Comments on: Is a major realestate.com.au update on the cards?

By: RH

RH — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:57:59 +0000

Would be interesting if they started the review system on a voting sort of scenario at the bottom of each agents page, or listing (ie. recommend vs not recommend etc) and for first 12 months provide these results to agents so they can see how good/crummy they are. Maybe it would be a wake up call for them to step up their game before allowing the results to be viewed live by all.
Plus a voting system would hopefully make it easier for consumers to contribute, and discourage any “emails from crazy people” types from going overboard.

By: Glenn Rogers

Glenn Rogers — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:45:07 +0000

I see Domain has Google ads at the foot of their search results now.
That’s a major step down and shows a great thirst for revenue.

By: Ricky

Ricky — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:20:07 +0000

Glenn,

Shaun Di Gregorio left REA almost 2 months ago.

http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2009/07/rea-group-loses-another-top-manager/

Part of the REA Senior Mgt departure lounge.

By: Glenn Batten

Glenn Batten — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:24:52 +0000

This was actually written a couple of days ago.. so references to next week.. mean this week :)

By: Robert Simeon

Robert Simeon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:24:41 +0000

Great article Glenn – is this a case of better late than never or a case of losing relevance. Maybe a bit of both I see given that much has happened online over the past ten years especially the emergence then dominance of Google into our lives. When REA and Domain set up the internet was evolving and the vast majority of agents did not have a website so these newly created property portals (were born) and offered agents an online position – which they previously never had before.

I believe the problems faced with the portals (the paid) ones is that over time they won’t be in a position to charge agents to post properties on their portals and will have to solely rely on third – party advertising only (like the rest of the world).

When agents start using their own online models where their very own website should be the major source of leads with the property portals coming in second place will they then start understanding how to best run an online model.

Social networking is fast de-valuing the paid portals also, the growth of Google is even more damaging. The irony for Domain and REA is that if their portals are so fantastic for consumers why then do they each spend millions of dollars each year trying to attract consumers from the Google search pages to their portals?

Of course they will try and re-invent themselves simply because they are concerned of losing popularity and relevance. Who would have thought that our property portals too – would now be referred to as old media?