Why is everyone trying to sell me YOUR information
How about some bookmark love? ::
It seems that lately, I'm being contacted on just about a weekly basis from various companies trying to sell me information on the public at large. I despise the practice of turning your personal information into a commodity, especially with the recent wave of ID Theft heading around.
Let's take a look at who is trying to sell me your information, shall we?
Websites that offer some sort of bait, such as "The Free Value of Your Home", or "Get updates of Just Listed Homes in Your Area." are taking the sign-in information that they require you to provide to get the bait, and then they turn around and sell it to Real Estate Agents.
I'm guessing that there are 2 main reasons for using these sites,
1. To avoid using a Real Estate Agent because you're just not that far along in your buying/selling process, and you're still just curious.
2. Because most of these sites run nationwide advertising on the major cable news channels right beside reports of the Real Estate Market.
If you are using these sites for any reason, don't be surprised to get a slew of calls from Real Estate Agents and Mortgage Lenders alike. You can expect your phone to ring within hours, if not minutes of you signing up.
Let's take a look at who is doing this.
Recently, I have been contacted by the following companies:
HouseValues.com
JustListed.com
HouseHunt.com
RealEstate.com
Not to mention, I have also been contacted by a bunch of non-memorable companies that aren't as high profile. They all have the same goal, to profit from selling details about you.
Here is what you can/should do to avoid it:
Don't visit those websites, if someone asks you to provide data about yourself in exchange for information, remember that information is most likely free somewhere else.
Consider contacting a REALTOR® directly, because in the end, all the information filters through to us anyway.
Would you rather support a big-business whose business model may be less than honest, or a small-business? Small businesses, that's exactly what REALTORS® are.
Let's take a look at who is trying to sell me your information, shall we?
Websites that offer some sort of bait, such as "The Free Value of Your Home", or "Get updates of Just Listed Homes in Your Area." are taking the sign-in information that they require you to provide to get the bait, and then they turn around and sell it to Real Estate Agents.
I'm guessing that there are 2 main reasons for using these sites,
1. To avoid using a Real Estate Agent because you're just not that far along in your buying/selling process, and you're still just curious.
2. Because most of these sites run nationwide advertising on the major cable news channels right beside reports of the Real Estate Market.
If you are using these sites for any reason, don't be surprised to get a slew of calls from Real Estate Agents and Mortgage Lenders alike. You can expect your phone to ring within hours, if not minutes of you signing up.
Let's take a look at who is doing this.
Recently, I have been contacted by the following companies:
HouseValues.com
JustListed.com
HouseHunt.com
RealEstate.com
Not to mention, I have also been contacted by a bunch of non-memorable companies that aren't as high profile. They all have the same goal, to profit from selling details about you.
Here is what you can/should do to avoid it:
Don't visit those websites, if someone asks you to provide data about yourself in exchange for information, remember that information is most likely free somewhere else.
Consider contacting a REALTOR® directly, because in the end, all the information filters through to us anyway.
Would you rather support a big-business whose business model may be less than honest, or a small-business? Small businesses, that's exactly what REALTORS® are.
