Last night I received this interesting email from the National Association of Realtors asking Realtors to contact CBS about the '60 Minutes' Special that was aired on Sunday May 13, 2007. I am not really sure what complaining to CBS would do, but NAR wants us to voice our concern.
For a year plus that I have maintained this blog, I have rarely spoke about Redfin not because I don't like them or even because I don't think that their model of buying and selling real estate won't work, I just never spoke about them because there are or I should say will never make it in New York. To be honest with you - I don't even really think that their model of a real estate brokerage will last. Right now, they are still "fresh" and they are getting alot of press time, but will that be enough for them to stay afloat and surpass the "traditional" brokerage? In my honest opinion - no, I don't think. I can't ever see Redfin going head to head with a New York agent. But - this is not where I would voice my concern.
I have more to say about this special, which I will do on another post. Here is a copy of the email. I am curious to know if consumers watched this and what their thoughts are about the special. I know alot of people want to contact me through email and that is fine, I am asking for feedback so either way you feel comfortable to communicate with me is welcomed!
Here is the link for the special if you missed it.
Dear Fellow REALTOR:
I am disappointed and dismayed at the biased story that 60 Minutes aired on Sunday evening. I want to let you know that we've been working to stay on top of this story.
One of the most difficult challenges we face is educating the news media about today's real estate industry. There's no better example than this 60 Minutes show. For more than a year, NAR worked with the producers who put the segment together and offered several spokespersons to be interviewed for the show, including myself. Yet, NAR's voice was strangely and noticeably absent from the segment though CBS gave time to two critics who disagree with our policies on the display of listings on the Internet.
At times, NAR and REALTORS® have often been the subject of less than accurate news coverage. Your association and its professional staff is making every effort to get the REALTOR® message out to the news media. The result is that only a fraction-less than five percent-of the vast news media we receive is negative.
We encourage all of you to contact CBS to voice your concerns -- maybe have some of your satisified customers do the same.
Thank you for your support.
Pat V. Combs
President
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60 Minutes Segment on Real Estate Biased: Industry Responds : RISMedia
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