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  • Report:  #207266

Complaint Review: House Values - Internet

Reported By:
- Atlanta, Georgia,
Submitted:
Updated:

House Values
housevalues.com Internet, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
HouseValues is just awful. It's embarrassing to be here because in hindsight, once you look back at it you can see what a scam it is and how stupid you feel to have been taken in by them.

My experience should be a caution for other realtors. It is my understanding through the stock analyst community that HouseValues has an approx. 75% subscriber churn rate which of course means there are thousands of realtors out there being hounded by their collection agency.

It all starts with an email. If you make the mistake of replying, a smooth-talking sales rep calls almost instantaneously. If you don't buy immediately he hits you with a story that the last available spot in your territory is about to go and that you need to get it, etc.

When I asked about lead quality I was told there was a big disclaimer on the web site that the data would be handed off to a RE agent and that "by clicking this box I authorize myself to be contacted by a real estate professional". I was also told if I did not like a lead I could send it back within 30 days with no questions asked.

Here comes the really fast one. If you agree to "try it for 30 days with the right to cancel" the salesman keeps you on the phone while he sends you a confirmation email. While on the phone the salesman has you page through the agreement to confirm the lead details portion of the agreement where he discusses what appears to be the important stuff like zip code territories are, etc. In hindsight, very slick.

Once you're in, you're hooked. You soon face the hard truth:

1. Of course after visiting the site (my bad!) I find that there is no authorization to be contacted for the "lead" to click on and that the nonexistent disclaimer is hidden at the bottom below the web site info. The lead quality is a joke because the site is all about generating as many emails (not leads) as possible. My first lead was seeking a value of Emory University!

2. The "trial period" does not exist.

2. The 30 day "guarantee" is only for undeliverable emails

3. Your "coach" fights you hand and foot (on the phone but not in writing, again, very slick) if you try to send back a lead.

4. The leads are either jokesters or people looking to refinance (all of mine that I could possibly make contact were). I think it is especially appalling that people who are looking for a house value for refinancing (this is one of the selections on the web page) are routed into this program and sold as leads.

5. You are encouraged by your "coach" and the company-paid shills on their "mastermind calls" to personally knock on their doors and drop off a CMA. You are then supposed to set up an aggressive call and email drip marketing campaign. The result is that the people get angry and either do not respond or gripe or unsubscribe. It all winds up making realtors look awful.

Jeff

Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.


7 Updates & Rebuttals

Yakima Realtor

Yakima,
Washington,
U.S.A.
Brian-Does House Values really care about their partners?

#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,
California,
U.S.A.
Hello

#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,
Washington,
U.S.A.
HouseValues is GREAT but its NOT for everyone!

#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,
Georgia,
U.S.A.
I think it was because I cancelled immediately

#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,
Tennessee,
U.S.A.
HouseValues,ripoff,bogus leads

#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,
Georgia,
U.S.A.
HouseValues cancelled my contract effective 8/31

#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,
Florida,
U.S.A.
House Values - What A RipOff

#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.

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