Special offer
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets, CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego (Big Block Realty 858.232.8722)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

And the low keep competing to be the lowest.

Jul 03, 2017 08:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Is this kind of inducement even legal/ethical? (I do not know)

The other big problem I see with this is, it doesn't say leave a GOOD review -- just a review. Does the company really want to risk putting it out there for a troll, disgruntled prospect or competitor to hose then--and pay them to do it?

Jul 03, 2017 08:22 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

How some minds work never ceases to amaze me! No inducement for me here... I despise Starbucks. Now, $50 to Sephora... maybe we have something to talk about!

Jul 03, 2017 10:01 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Sad

Jul 03, 2017 08:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Well at least they've elevated their groveling to $50 instead of a $5 card which is useless at SB.

I'm not sure Z is influencing this.

Jul 03, 2017 08:49 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

OMG,

Wow, yes I will waste my time valued at more that $50 bucks to enter a contest to maybe win a $50 Starbucks gift card...what does this say about the Byrne real estat group?  What are they thinking?  If this is Zillow's idea, then they belong together.  A

Jul 03, 2017 08:45 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Everyone else it begging for rating, follows, testimonials, likes, why not agents?

I would expect the 'contact information' will be valid.

But this is an indication of the influence of the evil empire on the value of agents and their services.  If Byme likes do to business the dark-side way, they won't mind the flies that come with it. Zillows goal of $2,500 transaction fees are getting closer and Byme is 'all in."

Jul 03, 2017 08:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Zillow is a 4 letter word.

Jul 03, 2017 08:29 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

oh, how I detest Z...

Jul 03, 2017 08:25 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

And if it is a good review, we will pay you! Nice objective survey!

Jul 03, 2017 09:22 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 nailed this one!

Jul 04, 2017 06:44 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

This could get expensive, not something I would be interested in.

Jul 03, 2017 03:29 PM
Rainmaker
785,464
Abby Stiller
TOP SELLING REALTY - Cape Coral, FL
SW Florida (239) 284-8637

I call this desperation

Jul 03, 2017 02:42 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Bribing folks you don't know with a $50 starbucks card.....really?

Jul 03, 2017 02:33 PM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Only people who know an agent should be asked to review them.

Jul 03, 2017 02:22 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Holy Crap-Tacular.  

Jul 03, 2017 01:01 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It looks like this company is desparate.

Jul 03, 2017 12:04 PM
Rainmaker
809,258
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

How did you even get on their mailing list? -Kasey

Jul 03, 2017 09:10 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,544
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

They NEED to bribe, as we all tell the buyers how inaccurate they are! 

Jul 06, 2017 11:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes, zillow now allows (as of Jan 1, maybe earlier) people who've you've never done business with but have "talked shop to" to give you a review.  The sales agent for some reason thought this was a good idea.  Easy way to get fake 5 star reviews, as far as I'm concerned.

Jul 04, 2017 10:39 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Kind of sleazy.

Jul 04, 2017 05:46 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Huh?  A head-scratcher for sure.  

Jul 04, 2017 05:40 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor,CRS,ePro - enjoy the ride.... even when you do not like the vehicle!

Jul 03, 2017 10:33 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

As far as  know, you have to prove that you bought or sold a property with this particular agent( they require to provide the address). A fellow agent wanted to leave a review for me as a coworker( similar to Linked In) and they had no option.

If that changed, let's leave reviews for each other! I'm in. Who wants to exchange reviews? 

:) 

Jul 03, 2017 06:31 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

There is so much of that going on which is why the public put about 50% faith in reviews. 

Jul 03, 2017 06:02 PM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Is that also a possible violation of Real Estate Commission Rules on lotteries, drawings, etc.?  Check with you State's laws, or see an Attorney.

Jul 03, 2017 03:57 PM
Ambassador
5,230,068
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

WOW! How many competitors would give a bad review when sent something like this? Kudos to you for not doing that, Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor,CRS,ePro!

Jul 03, 2017 03:16 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I see competing reviews on VRBO for my Florida condo and I have been in them so I know the 20 5 star reviews are total BS and made up.

Jul 03, 2017 11:33 AM
Rainer
86,514
Mike Kelly,CRS,CIPS
The MJKelly Team - Santa Rosa, CA
"One of Sonoma County's Natural Resources"

I think most Realtors miss the BIG picture with Zillow--all of our clients are going there! We can lament this all we wish but my buyers always go to Zilow, Realtor.com or Redfin. It's the way it is. Do I think Zillow is a failed business plan? Yes. It is finding it can't generate revenue and is making a play to become a real estate company. We used to have them come to our CAR Directors meetings and state, "We're not here to complete with Realtors!" Really!

Jul 03, 2017 10:26 AM
Rainmaker
716,049
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

I'll give you a great review, maybe a few, and we split 50/50, deal? 

Jul 03, 2017 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Another attempt to position oneself for the big Real Estate bite...$$$

Jul 03, 2017 09:54 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing this information.

Jul 03, 2017 09:10 AM
Rainer
5,593
Ryan Byrne (714) 540-1744
RE/MAX - Huntington Beach, CA
Home Selling Specialist

Great just my luck, a colleague told me I was being slandered by another Realtor on active rain. Wouldn't you know there are actually 5 Ryan Byrnes working in real estate across the country (that I am aware of) my group  just so happend to be the Byrne Prime Property Group or Byrne Group in some marketing. This is very annoying as you could imagine. For the record this is not me, my group or my company being referenced in this post. But some are assuming it is. Is active rain a forum where Realtors come to bad mouth each other? I think this is the saddest thing of all. 

Oct 10, 2017 10:27 PM
Rainmaker
544,014
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

Fake news, fake testimonials, fake body parts, fake moon landing

Jul 28, 2017 03:11 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Always interesting what they are coming up with next.

 

Jul 05, 2017 04:59 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have not seen it

Jul 03, 2017 08:19 AM