Lest I be accused of being a Redfin-basher, I have to say their “citizen bloggers” are doing a bang-up job. Several times a day their “Sweet Diggs” posts appear on my blog reader, and they’re always a pleasure to read, and are sometimes downright entertaining. “Real estate listings” and “good writing” are uncommon bedfellows as we’re usually subjected to linguistically challenged gems like, “Grt valu! LotsOfLight! Recent remmodel. Firplace.”
Check out this description by blogger Anna McCain of a home on Bainbridge island:
Could the Seabreeze be my very favorite new project on the Bainbridge condo scene? Would this have anything to do with the impending arrival of Bon Bon–a chocolate shop slated to open here between Christmas and New Year’s–alongside what will reportedly be a tea house? Chocolate and tea? On Bainbridge? I say yes to that.
…
I couldn’t purchase a condo here personally or I’d end up sitting in bed surrounded by mutilated glossy chocolate boxes, like someone out of Stuart Saves his Family.
I understand a squad of Redfin citizen bloggers are about to be dispatched in the Bay Area, and I’m looking forward to reading their descriptions of listings here too.
Tags: Real estate, Real estate blogging, Redfin
Possibly related posts
?RE: Any thoughts on the feds (in)activity this morning?? August 5 at 9:46 pm 
�Good news, your equity line and business line of credit rates remain the same as yesterday, as the Fed held short-term rates steady today. Why? Because despite unemployment concerns, the economy is doing fine (1.4% growth year to date-- thank you exports!), core inflation is under control at this point, gas prices have dropped over 6% recently and it's more prudent to maintain a steady helm when the economy appears relatively balanced. Eric T. Trailer, Principal
4 responses so far ↓
1 ARDELL // Dec 29, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Great Post Kevin! Happy New Year to you! My Annual Bash in on 1/6 if you happen to be in town.
2 Marie Hagman // Jan 2, 2007 at 10:52 am
Hey, thanks Kevin! The vote of confidence is much appreciated. As for the Bay Area blogging, right now we’re taking it one city at a time and working out the kinks in Seattle first. You’ll be the first to know when the program expands
Happy New Year!
3 Marlow // Jan 3, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I think a website or blog that discusses homes for sale is fine but the fact that it is sponsored and hosted by a real estate brokerage that is a member of the NWMLS makes it a questionable endeaver. The NWMLS prohibits members from advertising other members listings without the listing agent’s express permission. I believe that using photos and listing information and singling out and featuring other agents listings, to the exclusion of others, constitutes “advertising” and is a violation of the NWMLS rules. I’d be interested in knowing if other MLS’s have similar rules.
A company that so cavalierly breaks and circumvents existing rules probably would or could break others too, if they thought they could get away with it. I’m sure that they’ve already got their lawyer to draft a letter to the NWMLS on why this ISN’T advertising and have intimidated them with some threatening anti-trust language of some sort. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
4 Kevin Boer, Three Oceans Real Estate // Jan 3, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Hi Marlow,
If what they’re doing is indeed against NWMLS rules, then I have two things to say:
1) It shouldn’t be against the rules.
2) The most likely reason they haven’t been called on it is because the NWMLS doesn’t know about it. If the NWMLS is anything like our MLS here in the Bay Area, it’s doubtful they have the staff to monitor for compliance.
Leave a Comment