Property Resource demo

This is a quick post re the RPR demo and blog. RPR application is an impressive leap down the path leading away from real houses and real people toward a virtual brave new world where Realtors sit at computers to determine the resonance and intuitive feel and ambiance of specific houses for individual Buyers. Small problem, that can't be done, certainly not with RPR.

LPS designed lots of groundbreaking complexity into the resource, particularly in the upgraded CMA application---steep learning curve for many non-technophiles and that sort of analysis takes considerable time and patience.

Bottom line is that local agents who really understand their local market will know almost all the information in RPR already (and maybe even more), but, as the demo states-RPR allows an agent (any agent?) to become a local expert in 5 minutes---NOT LIKELY!

It would take way more than 5 minutes, even with RPR, and there are countless nuances related to value and appeal that aren't reflected in the RPR database.

Agent comments about the houses represent an online trend, but like most reviews of books or movies or mp3 players, many aren't that valuable. Maybe the agent at the computer should go out into the real world to see the houses in person, then form their own opinion--DUH!

If agents are spending more and more time at the computer in a virtual world, are they going to be spending the real world house time and people time needed to provide the expertise agents did 25 years ago?

As far as the copious data in the reports generated for Sellers, few will really spend the time to review the details. They'll look at the adjusted price and the marketing strategy and the agent. Remember, the same reports will be available to ALL Realtors--there's still the differentiation issue. Sellers choose agents based on personal attributes, not how well they crunch data fields.

"Clients don't care how much you know as much as they know how much you care." That's a saying from way, way back that I heard when I started in the business in 1985. It was important to me because I tended to overdo the knowledge part. I can relate to what RPR is trying to do, but the "smother everything with data and analysis" strategy is not moving the agents in the right direction to best serve the interests of their clients.

Oh, one more observation---if this isn't an MLS system it sure walks like one and quacks like one. I bet it has feathers and webbed feet too. An offer of compensation box with terms and conditions check off is about all that's lacking.

It will be interesting to see the ripples (and large swells) generated in coming weeks. Congratulations on the technology, but a photo based system with alpha numeric tags is still a superior way to deal with house information.