Brownstoner Launches Brokerate.com
Remember when we asked for some volunteers a couple of weeks ago to beta-test a new service? Well, forty or so readers pitched in (thanks everyone!) and the result is a new website for rating and commenting on real estate brokers around the five boroughs–Brokerate.com. We’re not delusional enough to be unaware of the potential…
Remember when we asked for some volunteers a couple of weeks ago to beta-test a new service? Well, forty or so readers pitched in (thanks everyone!) and the result is a new website for rating and commenting on real estate brokers around the five boroughs–Brokerate.com. We’re not delusional enough to be unaware of the potential pitfalls of the project or the potential (near certainty, make that) for brokers to write about themselves and get their friends to vote for them. We’ve taken some steps to mitigate that behavior, but in the end we think people’s b.s. detectors are pretty good and that the honest anecdotes–good and bad–that people contribute will shine through. For the project to work, though, it’s going to need a lot of input up front, so we’re hoping that you’ll find the time over the next few days to browse through the list of brokers who’ve already been uploaded (you can sort the existing list by borough, ranking, broker last name, agency name) and provide feedback where you can. Then add the names of other brokers you’ve had experiences with. Our biggest plea to everyone is to remain courteous and civil even when expressing negative opinions. If you just write “This guy’s a loser” without providing any anecdotal context it’s going to carry a lot less weight. So please be honest, smart and civil–and thanks in advance for helping to create what we hope will be a useful tool for navigating what can be a stressful and frustrating experience.
Thanks,
Brownstoner
View All Brokers [Brokerate]
Rating Brokers [NY Times]
Bad Broker Beware [Gothamist]
Cool new Thing: Brokerate.com [Curbed]
Ed, Brownstoner didn’t block you’re IP address. You’re not back on the hard stuff again, are you?
Well, folks, my IP address has been unblocked. Mr. Brownstoner and I are on better terms. Although we don’t always see eye to eye on provocative speech vs. abusive speech, I’ll take this opportunity to ask anyone who thinks I’m being abusive or hurtful to call me on it.
Furthermore, I look forward to more provocative discussions.
XOXOX
HELP – I’m leaving Kinko’s now. When will I be able to post again???
p.s. –
1) No, I’m NOT a broker. I just don’t like whining, Mr. Itybittybukum.
2) My god, I don’t have time to put together a blog like this! No, I won’t be starting one anytime soon.
3) If it’s not clear, Mr. Brownstoner, we LIKE your blog. We just want to be able to use it as a forum for discussion and debate.
Your sense of accomplishment should not be derived based on how many people agree with you or compliment you. It should be derived based on the quality of the debates herein. If you get a lot of hits and good press and good discussion of issues, then you are doing a good job! Then, you are a true asset to your community!!!
Mr. Brownstoner doesn’t like my opinions so much that he silenced my IP address. I thought this type of treatment was reserved for Blog Abuse – repetitious or nonsensical postings, etc.
So I’m sitting at Kinko’s wondering if this site is a true forum for debate or a fascist clique posing as consumer and neighborhood activists.
Whatever the case, it’s absolutely deplorable that others are allowed to disparage my point of view but I must remain silenced. What’s everybody so afraid of?
Perhaps this site should expressly state that it does not support free speech, and that those who express opinions inconsistent with Mr. Brownstoner’s ideology will not be barred from participating. After all, that’s what happened here, no?
Come on, Mr. Brownstoner. You have a lot more power than the rest of us by virtue of the fact you own this site. You’re bigger than this. Be a little bit more altruistic and selfless.
Clearly you aspire to do great things in the world of NY Blogs. So don’t short-circuit yourself or self-destruct by being petty and small-minded.
Anon 10:48, that rant is barely understandable.
A real estate agent is not a lawyer. Are you drunk?
I think that brownstoner should offer up a better source of information than just people complaining. There are real issues that come up during most real estate transactions. Many of these issues also become very emotional for buyers and sellers. And that’s a large part of the reason why having an agent in the middle of a transaction makes it a smoother transaction. Perhaps a better idea would be for brownstoner to research some of the issues that come up during transactions and talk to a variety of people on how to avoid these issues: getting involved in a bidding war when you don’t want to, over/under pricing your property, dealing with combative lawyers, frustration over little or no activity on your home that’s on the market, frustruation that there’s nothing on the market that you want to buy, annoyances over the way various agencies handle their bidding process, etc. He could do some real reporting and make it very informative and it could be a really useful tool. Unlike this ratings thing which is immature, and not a very useful tool. Because in my humble opinion people are sheep and if you tell them that so and so is the most popular agent than that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is the best agent. I’m sorry. I wish this weren’t true. It’s only from being in this business for a while that you see that professionalism doesn’t always mean making everybody happy in this business. You are often stuck in the middle of a difficult transaction. That’s just part of the job.
I think it would be nice if the site said how many people had voted in each category so that we would know how credible the ratings are.
So if this is successful will you roll this out nationwide Mr. Brownstoner? I’m sure there are brokers all over the country just waiting to get New York-style treatment. 😛