Want to know the irony? I think it hurt my business some, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t expected. Why call me when you can drive by the house to see where it’s at and call the number on the sign if you need anything else? Why the hell would you call ME over someone else? (Obviously, I’d say “Because I’m a great buyer’s agent, etc., etc.) But if you’ve never met me, how do you KNOW that? Granted, some people think they’ll get a better deal by working with only the listing agent (which is false because the listing agent is bound to get the best price for the SELLER, not them), or they’ll save money (which is also false. Either the listing agent gets 100% of the commission, or they split it with the buyer’s agent 50/50).

That all leads to the reason why the Level 10 Realty website is as successful as it is. My goal HAS to be to push innovation. My goal HAS to be to give you a reason to stay on my site. My goal HAS to be to prove that I’m a great buyer’s agent. Otherwise, my site will simply fall into obscurity and Level 10 Realty will be just another interesting idea that never panned out. You guys are the ones that keep Level 10 going. If it weren’t for all of you, I’d be designing websites in a dark room all day. It’s all about YOU.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 4:52 pm. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.