In case you missed it, here’s some interesting back and forth with Craig Newmark, Founder and Customer Service Representative of Craigslist.org, and some others on his NYC Discussion Forum. (Note, this thread is now on page 2 3) Quite an interesting exchange on issues that plague free real estate listings web sites and some offered solutions to try to curb them.
Highlights include:
- Craig’s New Policy to Charge NYC Rental Brokers $10 per ad - Effective March 1st
- Real Estate Ethics
- Bait and Switch / Scams
- Overposting / Reposting
- Real Estate Licensing Disclosure
- Open Listings vs. Exclusive Listings
- Per Ad Pricing vs. Membership Fee
- Stale Ads (Updating a Listing’s Status)
- Craig’s Chronological Display of Listings
These are issues faced by anyone searching or listing Real Estate online.
nyc coming soon: another option < sellsiusrealestate > 02/05 07:02 link
how do you provent overposting? < craig° > 02/05 15:27
sellsius answers craigslist < sellsiusrealestate > 02/05 18:11
sorry, not an answer, since… < craig° > 02/05 22:28
sellsius answers craigslist [2 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/06 07:03
not at answer < craig° > 02/06 12:25
RE: to Craig’s not an answer < 9thfloor > 02/06 13:33
thanks! aside from the overposting issue… < craig° > 02/06 13:37
sellsius answers craigslist [3 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/06 14:17
from what I hear, problems are more like … < craig° > 02/06 14:44
RE: problem is bait and switch < 9thfloor > 02/06 15:13
not everyone’s brain can go to the 9th floor < 3cents > 02/06 23:17
sellsius answers craigslist [4 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 05:18
no, just an evasion § < craig° > 02/07 08:23
sellsius answers craigslist [5 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 08:41
not an answer < craig° > 02/07 08:48
RE: not an answer < 9thfloor > 02/07 09:00
considering that also < craig° > 02/07 09:03
sellsius asks craigslist < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 09:02
you’re still being evasive, and … < craig° > 02/07 09:09
sellsius asks craigslist [2 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 09:30
not a solution < craig° > 02/07 09:32
sellsius asks craigslist [3 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 09:41
price will minimize reposting… < craig° > 02/07 10:01
sellsius asks craigslist [4 < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 10:32
I don’t know who this is < craig° > 02/07 12:13
the nyc start up < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 13:46 link
Craigslist has the traffic - sellsius et al dont < jasonlre > 02/06 19:44
reposting vs. bait & switch < 3cents > 02/06 23:00
not true, and no one literally claims hundreds < craig° > 02/06 23:18
Misquote you do < 3cents > 02/08 22:57
sellsius answers jasonlre < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 05:54
Isn’t it at least SOMEWHAT weak to < jasonlre > 02/06 20:50
That crap is constant in the ad sections < and_the_forums > 02/06 20:55
RE: problem is bait and switch < 9thfloor > 02/07 08:42
good point, but… < craig° > 02/07 08:49
Wow..A little discussion < goodbrokernyc > 02/07 11:18
we agree < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 11:31
See, you are already in trouble < 2fam > 02/07 11:47
Not only that < 2fam > 02/07 11:51
updating < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 13:40
History shows that listings are updated as < 2fam > 02/07 14:28
that’s what I see also § < craig° > 02/07 14:29
and I thought he might have done at least a < 2fam > 02/07 14:35
agreed < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 15:29
In addition, < 2fam > 02/07 12:00
open listings < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 13:41
What proof will you require that a listing is < 2fam > 02/07 14:29
exclusive < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 15:50
good luck with that § < 2fam > 02/07 16:26
the less scrupulous brokers will love that! § < craig° > 02/07 18:03
individual members < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 13:38
in my experience, it happens a lot § < craig° > 02/07 14:18
How often does this happen???? < 2fam > 02/07 14:25
right § < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 15:52
scrambling posts < 2fam > 02/08 05:43
good points, discussing both now internally, < craig° > 02/07 12:12
Thanks..I firmly believe in the scramble < goodbrokernyc > 02/07 12:35
thanks for the dialogue everyone § < sellsiusrealestate > 02/07 16:05
One last reason for neighborhood selection tool < 9thfloor > 02/08 04:54
Interesting insight into craig’s way of thinking. He’s not much for words. He is definitely targeting nyc brokers because of his perception of the cause of abuses on his sight. he is probably right about the lower levels of this industry who take advantage of the free ad system. But most have no choice but to repost, its the only way to get your ad noticed. The fee should cut down on ads but there will always be scammers and people looking for a loophole. I think the sellsius plan to get license numbers makes sense only if there is checking of the numbers to see if they are being truthful. I for one would not jeopardize my license for a client or anyone, just for the sake of a free ad. Good luck with your website.
anon nyc broker,
glad you enjoyed the post.
we support all hardworking real estate professionals and believe that they should have more choices when it comes to online advertising.
thanks for your feedback and support.
craig is successful for 2 reasons—free ads and simplicity of posting. For those benefits people endured digging thru ads. once its no longer free, agents may look for another place to go. may be lucky for you. i agree that some policing is necessary and may be license number checks are the way to go. but will you report an offender?
only time will tell
I’m not sure charging will help, especially since he only intends to impose fees to the rental section in New York City. What about the residential sales section? Why do they get a free pass? This will cause even more chaos and mayhem as people will start feeling they are being discriminated against.