[kensmith]

We need to remember that as agents that are more internet experienced then most we see all these little and big sites like Trulia or Zillow and wonder what might happen. The thing is most agents have no interest in the internet so these sites will have a hard time getting enough data/listings to actually keep visitors on the site.

This is the same for agents that only use IDX in the Chicago market. At some point the consumer will say "this site is missing listings" and move on to find a site that has them all. The consumer wants to be in control and that is all web 2.0 is about. So let them be in control.

I don't care if they spend months looking at homes on my site without ever talking to me. This doesn't cost me a penny and more important it gives the consumer what they want. If more agents would just give the consumers what they want the other sites wouldn't even be an issue.

To be honest I think these other sites will just draw even more consumers to the internet that will end up on my site and buying from me. Once they see that the other sites are bs they will move on and search for another site and I will be #1 for that term and it's now my business to loose.

How do you loose that consumer? IMO Simple, don't give them access to all of the listings.

Now I do feel that agents need to be careful and not provide these new sites with all of our data. If at any point Trulia or Zillow has enough listings that it becomes expected that we should advertise all of our listing on them by the consumer then we are in trouble. At this point these sites can charge anything they want for the advertising and even add in referral fees or other charges. They can also allow fsbo's to advertise in their sites and it would be effective (currently there are really any good fsbo sites out there IMO).

Without agents giving the power to these sites we are fine and it will actually help those that have a good online presense. If we cross the line and make these sites authorities then there might be a problem.