Homegain Coming On Strong!
Friday, April 18, 2008 at 04:16PM (this was the only picture I got of Max at The Masters, the no-camera rule and crowds made it impossible, then the battery died as we were trying this at the rented house. It turned out awful -- but I thought I would put it up anyway -- it has sort of a weird effect)
I've been sworn to secrecy and threatened by a Max Attack if I reveal the new Homegain changes -- I was fortunate enough to have Louis call me today for a sneak preview of some changes at Homegain. I almost signed up on the spot.
I'll say this -- I believe the Homegain users will love the changes and potential users will be impressed. I was impressed. Mostly what impresses me, in spite of past bad experiences with lead sales gimmicks, is the true transparency Louis is providing through the Homegain model -- it makes no apologies for the model's purpose and users aren't tricked by the old bait and switch game. It's a clear connection between consumer and agent.
Agents who want a ready-made format for online marketing and lead generation are going to love the improved features -- some may even decide they don't need a website. I'm too much of a control freak to go that far, but for agents who don't want to bother with creating an online presence and marketing network, Homegain is a good way to quickly plug in and set up-- and the cost is very reasonable, maybe even less than a good website provider charges dpending on how fancy of a website you buy.
I feel like I should say something negative to provide balance but I really can't -- anything I can think of that would not appeal to someone like me who enjoys setting up my own network and lead system is already answered -- Then it's not for me, it's for those unlike me. For any seller and buyer who doesn't want to connect with an agent, it's already answered -- Then go somewhere where you aren't connected with an agent. It's pretty simple -- it's for agents who want it or need it and for buyers and sellers who want it or need it.
I can't wait to see the responses and all future developments. In my estimation, Homegain is going in the right direction.
Reader Comments (6)
As by my estimation Mike. As we are learning, Web 2.0 is about frivolous, gimmicks, misguided transparency and no earnings. While these are interesting qualities that warrant every real estate professionals observation, revenue, profit are the lifeblood of any business persons life. Homegain is neither 1.0 or 2.0 or whatever. They are just a good idea, a great business model and they help agents make money.
I was a customer of theirs and the agent I ended up with never would have found me otherwise. That discovery immediately led to a hiring. Isn't that what this is really all about?
First, a couple of things unrealted to the post...
You were AT the Masters? I'd consider giving my first born child to attend...
Like the new theme. (well, it's new to me, I typically readvia a feed reader.)
I've never been a fan of lead gen companies, though they do serve a purpose. I'm going to have to take a look at these new developments. If Mikey likes it, it must be good!
Marc, there's nothing like personal experience to make a point. Thanks for confirming my impressions.
Yes, Jay, I got to go out one day, Thursday -- an invite from a friend with family passes. I get to go about every three years.
I think Homegain is going to release their changes next week -- it's looking good.
Jay,
Note: I was the bus dev consultant for Inman News stepping in when Brad left to launch Homegain. From day 1, I never viewed Homegain as a Lead Generation company. This was mot due to any alliance I have with Brad or Homegain. That is my own independent sensibility based on sound logic, free and clear of bias. Bear in mind that about that time, I still owned a well known ad agency in NYC and a music publishing company. I had no ties to real estate. No axe to grind. And no agenda.
Not much as changed.
So here is my analysis on Lead Generation firms. Short and sweet.
Lead Generation companies are dubious in nature.
They scoop up unsuspecting web users like mice lured in by the cheese.
When caught, there is no cheese. Just a head slam.
HouseValues is a classic example.
The cheese is a house value.
The head slam is an agent trying to get your listing. Yuck.
Agents therefore pay to get dead, head slammed customers.
This explains why everyone hates them, their stock has plummeted, they hemorrhage cash
And why the web is filled with anti Housevalues press.
Lead generation is a vile exploitation of the Internet and the consumer. I believe even my own detractors would agree with that statement. But here is where I venture right away from the traffic.
Homegain is not lead generation.
There is nothing dubious about them.
Both parties get exactly what they came for.
With Mikes permission, I would like to embellish.
My investment property in a remote coastal Ca town. I wanted to sell it. Googled agents checking their websites. What I unearthed would make your head spin.
One agent had a passion for racing cars. His site featured checkered flags and the varoom sound on each link click. Had the Hobbs Herder reek of stupidity all over it.
Another agent piped in Hawaiian music that could not be shut off. I'm a musician and I found that offensive. All pages lined with Hibiscus. Designed by Tommy Bahamas retarded cousin.
Neither had any data.
No IDX.
Lead Gen form hell
And they were the best of the bunch. Trust me, it got worse.
So I went to Homegain. What other choice did I have? I asked around my community for a referral to no real avail and the agent who sold me the home left the industry and the area.
The day I signed up in Homegain, I had 8 responses from agents. All good, in depth and immediate. I replied. And then hired the first one that responded. As a consumer, it was an empowering experience. Nothing dubious about it. For the agent, I can only image they felt likewise.
Here's the key. I wasn't a lead. I was a person looking to do business with another. Homegain deals with that reality.
Real business.
Real relationships.
Matchmaking the two.
I have been in business for 25 years. I have owned 6 companies. I have always remitted a finders percentage to anyone who brought me a solid client. Not a lead. A client. For any Realtor, blogger, marketing guru or whatever to not recognize the inherent value of that, I would first look back into their education and either discover they have none or fell absent the day this was taught in common sense 101.
For the record, Homegain is not a client of 1000watt. I barely know Louis. We have exchanged some emails and he sent a couple of Max's for my kids. 1000watt does not, by design write about our clients and we surely do not find it wise to write such powerfully supportive comments about non clients. By this admission alone, if I were Louis,I'd never hire us. So I'm prompted to comment on this company because it regards a very deep passion I have about making sure that the most important people in this business, agents, get a balanced sense of what things mean.
In this case, a company that is often wrongly indicted preventing agents from partaking in what could be a glorious and rewarding financial opportunity. And since my firm does not work individually with agents, I have nothing to personally gain on any front thereby securing my reputation as being purely unbiased and unaffected.
If an agent or any spokespersons for agents feel that charging an agent a fee to match make a deal is unfair - don't use it. But if I were an agent and had to pay a fee to get a deal that I could neither get on my own or obtain though expensive advertising, I would make that referral payment all day long.
The internet is a giant haystack.
Realtor sites are needles.
If you want to be found, one great way is being able to stick out.
Homegain.
Marc's point is correct and in some respects plays off Pat's notion of percetion.
Here it comes Mike (but its not Zillow bashing)
When Zillow opens mortgage marketplace the re.net crowd praises it. Its basically Homegain's Agent evalutor for mortgage brokers supported by ads instead of referral fees.
But there is a perception gap. HomeGain collects consumer information to provide to real estate agents and its a dreaded form of "lead generation" to be avoided.
A web 2.0 company like Zillow collects consumer information to provide to mortgage brokers and its a revolutionary new market place!
I think Joe over at Sellsius captured the satire perfectly with this post
http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/zillowcom/zillow-mortgage-marketplace-is-lead-generator-for-mortgage-lenders/2008/04/03/
What I like is business models I can understand, that are straightforward with nothing hidden. That's the first step that leads me to trust. I don't like being used, tricked, or patronized.
I think Homegain is straightforward and that is a big plus. I've devoloped my own system which is working well, but many agents will find Homegain's model a good solution to doing online business.
More RE sites need to develope useful business arrangements based on making it easy for agents to get started -- or to just manage the whole process after they're started.
This idea of a comprehensive starter kit and process management is a useful service.