Well there you go, after a few days of telling you all realcommercial.com.au would be launching a new site (because let’s face it the old one was a dog) they have launched a nice clean style site. Not much in the way of design but the search is a huge improvement. It is still a bit of a pain because there are so many options to consider with commercial properties – especially for people like myself tuned to searching residential listings, as it is a bit of a dedicated effort. This is not to say they have done a bad job, which they haven’t, is is clean a crisp.
I also received a press release telling me how far in front (using REA”s preferred research firm NielsonNet Ratings), which indicated a substantial lead over their rivals (more than 3 times), which amazes me really as Fairfax (Domain) has always been the dominant player in commercial listings in traditional press (and still is), just goes to show, dropping the ball early can be costly, even for the big boys!.
The site has still to integrate the listings from propertylook with brokers such as Colliers International, CB Richard Ellis, Jones Lang LaSalle and Knight Frank to come into play with their listings. As for their main competitor domain commercial, which again is aa good a site as this new one, so it seems as far as design and usability they are both on par.
There was an article in the Financial Review about this new site yesterday – more of a press release than an article (are there any real reporters these days?) .
However, I must give the AFR a slap on the back, they do seem to write good even balanced stories – even on their own companies rivals – which is definitely not the case with News Ltd who always seem to forget rivals (sometimes bigger ones) in their articles.
22 Comments
Dave Platter
(I work at realestate.com.au)
Peter, I have to agree with you. I’ve been very impressed with the editorial independence at AFR and the Age.
dave
Jack
Realcommercial have simply copied the categories from the commercialrealestate.com.au web site which is what they do best – copy others.
The extra traffic they boast is mainly via the residential site which has been promotong them as a businesses for sale site, not much value in that traffic for the agent wanting to lease factories.
Tom S
I disagree Dave. I have closely followed all published artilces in the Fin and Age regarding REA for the last 10 years. They are always quick to report any negative press but have been extremelty sheepish when it comes to all of the positve stuff.
These days, due to REAs success and dominace in the market, they don’t reallty have much of a choice – otherwise it would be blantentl obvioous that there is a vested interest with Domain.
The arttilce on Tuesday re Realcommercial was a surprise. I hope that this is on indicator to future artilces. Don
Dave Platter
(I work at realestate.com.au/realcommercial.com.au)
Ouch. Jack, that hurts!
But actually, you are mistaken.
Our categories don
Sam
I agree with Jack, the categories are a rip off commercialrealestate, I don’t buy the focus groups line either, unless that’s code for “find a good system and copy it”
Traffic that comes via the realestate.com site is not good traffic for commercial agents, I remember when you first launched realcommercial your argument to the agents to justify now charging them for listing commercial property on a separate site was that you couldn’t deliver the right traffic via the residential site, you can’t have it both ways Dave, good try though.
I know you’re here to tow the company line Dave but the agents aren’t stupid, they may have been naive when the web was young but they are more educated now so you’ll just have to be very careful about what you say from here on in.
To say that the categories are a result of focus groups is plainly a line to detract from the quite obvious truth that they were lifted almost word for word from commercialrealestate.
To say that traffic via the residential site is quality traffic for commercial agents is also quite wrong and commercial agents know that now after spending years wondering why all this avalanche of claimed traffic to realestate.com did not produce any results.
Yes good conversation, great to see a few myths busted too.
Peter
Ok Guys, cool your heals a little. Dave makes comments and they are his opinion, he clearly states his affiliation – which many do not.
Now on the subject of ‘lifting’ categories, even if REA did, and he tells us he didn’t, then I do not see the problem, I lift stuff all of the time, it is a part of what makes my systems and services better for my clients (the ones who appreciate it).
In fact just about everything in my new system, every idea, every layout has in some small ways been the inspiration of others – some not even real estate related, even this sites domain name is from one of my favourite magazines (business2.com)
So, my interest only lies in what is grand for agents, both now and in the future.
If someone (and I do too) makes an incorrect comment, by all means attack that comment with vigour , but do it with style and respect words such as ‘obvious truth’ are pretty much just opinions……..and are usually reserved by for people of faith…..
So lets get stuck in, but remember to read over your comments and make sure they are not attacks!
Sam
PS just because the cats were copied doesn’t mean it’s wrong or illegal just proves that the thinking behind the realcommercial site was shallow and contained no original thinking. I say that in a caring loving way. 🙂
Sam
We posted at the same time Peter, not meant to be attacks just trying to inject some truth in there, as I see it of course , in fact any other thinking agent would agree.
Sam
Just to clarify it further –
Take the statement –
Browsers who want commercial real estate come through via the
Peter
Sam, all is fine – I just wanted some control before it got out of hand, if you do not agree by all means go hard and back it up with intelligent information!
Sam
First hand experience as an agent is about as good as it gets as far as results and where they come from are concerned and even Dave Platter could see the obvious similarity between the categories, to deny it is silly really.
Sam
PS I don’t really think dogma from employees of the portals is intelligent information, in fact probably less so that other posts, they (the portals employees) have an agenda, the agents just want results without the BS
I’m not interested in knocking portals without good reason, I’ve got better things to do, like sell something.
Elizabeth
Although obviously not selling much this afternoon Sam.
I think what Peter is saying is be constructive, and if you are opinionated (which we all are), it is helpful to be kind in your words, and back them up with facts.
