Interesting story about an agent who ran out of patience with an online lead generation system, only to later learn that those leads started converting into commissions. Good write-up of his story in Realty Times as well.

http://agentceo.blogspot.com/2006/01/why-i-left-and-why-i-am-back.html

If true I'd bet it's the exception...not the rule. I've had many clients that used them and the thought of anyone but Houdini closing 20+% of some of the leads I saw would be a miracle...

If you do the math I still think the Broker or Agent would be MUCH better served promoting their own site and or business as apposed to going the lead aggregator route but that's just my opinion.... For the amount invested...could the broker/agent have gotten 80 leads to work on through their own efforts... my guess would be yes

Then you have the lasting effects to consider... If those dollars were invested in the clients own marketing efforts there would undoubtedly be some residual business... With the aggregators...your surrendering to their mercy.... you don't pay...you don't play...period

Keep filling their coofers and they'll eventually price everyone but those with the deepest pockets out of the market...then what...start over....ughhhhh....

AgentCEO is run by HouseValues.com and the story in question has some serious holes in it with many member behind the scene believing it to be a plant story.

I agree... anyone saying they close more then 20% from leads off the Internet, I have to call them on that! Especially leads from HouseValues or JustListed... they pass you all sorts of cr*p leads...

1% or 10% or 20% the numbers are irrelevent. I truly belieive that the leads are not hard to get if you are using a website, Google AdWords, a weblog or a lead generation service.

Anyone working hard enough will get 100 leads in a given period of time and I believe 10-20 of those leads will do something in the next year to year in a half but whether they use you or someone else is definitely up to you, your contact schedule, marketing, attitude, and relationship that you build with those leads.

This guy is either a big closer or lucky I do not think that any service that feeds you leads is really going to give you any better or worse quality leads they just give you leads that you have to work.

"I do not think that any service that feeds you leads is really going to give you any better or worse quality leads..."

I disagree. These mega sites that sell you leads "shot-gun market" and just try to suck up any and all leads.

On the other hand, agents that market themselves do so in a manner that targets specific areas, towns, keywords, and in general get much better targeted qualified leads.

I know this because I've done both! I used to have a site that sucked up leads and sold them, and I run our personal website that target advertise and get much better quality leads.

The bottom line is... spend time and invest in yourself and learn to get leads yourself. Don't buy fish, learn to fish!