Hi- i have a pretty successful blog for rentals.. and current listings. Many are going to our site, but then calling listing agent directly. i guess they look them up elsewhere- pretty easy to do now. This is happening so much that we are really losing a lot of clients. Should i have a password or registration required to do the search? We get their info, name/#, but they evade us anyhow and admit to us when we call them. If we dont show the ppty, we dont get credit or payment for our work.

What seems to work best with renters, who tend to be really impulsive/impatient, is to send them a non-exclusive form to sign before we send them a search/details, so that mentally they are agreed to working with us.

I was thinking of making the search page on the blog private for rentals at least. Since i use a public blog, i am restricted on what i can do.

I used to have a service for them to contact us directly w/ their requirements, and we would supply the listings but I was at it for hours with little return. with the blog format, they search themselves and do the leg work, then contact us or request showings. At that point, maybe i should send them the form before agreeing to show to solidify that relationship.

Any advice?

I'm not sure that would work - they would just give a Mickey Mouse name.

However, you could offer them something "premium" by saying "Subscribe now to get the latest updates as soon as they hit the market".

That's why, even though I don't get a whole SLEW of leads, the ones I DO get are serious and real people.

We don't do rentals here on our MLS.

I haven't seen your website, but my initial reaction is first, I don't know how your capture rate compares to other similar sites, so it's hard to determine whether you even have a problem. And second, if you are losing more 'leads' than your competitors with similar sites, what are they offering that you don't?

For someone to choose to work with you based on nothing more than stumbling upon your website, you need to offer something appealing. Something of value. If these leads choose to contact the listing agents directly, what is it of value that the listing agent offers them that you aren't?

Well, with the rentals site- we offer a NO fee service. So, it beats me why they dont use us. I think they feel they will get a better deal if they go directly to LA. Or, perhaps they thought we were LA, but upon further digging around, realize we are not. Many renters are impatient. We normally get back to them w/in minutes, if i have anything to say about it. The one particular day (tue) we were at a golf outing all day and they left us a message, and the next day we called the LA who told us the clients already came to her. it was only a $3k rental, of which we would get 50%, but still.

I have begun sending a NON exclusive agency agreement to be signed before we even meet. So far, i had one lady more then happy to sign and fax back to me before i sent her the search.

They just want the best deal possible. apparently no fees, bending over backwards, willing to meet at any time night or day isnt good enough.

I get anywhere from 20-150 hits a day on my rentals page (and no other agents in teh area offer this type of site and no fee service, they are actually SANE and want to be paid upfront). About 100-400 hits a day on the site/blog. (just did a pumpkin and apple picking article- gets massive hits!)

You need a page or something to let them know that if they call the agent on the sign, that agent will not be looking out for their best interest, that they are legally responsible to try to get a good deal for the seller, and that if they use you, for free, that you will look out for their best interest, etc etc.

Perky- i checked out your sites. Maybe im not looking in the right place, can you direct me to where/how you qualify your leads or ask them to register??

THX!

I don't require them to register.