I cannot help but wonder why it is you are on the attack so much.
Robert Simeon
The only way that this debate can get on the front foot is for agents like Sam to post actual website traffic that his firm receives from the respective portals for their respective online properties.
I have no problem with Sam’s approach to this discussion as leading property portals each claim to be number one.
However, unless their performance is scrutinized by agents who pay to subscribe and monitor respective results nobody will be better educated.
But there again it does appear that this site has a few ghost writers.
Sam
Robert, for various reasons some people simply cannot fully identify themselves in a blog such as this. You will however be able to tell from their posts if they know what they’re talkng about.
Elizabeth – on the attack ? I don’t see it that way it’s just a vigorous voicing of another opinion, especially when portals put forward incorrect statements as if they were fact, it steams me that these lazy pen pushers, who deal in smoke and mirrors try to tell agents who actually have to work for a living how good they are when we know different.
They are a monopoly (not for long) who gouge the last cent out of us and then spend all day figuring ways to get more from us.
Elizabeth
Good Morning Sam,
I put down your previous posts to youthful enthusiasm and a passion for your work. This is highly admirable, and from my perspective of a woman somewhat advanced in my years, as also delightfully nostalgic.
However, vigorous voicing can denigrate exceptionally fast with the written word. Particularly in a medium such as the internet/email.
Take your description about the employees at the portals
Sam
Well said Elizabeth, I was mindful of the pen pusher irony when I wrote it.
The AGE was a monopoly and that was not good for agents though it did do the job better then anything else at the time.
I see the web as a far more dangerous tool as far as being monopolistic and money grabbing is concerned, the stories I’ve heard about the portals (REA in particular) and the way they treat some agents is appalling. The arrogant attitude from them is far worse than anything that the AGE did to agents.
I look forward the them being brought into line by My Home, Google or anyone else for that matter.
And by the way – smoke and mirrors is what the web is all about, you would shudder if you really know how the stats are manipulated. As someone (you would be surprised who )once said – “I don’t care if the stats are accurate and long as they’re credible”
Have a nice day.
Dave Platter
(I work at realestate.com.au)
Wow! I sure missed a heck of a debate while at the beach with my son this morning. Sorry about that.
Sounds like some great things have been said by all parties.
Sam, I would be very grateful if you could help me with something. If you have any concrete examples of poor behavior by REA staff, pls email them to me directly. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to expose yourself to any liability by posting names and such on this public forum.
We take our responsibility to our agents and users very seriously and if there is someone on our team who has been undermining that mission, I’d like to get that corrected.
My email is my first inital last name (all one word) at realestate.com.au.
This invitation is a standing one, and open to anyone.
dave platter
Sam
Dave – It’s no one in particular it’s a company attitude which is “we are the biggest you need us more than we need you so pay or get lost”
I’ve heard this on many occasions, agents being bullied.
We know you’re the biggest but if you want to take that attitude you’ll lose friends fast, in fact if you take a poll you’ll find you’re top of the list for despised companies among agents, far worse then the Age ever was.
You need to re educate those within your organisation that you’re only the biggest because the agents give you their content, if that trend reverses in favour of another you’re in trouble.
I don’t think your managment gives a rats on this point they’ll keep pushing till it starts to go against them, then ease off, after all it’s a business.
Elizabeth
Sam Sam Sam you are at it again…
From what I can tell you are in Melbourne. I live in Sydney, and I can assure you that both my domain and realestate reps treat me with respect, and I invite them both to my gatherings at the end of the year.
Both sites provide me with results. One more than the other (the opposite of Robert S for the record).
You state in another post that you cannot divulge where you work. I accept this.
From reading your entry above, you quite obviously seem to dislike Realestate.
I accept this
Elizabeth
Sam,
I just need to pull you up on your apparent faith in myhome.
Lets look at what we know about this situation.
Media Mogul owned – Check
Charles Tarby, LjHooker, Raine and Horne and Elders all seem to have equity in it.
We know thanks to Peter that Microsoft is also involved.
At what point in their history have any of the above players done something for free? or for the social good?
I still remember in the last few weeks of the ratings season last year that ACA on Channel 9 ran a piece on ‘Dodgy Practices of Real Estate Agents’ – and had examples from Victoria and NSW. The worst part was at the end of the piece, they asked the audience if they had similar stories of bad real estate agents, to email them in and they will investigate.
This hardly seems appropriate behaviour from someone about to enter the market and ask for our listings!
I have stated it before, that as an independent agent, I cannot support a site which will provide my listings and hard earned dollars to my competitors. I am sure that many independent agents around the country feel the same.
If I was you, I would be placing all my faith in Google. The merits of which have already been debated – however Google does represent perhaps the most exciting development for some time.
E
Sam
Elizabeth, I really think you are the one doing the attacking, what I said was fair and reasonable based on the experience of agents. Just because they treat you ok doesn’t mean they treat everone ok, can you except that ?
There is plenty of substance behind what I’m saying but you don’t seem to like any criticism of the portals which is quite biased, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
So I say to you, you stop being emotional about my posts and if you think disagree just say so, but don’t deny me my the right to say my piece.
I’m not showing any faith in Myhome , please read my post again, I wasjust hoping someone can makethis a more level playing field, be it them or Google.
Now please concentrate on the issues and not just try to see fault with my views. There would be plenty who agree, make no mistake about it.