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Regular Contributor
lincolnlogs
Posts: 55
Registered: 02-04-2012
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Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

I always used Redfin to search for my homes.  I  know Redfin has listings in my  area.  I have learned to dismiss any comments on any homes made by Redfin agents because from personal experience, I noticed that the agents write reviews on homes by putting the homes in competition with their's in a bad light.  I saw this several times when looking at homes.  They rarely say anything about the positives on a competing home, they don't lie; they just make sure only the negatives are pointed out and if the home is really nice, they might give it one positive comment and then they give a very unbalanced review by pointing out the rest of things in the negative. 

 

So, if the home sounds so, so by a Redfin agent, DEFINITELY GO SEE IT!!!  You will be pleasantly surprised!!

Redfin Agent
philip-gvinter
Posts: 194
Registered: 05-18-2010
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Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

lincolnlogs,

 

I can's speak for other agents but when I leave comments I try to focus on things which I find outstanding whether they are positive or negative. I know that as a whole we try to point out the negative aspects of a home because the listing agent has already pointed out the positive. Our goal is to give our users more information and to point out things that other people will not. Is there a particular property that you feel an agent unfairly criticized?

Regular Contributor
lincolnlogs
Posts: 55
Registered: 02-04-2012
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Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

I don't think it is a good policy to point out negatives because the seller's agent pointed out positives - that is biased.  What is Redfin going to do when the seller can proove a Redfin agent caused a downturn in interest on their home due to comments and sues in direct proportion to their loss?  Redfin's policy as a whole should be be be BALANCED  and fair.  It is ok to point out the negatives, but completely ignoring the positives comes off as completely biased especially in a market where Redfin has competing homes to sell and the remarks are coming from a competing agent.  I have seen it plenty of times when I go in a home and see all the positives Redfin did NOT point out.  I can't name one specific time because there are too many to list.  I would suggest getting balanced BEFORE Redfin is sued. 

Super Contributor
Venturion
Posts: 1,878
Registered: 12-28-2007
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Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

I've been quite pleased with the Agent Insights, please keep them up! If there are so many, then it really shouldn't be that hard to find one example. Why don't you just list your home for sale so we can see actually what you're referring to.
Redfin Agent
philip-gvinter
Posts: 194
Registered: 05-18-2010
0

Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

Venturion,

 

I get the feeling that tere is an agent whose listing a Redfin agent saw and lef some disparaging comments about involved. I know that regardless of if they are  negative or positive our comments are factual and substantiated. There's no need for hurt feelings or threats of lawsuits, feedback generally helps the process but I guess not everyone likes full disclosure. Does anyone else have positive or negative comments about the quality, quantity or style of the agent insights that we leave? A little while back a user wrote and said that they want more specifics and more detailed feedback which is a suggestion that I took to heart and have been trying to incorporate into the feedback I leave. Does anyone else have any suggestions for how we can improve the quality of the feedback of the agent insights we leave?

AAJ
Visitor
AAJ
Posts: 6
Registered: 05-24-2009
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Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

I have been looking at homes as long as Redfin has been posting realtors comments, so I feel I can speak to the accuracy of their statements. They are right on the money. Redfin, thanks for your transparency.
Regular Contributor
lincolnlogs
Posts: 55
Registered: 02-04-2012
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Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

Phillip stated,  "as a whole Redfin agents DO point out the negatives because the selling agents point out the positives".  I repeat, that is a biased policy, plain and simple.   It is not balanced and fair.  Redfin has to know that most consumers reading Redfin's reviews are going to assume that it is fair and balanced.  But now, there is a clear admission their reviews are biased. The only thing I am doing is exposing Redfin's hypocrasy when they are obviously presenting biased opinions with the knowledge that the average consumer does not know they are being biased. 

 

To those who think a biased assessment is "right on the money":  You should also be able to agree that if Redfin did a review on your child and said they were, "short and horse faced", but failed to mention that they are a star athlete, an exceptional scholar, saves puppies and kittens, helps little old ladies cross the street,  ends world hunger, cures cancer, and brings world peace,  you would have to say they are "right on the money" because, after all, your child IS short and horse faced. 

 

After reading the  Redfin review on your child, who would ever want to have a home (oops, I meant child) like yours???

 

I wonder what the National Association of Realtors would say about this policy?

 

There is an obvious conflict of interest when a competing Redfin agent writes biased comments about any listing that is not their own under the guise of being balanced and fair.  

Regular Contributor
lincolnlogs
Posts: 55
Registered: 02-04-2012
0

Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

With an admission of being biased,  why suggest you give FULL disclosure?  (For those that don't know, full disclosure means you state all the facts, not just the facts you want.)

Redfin Agent
philip-gvinter
Posts: 194
Registered: 05-18-2010
0

Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings

So if two sides of the story are presented on the same page that is somehow not full disclosure? Please tell everyone which listing of yours got negative comments and why that offended you.

Redfin Agent
philip-gvinter
Posts: 194
Registered: 05-18-2010
0

Re: Redfin Agent Comments biased to sell THEIR listings


lincolnlogs wrote:

I have seen it plenty of times when I go in a home and see all the positives Redfin did NOT point out.  I can't name one specific time because there are too many to list.  I would suggest getting balanced BEFORE Redfin is sued. 


The above statement does not make any sense. If there are too many to list how hard is it to come up with one?