Redfin Fined 50 Large (Seattle)
By Anthony Longo 18 05 2007
It is almost like this was planned perfectly after the 60 Minutes Episode last Sunday on Redfin.
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The Northwest Multiple Listing Service has fined Redfin $50,000 and asked the company to stop publishing a popular blog in which the online real estate brokerage posted reviews of Seattle-area homes.
Redfin is appealing the fine but took steps this week to shut down the reviews on its “Sweet Digs” blog.
The blog, which has about 3,000 subscribers, was written by 15 freelance writers who, over the past five months, posted reviews on about 1,000 homes in Seattle and San Francisco. The company says it plans to maintain the blog as a source of information on pricing trends and recently sold homes.
Redfin Chief Executive Glenn Kelman said he had no choice but to comply, noting that the listing service had threatened to stop its feed of for-sale listings.
Kelman said he was disappointed by the action, noting that Redfin was trying to disseminate different perspectives on homes from what one might receive from a real estate agent.
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Glenn - look at the positives! More PR, more “housed” anger from Realtor Associations, MLS services and other ‘traditional’ “things” and MORE inbound links! Whether you planned this on purpose or this caught you off guard, its all good! The people like Robin Hood!
Others following this story: Bloodhound, Luxury Home Digest, Square Feet, TransparentRE, 3Oceans and I am sure many more today - try a Google Blog Search for Redfin.
That is BOGUS! A company or realtor or freelancers should be able to voice their opinions on homes from a variety of perspectives freely. I do it all the time with my series on overpriced condos that come on the market: http://www.justnewlistings.com/arlington-virginia-blog/jay-seville/latest-round-of-overpriced-condos-in-arlington-clarendon-ballston/show/
I’ve had listing agents thank me for it ironically. Seattle MLS sounds like a bunch of …..(use your imagination)!#!#@@
jay
Hopefully we see a SUIT fired right back at NW MLS!
When Sweet Digs first started I remember some fairly in-depth reviews. If you look at recent postings, they’re simply rehashing MLS info and throwing in a comment or two so it magically becomes a “review”. That’s neither a review or voicing an opinion. In this instance I agree with the NWMLS’ action.
However, this whole hoopla isn’t about Redfin. Rule 190 violations are widespread and Redfin was not singled out. Many agents & brokers are fined regularly under Rule 190. Redfin just has press coverage.
Hey Ben, interesting. I did not know that. What is in fact the rule stating?
In essence, it states that members may not advertise another member’s listing without first obtaining written permission.
The violations I often see are buyer agents posting other agents listings on Trulia, Google, Craigslist, etc, hoping to snag a buyer. Though, it’s fine as long as they get the listing agent’s approval but most do not. Another blogger got fined a couple of months ago, it was pretty hefty too.
The SeattlePI has an updated article with a response from the NWMLS.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/316205_redfin18.html