Yakima Realtor
Yakima,#2Consumer Comment
Tue, September 04, 2007
I also have had a very negative experience with House Values. I agree with everything that has been stated; I am only writing to address the rebuttal by Brian (an employee). I have been with House Values long enough to use it. I have been a member of House Values for about ten months and have had zero decent leads. I am a successful R.E. Broker with two full time assistants. I know how to sell. In fact, I have two websites, which provide great leads for my office. I understand how to work with internet leads. Brian states, 1 in 5 leads transact in a year. That is probably true. They do not transact with a House Values Realtor. In fact, I had a client who contacted House Values a few months ago. She thought I was too busy to give her leads when they came on the market. When the House Values Realtor contacted her, she stated that she was already working with someone. She may have felt I was too busy, but she used me to sell her existing home and then a new one! How many of these leads are already working with another realtor? How many will be referred to someone else because of a good experience? I agree with Brian's statement about 80% (actually 77%, see NAR figures) people now using the internet in their home search. I mentioned my websites. The difference between my sites and House Values is that my sites are for people looking to buy and sell. House Values is not concerned with this. In fact, please visit their site; you will see that clients will not know a Realtor is involved until they have requested information. Numerous leads cancel before having the opportunity to preview information sent from a House Values Realtor. For four months, I was a Certified Professional. Getting zero response caused our team to reevaluate the importance of these leads. Real clients with real needs took precedence over these purchased leads. By the way, we purchase over $600 worth of leads per month. My favorite comment from Brian is If after reading this, you or ANY agent wants to respond, I will be happy to look into your concern. I actually laughed aloud at this statement. I have heard this almost word for word from about four different House Values employees. Though we are spending a decent amount of money with their company, we have never had a coaching session. Brian, I know what you are thinking: How can I become certified, if I did not have a coaching session. I received an E-mail from Jamahl, a House Values coach. We spoke and set up a time to discuss the program on a Friday. He called and said that he was not able to keep the appointment and would reschedule on Monday. I logged into my Market Leader account (I could write three pages on this system) and noticed that it showed the Coaching as completed. I had another coach who committed to a call, but was not available. Then this week, I had an appointment with another coach. I called ten minutes after he was supposed to call me. I left a message with no return call. Brian- You stated Its success and in your case, its failures are predictable. Is that why I have not had a coaching session? Is that why zero of My House Values Leads work? I wish someone from your company had told me that I would be a failure! I probably would not have spent so much time working leads, just to be a failure. Please tell the next Realtor. It would be courteous! Brain, how do you [truly] care about the success of our customers? Another question, in regards to your statement [I am truly] sorry it [did not] work for you. It is NOT for everyone... but neither is real estate: Are you implying that successful Realtors use House Values? If so, please provide this data.
Garett
OC,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, September 22, 2006
The reason this guy got his money back is most likely he canceled within 72 hours. There is a huge group of agents that have been taken advantage of by HouseValues. Alot of us are in contact by email, and we have compared notes and stories, and we are not happy at all.
Brian
Selah,#4UPDATE Employee
Sat, September 16, 2006
Your experience with HouseValues was predictable, not because (as you assert) that HV is a "scam", but because of your later admission that you never were in it long enough to even use it. Even then, you admit the company resolved your complaint. As an account executive with the company, I can assure you that I have NEVER heard of offering a 30 day trial. Why, you may ask? I get asked for short term agreements all of the time, but why, if we know that more than 1 in 5 of our leads transact in a year, would we position an agent with a subscription that may not immediately pan out. I do think we could do a better job of insuring that agents know that this tool, while VERY effective, requires follow up, discipline and a willingness/ability to spend money marketing themselves to capture the internet consumer. Take this from an employee... if you think these will simply sell themselves, you will soon be one of our industry's statistics! Your information on the churn rate is inaccurate and simply not true. It is true; however that our industry has an incredible churn rate of real estate agents but not of real estate professionals. Where is your complaint about the billboards, golf balls, recipe cards and other methods that our indusrty is busy spending 80% of its marketing dollar on, while our industry's customers are busy spending 80% of their time using the web to find their new home? HouseValues remains a top choice for those looking to spend some of their marketing dollar to capture the web consumer. For HV to cancel a subscriber is almost unherd of! I have seen firsthand some of the few who are cancelled. They, like you admit, did NOT work the system. How many MasterMind calls did you sit in on? Did you take the hour or two to become and remain a Certified Professional? (These are not an extra cost and are strogly encouraged by the company). I'll bet I know your answers before you respond! This program works. Its success and in your case, its failures are predictable! If after reading this, you or ANY agent wants to respond, I will be happy to look into your concern. I can surely promise I will look into them, but it sounds from your own admission that the company took care of you despite your contractual obligations. I am NOT a manager, but I can assure you we truely care about the success of our customers. ...Which is why we have SO many testimonials DAILY from our customers! Im truely sorry it didnt work for you. It is NOT for everyone... but neither is real estate. Sincerely, Brian
Jeff
Atlanta,#5Author of original report
Thu, August 24, 2006
I think they are afraid people will get leads and then bail out of their system. I bagged immediately so I guess they cut me some slack but who knows for sure.
Linda
Lebanon,#6Consumer Suggestion
Thu, August 24, 2006
I am wondering how you got out of your contract.I have also filed a ripoff report about this company.I have filed a report with the WAG and with the BBB.I have had no luck.They are still insisting that I pay the early termination fee which I was never told about when I "signed" up for the service.Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.
Jeff
Atlanta,#7Author of original report
Wed, August 23, 2006
I filed my ripoff report and complained to the places mentioned in the other ripoff reports (atty general, etc...) yesterday and today I got an email saying they would let me out of the contract effective 8/31. I don't know if it was goodwill on their part or if it was related to my activities. Doesn't matter, happy to be done with this problem. Hopefully HV will modify their business model in the near future. The concept has potential IF implemented correctly. FYI, read and research everything CAREFULLY before buying anything over $100 or that has repeating payments. Sounds stupid but its so easy to forget when you are getting the killer sales pitch. I wish I could sell that good, I'd have a hundred listings by now....
Skip
West Palm Beach,#8Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 22, 2006
Jeff, You found out what many have about House Values. At best it's a band aid for your business. The worst part is, they advertise is NAR's Realtor magazine and have big trade show booths at the NAR convention and many state and regional conventions. As long as they has a "quasi sanction" from NAR, they will continue to rip off real estate agents for big bucks. Why not send a copy of your complaint to NAR, your state association and to your local board. If everyone who has been ripped off did that, maybe they would be cut out of the Realtor mainstream. Before allowing any vendor to advertise in membership publications and at trade conventions, NAR should thoroughly vett every vendor. Instead it's all about $, your dues and mine along with ad revenue and trade show floor space.