The DS News Red Book listing are coming soon.
Has anyone paid to be included and did you get any listings from it?

Bob, I called one of my buddies who is a Big REO LA and said, he got assignments from them.

Got the email, and deleted figuring it was one of the hundreds of attempts to get my marketing $$$.

Any idea how much a listing is? Probably area specific. Just curious, I may undelete.

Fiji, I spoke to a rep who said the cost was "around" 1,300 and we could talk more specifics when I make a commitment. I am really considering it along with the conference in Sept. I figure that 1,000 for a year would probably be better spent than $80 per month on the yellow pages which other agents in my office have signed up for.

Are you sure he meant $1300 a YEAR?

That is still a lot unless I hear other feedback. Of course if it works that great Im sure nobody wants to encourage more agents.

I've killed all my online and print newspaper ads and will be redirecting that money towards generating REO business.

Concept, you thinks it's $1300 a month? That seems crazy

If it is an annual publication, they would quote annual rates. It would be crazy to quote monthly rates for an annual publication.

I just spoke with them! They are offering a package for about what colemajc said. This package will include the Five Star conference and the DSNews magazine along with your information in their site for AM's to find you for a the whole year.

What was the cost Recovering? Did they give you a time frame to subscribe?

I spoke with rep who called me and she quoted me $1,390. Still thinking about it, but curious too if anyone else has actually done it in the past and gotten anything from it.

I checked into the links provided on email. They did not all work on their website when I tested it in my state so I told them about it last week. Today the rep calls and offers the $1390 and I tell her its too steep for what I see. She then says well how about $1100? I ask her why she quoted me $1390? She said thats what we are supposed to say. I told thanks but no.

Got the same email , that is steep to me ... and there are some local people signed up on my end...

One listing from the ad would pay for the fee, but I am going to think about it. Even one good lead that resulted in a listing would be worth it, but I'm still thinking about it. It seems like alot of money up front but it may be better than the directories that are bleeding me slowly for approx. $15.00 per month and never produce anything, but I need to think about it. I've now thought about it and all the REO listings are gone. I guess I'll wait until the next cycle. Goodbye, see ya in 12 years.

Yes, $1300 a month would be crazy.

However, $80 a month just doesn't seem to be enough for all the exposure it would give. It would seem an ad in Red Book would add tons of credibility.

You guys really think its steep compared to some of the other stuff we spend $ on?

It's more than I want to come up with right now as I assume they want it all at once...but I'm thinking - breaking it down to $80 a month just doesn't seem that bad.

I do it, haven't seen anything in return. I also paid less than you were quoted, you can talk them down. I paid about $900. I have been doing it for about 6 months. I will probably do it for another year just to see if it produces. In the long run it was cheaper than anything else I was doing, and targets exactly who I want to see my name.

So A & M you have had it for six months and nothing? Makes me wonder.

Going to conferences gets pricey quick though. If you look at airfare, hotel and the conference it hits $2,500 in a heart beat.

I have seen many people advertise in the magazine over the years. Very few do it on a consistent basis and then they are gone. Has to mean either they got so much business off of it they were overwhelmed or they didn't get anything from it an quit doing it.

Print advertising died a couple of years ago.

No time limit to subscribe with them. But remember those fees include the next conference in Dallas on September '08. Not bad at all!

This is what I got out of email and phone call:

The $1390 is for Redbook Directory which runs in July issue ONLY of DSNews and a year of ONLINE advertising.

The business card size advertising in DSNews is $650 per MONTH.(yikes!)

I think we're all getting Redbook directory and DSNews confused as the directory is just part of one (or maybe 2) issues of DSNEWS.

A&M - can you confirm what you're paying the $900 for?

They said included is the conference fee. Perhaps, he is not attending the 5 Star meeting.

Here's the new info on Red Book that was just emailed to me. A&M, you've been with them for about nine months. Have you gotten anything from it?

Anyone else subscribe to Red Book with good or bad results. There are several agents in my area that subscribe and I was wondering if it was worth the money. Any opinions?

Info emailed from Red Book rep:
The cost is $1195-that will put you online at reoredbook.com for twelve months and then you will be in the print version of the Red Book Directory that will be published in July 2009. You can pay for this in three equal payments or I can discount it an additional $100 if you want to pay up front.

That's extremely expensive for a directory. What's the point of the hard copy anyway? If I'm going to be included in one of the online REO directories I don't think I would spend that much unless I was guaranteed listings.

Anyone have any online directory's they can recommend?

That is very expensive. I work for three agents that have signed with that company but haven't received any results. Invest your time and money signing up with the free submissions after investing each company. The results are often better.

Any new info on the Redbook? It looks like there are several Realtors in my area that are on this website. They charge like $1200 for a year and you also get a listing in their yearly directory that goes out in July to all the AM's.

