Aug 29

Is Move.com Moving in the Wrong Direction?

Move.com is owned and operated by Move, Inc. formerly Homestore.com and is the same company that operates Realtor.com. Move.com is currently advertising unlisted homebuilder properties and is considering whether to allow For Sale By Owner’s to list there as well. As a Broker-member of the National Association of REALTORS, I don’t see how this new website is benefitting REALTORS?

Move.com is partially owned by all REALTOR members of NAR, should it be advertising unlisted properties? If we subsidize a builders MLS will we not be jeopardizing our future business with builders?

Move.com and Realtor.com are also linked in several different places. Does this not encourage buyers and builders to surf away from REALTORS and straight to list directly with Move.com?

I understand that Move.com has the rights to the majority of REALTOR listings from the data push from NAR, but what is the REALTOR gaining from Move.com? We already had Realtor.com and Move.com seems to be pushing the REALTOR aside to accomodate builders and other income producing industries like mortgages and home improvement.

Perhaps I just don’t see things properly. I would love to be enlightened on how Move.com is good for me as a REALTOR?

About Brad Nix

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  • Jim Duncan

    Move is serving two masters – one are the Realtors whose listing data they distribute and the second are their shareholders.

    Shareholders want profit, and profit may be gained through competitive alliances and advertisements surrounding those listings that we as Realtors have worked hard to earn. Realtors to whom I have spoken don’t necessarily want their listings to be framed by ads that serve to diminish the quality of the property’s presentation.

    It’s a delicate line to tread …

  • Anonymous

    Looks likethey’re serving the shareholders and trying to inch their way away from the realtors.

  • Anonymous

    Dropping our name, ‘realtor’.com from a $50 million ad campaign. Changing the main url to move.com. These are not the actions of a company loyal to Realtors – they are loyal to big brokers and disenchanted shareholders. After blowing through half a billion dollars, these guys still treat the agents who handed them the keys to the nation’s listings like a necessary evil. If the investors in move.com are paying attention – short it now!

  • Robert Aitchison

    Seriously, why bothe to use the stupid all caps in the word “REALTOR” if you aren’t going to go all the way and add the even dumber ® at the end.

    REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®

    Oh and as to the article, you people sound like a bunch of of whiney union members.

    As a consumer outside the real estate business, I know I have a real estate agent I’ve used in the past and will use in the future, and like all other consumers I really could care less if she paid money to be a part of your little club.

  • brad nix

    Robert:

    It’s comments like yours that make it obvious that REALTORS(R) have a public image issue. It is my belief that agents should focus on customer service and the post is in relation to the services provided by REALTORS(R) nationwide.