Jan E Callne

• Manage |RSSAlternative Business Models

The idea about paying agents a salary plus commission at the same time and agents would stay professional and ethical, that’s dream for your next life! The whole real estate brokerage system has been a broken business model for a long time. First it was all about controlling all the listings with the printed MLS, and now there’s no control at all with the Internet. The consumer and media control it now. The ethical thing will never be solved, people are people! Look at some of the biggest banks in the country, and the ethics of their CEO’s… Get a life, if you’re going to stay in the business you do the best with what you got to work with. And, hope clients realize your professionalism, ethics and knowledge in the industry, and of the community. The Internet and too many so called savvy business visionaries have messed up for good. Once you lost the control it's hard to take it back. All you can do is the best you can do...

I think the real estate industry and consumers can benefit from online communities. After all, the Internet exists to improve communication. Communities can grow anywhere communication occurs. However, the online community needs to have a focus. The best communities for real estate professionals are communities where consumers get involved and open communication occurs. I think that online communities should be about where you live and work because when you look at the big picture it is all about lifestyle. If you are buying you are concerned with finding a home in a community that suites your lifestyle or can improve your lifestyle. If you are selling a home it is the same thing, you want buyers to be informed about the lifestyle and community where your home is for sale. Communities are not about real estate agents and brokers, it is about opening conversations and a new way to get leads. The conversation should be about community information, local market, schools, lifestyle and other aspects about a community. Communities are about being part of the community and doing your part to make it a better place for everyone involved.