On the Internet today there are maybe hundreds of so called "referral sites", some huge, some fairly small. On the whole all these sites do is "troll" the wasters of the Internet trying to catch potential buyers and sellers and "refer" them to a Realtor somewhere in order to collect a referral fee. I think a key question that has to be answered about these "Internet fishermen" is; What value do they add to a transaction? Do they refer their customers to the best and brightest? Not in my experience. Do they at least call and talk with the Realtors they refer to? Not in my experience, they usually refer to whoever agrees to pay their fee. Experience level, production levels, and other indicators of competence don't count, just a willingness to pay a fee. Most times their criteria for selection to receive a referral is whoever answers their e mail first. Do they follow up with their customers and make sure they're happy with the level of service they are receiving? Some of the rare ones do but, again in my experience, most don't. On the whole I see no value added to the real estate transaction by these Internet fishermen, all I see most do is redirect business from one Realtor to another, not always to the best interests of buyers or sellers. I have to be licensed in my state to practice real estate why shouldn't anyone else doing essentially the same thing in my state have to conform to the same standards?

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