In an effort to bring transparency to the process of finding a Real Estate Professional in New York City and the surrounding boroughs, Brownstoner has created Brokerate. It’s an open forum where anybody can add a broker or agent and comment on their prior experiences with them. This may come in the form of praise or scolding criticism. The site has rules by which commentors should ideally follow but will they? Thus far the comments are a mixed bag and some question how relevant the commentary results are and who is actually making them. Whether it helps the consumer find an agent or helps the agent find a client, the point is that openness helps people make better informed decisions and ultimately strengthens the relationship between consumers and the brokerage industry. Democracy always wins.
I look foward to seeing how brokers and agents will react to this new level of openness?
P.S. See Homethinking to compare services.
“The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy,but the best weapon of a democracy should be the weapon of openness.”
—Niels Bohr
