Roost Reveals the Brokers in its Nest
Roost has announced its network of broker partners and it’s a pretty impressive list. Just a few of them named in their press release:
- @ Properties
- Advanced Real Estate Services
- Century 21 Carole White Associates
- Century 21 Sussex and Reilly
- Classic Properties REALTORS®
- Coldwell Banker Burnet
- Coldwell Banker Elite
- Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
- David Winans GMAC Real Estate
- ERA Key Realty Services
- Intero Real Estate Services
- Long & Foster
- Lyon Real Estate
- Prudential CA/NV/TX Realty
- Prudential California Realty
- Prudential Carruthers REALTORS®
- Prudential Fox & Roach, REALTORS®
- Prudential Gary Greene, REALTORS®
- Prudential Georgia Realty
- Sadle Real Estate Team at John L Scott
- Tarbell, REALTORS®
- Towne & Country, REALTORS®
- Willis Allen Real Estate
If you remember, unlike Trulia and Zillow who source listings from broker feeds, Roost gives each of those brokers an individual IDX-driven site to which it, in turn, drives its search traffic to. It’s an approach that has generated a fair amount of controversy so far (see the comments in Roost.com Kicks over the RE Search Cart).
Roost says it has “more than 40″ broker partners signed up so far and as they continue to launch in new markets that number will surely grow. But right now it’s an interesting mix of agent teams and small, medium and big brokers. Which raises a few questions.
I wonder how John L Scott, for example, will react to the fact that traffic being sent to one of its agent’s sites and not to its corporate site? Let’s say the ‘mothership’ gets involved, are the agents then shunted to one side? Or are all sites treated equally in Roost’s eyes?
I’m also curious if all of these partners are paying partners (Roost’s stated business model is based on the brokers paying for the traffic sent their way) and if so how much? Anyone want to spill the beans?
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David G from Zillow.com | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
Joel -
Just FYI; Zillow does not only source listing feeds from brokerages. Some of the more progressive MLS’ have expressed interest (MLSPIN’s listings are now on Zillow) and from listings aggregation and syndication services (e.g. NCI and Vflyer respectively.)
David G from Zillow.com | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
Correcting the above comment:
“and we receive listings from aggregation and syndication services.”
Terry Sanford | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
30¢ per click-through to the brokers website (not their Roost hosted IDX site)
Ron Ares | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
The terms of participating with Roost during the public beta are covered under non-disclosure. Well, at least I know Advanced Real Estate Services’ agreement is.
Kyle Else | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
I wonder if they would allow discount broker models to provide feeds. (ie: Redfin, BuySide Realty, Help-U-Sell)
Ann Cummings | Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
I’m thinking that since so many brokers are still stuck back in broker-centric mode, that they just aren’t going to be liking Roost’s purported model of sending traffic to agent’s sites versus only to broker’s sites. On the other hand, maybe Roost will help drag those brokers still trying to control the world into the here and now, and help them realize that if their agents do well, they in turn will, too.
Hmmm, I wonder………
Michael Rahmn | Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
How is this model really any different than HomePages (from HouseValues) or the Yahoo/Pru deal (or hundreds of others on a smaller scale)?
Other than a difference in how they charge for the traffic, they do basically the same thing: Get a feed from an MLS using a local broker permission then send traffic to an agent (or broker) and switch out the URL to maintain compliance with the IDX rules.
There is no *new* controversy here. As far as I can see the key difference is this team has good experience building something usable.
Michael Rahmn | Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
… that was meant as a compliment to Roost, not as a criticism of others. I love all the competition in interface design — the rising tide floats all boats…
retrove.com | Feb 8, 2008 | Reply
@Terry & Joel - there has been discussion regarding the business model and “possible” cost of going the roost route - http://agentgenius.com/?p=907 comment #3 - replacing figures from that post with what Terry has indicated at .30 ppc the cost may not pencil out for brokers since the example based it at .10
I agree that the model is not much different than what everyone else is doing and the main differences are search interface. The real issue is the pressure that local MLS may receive from other members who are not on the roost platform and how the roost business model will change if the MLS boards pull the idx feeds from the participating brokers?
Personally, I don’t think the roost model is very different than the old Homegain Buyerlink model… except Homegain already has significant traffic.
Hawaii Life | Feb 8, 2008 | Reply
interesting concept…now if only the detail pages didn’t take you off to the broker’s website : )