Seems kind of steep to me but if you pick up one new client it would be worth it. We are considering it, so I thought I'd bring the thread up again and ask for opinions.

Has anyone gotten any business from them?

I was wondering the same thing. Has anyone has success with them?

Nothing. Never got a single property or contact from anything I did with them. Waste of time and money- but it was a tax write off I also wrote them off and no longer do this.

Which probable gets treated the same way I treat my Yellow Pages (all 6 different copies I get). Goes from Driveway to Recycling Bin, with no stops in between

With all the agents chasing REO now, and so many AMC not accepting new agents, when they need an agent they are just going to pull up someone already in their database, not pull some book off a shelf.

BUMP

I was just contacted by these people to sign up- $1095 for a year of being in the online directory and being published in the print version that comes out once a year. They are crazy if they think I am paying that!

Among the things for which I am thankful, is included the DELETE button, and that is what happens to outrageous solicitations such as this.

I advertised in the Redbook for three years in a row and received no business and not one phone call. Your experience may be different but it was a loser for me.

I spoke to an agent who is on the list in the Mosdesto ca area and he hasnt received a REO listing yet... 2 years in that REO RED BOOK. Its a marketing ploy to get agents money.. From what I have read on just this forum is that REO RED Book and five star conference are junk. Classes are weak, massive marketing.. No results for agents. please let me knoew if im wrong..D

I keep getting those emails from redbook too, I send the straight to SPAM :-)

Same experience for me. However, I only advertised for two years. I did get a few calls, but they were from contractors soliciting business.

Stop throwing your money away!!

My team spent the $$$ to buy a full-page in the last Red Book!
Serious dinero invested! We figured go-big-or-don't-go-at-all.
I like the Five Star Conference. The Red Book ad itself did NOT generate a single lead.

Not again.

(Your mileage may vary.)

I have been at five star this week, so i opened up the red book...

hmmm ok let me find california....

hmmm ok about 50 pages just for california...yea ok I think not

if your area isnt as saturated, its probably a better idea, if your area is already saturated prolly not worth it.

I am still kicking around the idea of paying for this....there are only 3 agents in my "area" but the closet one is 30 miles away...so I don't consider that saturated.

I'd just like to post a response to this thread. Although I know it's some time ago when this question was asked, but I just feel it's important for it to be addressed. Working for DS News, I know for fact that asset managers not only have used our REO Red Book as a source for agents and brokers to get their properties in the right hands, but they consistently go back to it as a resource. In fact, just recently an agent got two listings in a weeks time span. This book works, and works well.

What it does require is some accountability on the agents behalf. No resource that you register to be a part of will automatically provide you with a bucket full of REO properties. You have to be consistently updating your profile, networking, and building relationships in order to get effective results.

There have been a lot of great additions to the usability of the REO Red Book, as well. Direct contact with the editor, updates on FaceBook, and with the all-new site rolling out -- it makes it even more of an efficient resource for asset managers. Do not let comments/opinions be the decision maker -- just give us a call, or visit us online and ask all the questions you have.

Thanks!

All the agents I know personally who have paid for this got nothing. Save your money and spend it elsewhere. Asset managers are not using them to find agents. Their use their own database inside the company.

Hi Bill,

What is the name of an agent you know that is currently listed? We would like to look them up, see which area they lie in, and see how recently they have updated their profile.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to how many listings you get -- from the amount of networking you're doing and referring to your profile page, to the zip code you are listed in. We would like to get an idea of the individuals you may know of that didn't, or currently are not, getting listings so we can assist them.

I was considering trying the Redbook again. I was in it before without any luck but thought I would look into it again. I sent out a bunch of emails to agents from around the country who are currently in the book. The emails were totally random. I asked the agents if they have received any new business as a result of their ads. So far, 11 agents responded. All stated that they have not received any new business that was a result of their ad in REORedbook.com. Most are not going to renew. Granted, my little survey is not a scientific one but it was enough, along with the responses in this forum to convince me not waste more money on the Redbook.

Two words...HECK NO!

Save your money and use it for traveling to meet AMs in person.

I like how these money making advertising, and or referral ventures always put it back on the agent being responsible. Like they were calling you but you didn't answer! Save your money! In fact if someone is looking for money for something...anything..question it heavily!

I have not been approached about one of these listings, but I sense this play is about BPOs too. Not to change the subject. This person Jeff Jonas is a member of two of the 3 MLS systems I belong to.


Disregard this post I got my wires crossed. Sorry.

But he's not with Red Book, or Red Ball . . . . Is he?

Isn't he strictly a Red Bell ?

It has not been worth it for me. I signed on in 2009 with optimism and not even a phone call. I resigned with for another year on in 2010 with guarded optimism -- still not a call. I think they are nice people but they have not delivered.

I believe that they use to have pull but not in todays market.