Am I missing something? The NAR Experience.

by Kris Berg

Realtor, Associate Broker

Author website

Am I missing something?

At the moment, I am conventioned out, one tired buckaroo. So, I am playing hookie this evening and, undoubtedly, missing out on some life-changing announcement. “Zillow has made a $40 gazillion offer to purchase the San Diego Home Blog. Is Kris Berg in the audience?” Nope.

Last night, Noah Rosenblatt and I were briefly discussing the Great Divide that is the audience at Inman. In the far corner of the ring we have the geek-inclined or, more appropriately, the brokers, agents and other industry players who are giving their all to stay relevant and to evolve: To survive. In the other, we have the challengers who are retreating to the lobby after each session to debate the day’s hottest topics, such as how to spell Truliadotcom or, for that matter, how to open their web browser.

Who was NAR CEO Dale Stinton speaking to? The answer is “c”. None of the above. Or, maybe I’m just missing something.

Unlike Greg, I was impressed with Zillow‘s Rich Barton. Call his remarks an attempt at poetry or self-serving fluff, but this guy is trying. And, I sincerely believe that he believes that not only is the fabric of our industry changing, but the fabric of our world. He is smart and cunning, and attempting to lead the revolution. And he is amassing more wealth than I could hope to accumulate in 40 lifetimes doing what I (love to) do.

Then came Dale. Forgetting that his demeanor was the incarnation of the stereotypical, bureaucratic, myopic real estate agent image that has become our industry albatross, his big light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel, “I’m comin’, Beany-Boy!” message was that our Realtor dues would be increasing. Why?

He gave many examples of great new things that our dues would be underwriting. Since I am too lazy to go back and watch Inman TV, I will paraphrase. First, the BOARD (bow heads in reverence) has allocated funds to send Dale to “more of these kinds of events”. Great. I’m paying for Dale Stinton and me to go to Inman. Next, the BOARD (avert eyes in respect) has authorized vast amounts of our money to be spent on a national listings “Gateway”. This will be for agents only, of course, and in my estimation will put one more nail in the Buyers Agent’s coffin, but I’ll table that for another day. The truly Big Idea was the establishment of a NAR online “Experience”.

According to my fearless leader, and again speaking from memory, NAR will be promoting the establishment of an online portal which will (work with me, I’m a little fuzzy) cause the consumer to renew their vows with the Real Estate Professional and pledge their lifelong fidelity to same. Mr. Stinton likened it to a basketball tournament which he attends annually. It’s not so much about the game as it is about the “event”, which is much, much more encompassing.

So, I am envisioning this to be like the Superbowl, or maybe Fremont Street in Las Vegas – The NAR Experience! Why just take a trip to the dentist for that root canal? Let’s make a weekend of it. Yeah, that will work. In NAR’s defense, this could be the biggest thing since, say, the Internet, so forgive my skepticism. I’m just a little short on specifics.

I’ll give you a real life example of why I’m skeptical. Every time I buy that little, grossly overpriced tube of Oil of Olay Age Rejuvenator, I remind myself that it took 10 years to get myself into this mess, and it will take me another ten to reverse the process – That is, if it’s not too late. I wrote awhile ago about big real estate companies having a lot in common with battleships. They are slow to react. Zillow and Trulia and the likes (and there will be millions of more “likes” entering the ring before I hit the publish button) are lean, mean, nimble and entrepreneurial. NAR is still singing “The Way We Were”. While NAR is attempting to build a national, Realtor-only Gateway, everyone else is busy providing the same information to the consumer. Remember the consumer? They are the dudes who actually buy and sell the product we represent. While NAR is sitting around in the exclusive, members-only clubhouse in their smoking jackets, Rich Barton is out dating my client.

Nearing the end of the session, Mr. Stinton remarked that a major worry of his was the potential for catastrophic attacks on the global financial systems at the hands of computer-hacking evildoers. Absence of nexus aside – Damn that Internet!

Maybe I am missing something.

(Note: After the Inman Blogger’s Connect, I swore I would never write the dreaded Wall of Words again. Sorry. It’s tough to change course.)