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]
at this point why don’t you do this for: contractors; electricians; babysitters; painters; dogwalkers; lawyers; financial analysts; accountants; doctors; dentists; doormen; your mother….
it amazes me that the threat of people’s opinions causes some much consternation. even if the opinions are bogus or even defamatory, it’s more information to use. it’s dangerous to rely on any stranger’s opinion and you use it at your own risk, but, hell, it’s more information than you had before. at least, it will help you ask better questions.
It is a nice idea but why didn’t you launch a fsbo section first? So much easier and more useful.
the problem with broker ratings is the impossibility of vetting comments for accuracy. With such high stakes, if the site is useful, it will immediately become a victim of its own popularity – you’ll get embroiled in disputes between brokers and their lawyers and anonymous users and brokers claiming other brokers are besmirching their repuation. How will you decide whether a comment is fair or a shill? how can you do that without taking sides? are you prepared to withstand legal threats (you need to call their bluff but that can be expensive). If you ignore legal threats and the right to free expression it will just embolden people to lie or insult or pump themselves from an AOL account more freely.
I see nothing but doom and gloom for this initiative.
Support the downward pressure on 6% margins: do a fsbo site, or a “listings review” site where you capture listings and allow us to comment on the value (or otherwise) of them.
Ed,
We’re often on the same side, so I hate to be critical, but it IS Jon “Brownstoner’s ” site and he’s entitled to post his opinions which. IMO are always thoughtful, even when i disagree.
Another obnoxious idea by the wonderfully obnxious and opinionated folks at Brownstoner.com. Stop it with the thought-police bullshit already.
It would be wonderful if every blog entry on this site wasn’t prefaced by Brownstoner’s opinions.
Somebody needs to start a site that is more objective than this one, but allows the same opinions.
From section 441-c of the NYS Real Property Law:
“The department of state may revoke the license of a real estate broker or salesman … if such licensee has been guilty of fraud or fraudulent practices, or for dishonest or misleading advertising, or has demonstrated untrustworthiness or incompetency to act as a real estate broker or salesman, as the case may be.”
I’d say shill references would count as a “fraudulent practice.”
Great initiative!
A few comments:
* You may want to indicate somewhere prominently (on the logo, or on the home page) that this site is for NYC brokers only.
* I agree that having the default sort be by date added may not be the best choice.
* What is type? And when I click on it, why aren’t I taken to a definition of type, instead of to the broker’s profile?
* Why can’t you sort by company?
* Yes, please add a search function right away. I was looking to see if a particular broker was listed and had to click through several pages in the “name” sort to find it.
Keep up the great work!
great idea, bkborn. thanks.
Often the broker regulations are pretty broad.
I would imagine that brokers placing false or fraudulent recommendations/references in ads or other materials is considered misrepresentation under state law.
It might be worth checking into this and placing a reminder on your site.