I don’t know what in the hell is going on now. I just watched the video of Glenn Kelman speaking at the Inman Event and found myself liking Glenn Kelman. I know, I just wrote that. He was funny, remarkably candid and made a lot of good points. Have I changed any views I have regarding Redfin? No, and I really doubt that every time Greg Swann writes about him it is “good for business”, as he claimed. But setting aside any thoughts I have about the Redfin business model, I doubt I will ever view Glenn, the person, the same way again. In the past, I have tended to demonize him when talking about him or what he has done – and I really don’t like ad hominem attacks.
I wrote in the headline that he hit a home run. It wasn’t out of the park (I got that line from Jeff Brown) but still, a home run. As I have been so willing to say what I didn’t like, I thought it only fair to also say what I did.
Brian Brady says:
No doubt. GK was likeable.
August 3, 2007 — 1:29 am
Reuben Moore says:
So, if I understand you, you are saying Kelman is likeable and candid, but his business model is dubious…?
Greg might have to help me here with the advanced logic (I am but a simple real estate agent), but there seems to be a disconnect somewhere. Surely, this likeable and candid fellow is largely responsible for the charade called Redfin…?
August 3, 2007 — 6:03 am
Kris Berg says:
Glenn and Cynthia are both extremely nice, make no mistake.
August 3, 2007 — 6:31 am
Steve Berg says:
George W. Bush may be a nice guy, too. That doesn’t eliminate the fact that he misguided.
August 3, 2007 — 7:04 am
Cathleen Collins says:
I had the same positive reaction, Russ. Kelman comes across as an affable, charming man. When Kris interviewed him, she described him as a
But, despite his engaging, aw-shucks-I’m-just-a-regular-nerdy-kinda-guy pose, what he’s saying about you when he’s not talking to your face gives me the impression that this is one guileful man. There was that preying mantis stunt last year, that I believe was retracted from Redfin’s blog, so I haven’t gone back to find it. And then Kelman’s quote to the LA Times
And there’s more. All the things large and small. It’s the accretion of incidents that demonstrate he’s not trustworthy. Marlow Harris has summed it up
August 3, 2007 — 8:09 am
Greg Swann says:
> George W. Bush may be a nice guy, too. That doesn’t eliminate the fact that he misguided.
I’ve always thought George H. W. and Barbara Bush would be great neighbors: All the best power tools and always available to babysit. 😉
August 3, 2007 — 8:26 am
Lani says:
Cathleen- you nailed it. When professing love OR hate for any individual or business, there’s usually an underbelly that we easily forget or don’t know about.
That being said, KUDOS to Russell for stepping up to plate with a compliment- it’s easier to rant than praise, so great work!
August 3, 2007 — 3:08 pm
Glenn Kelman says:
Thank you Russell, for your kind words. You made my day.
August 5, 2007 — 10:10 am
terry mcdonald says:
I too found Glenn likable and not someone whose likeness I’d like to stick a pin in 🙂 and I know he is a smart guy.
I just don’t buy his basic argument– that salaried folk, even well paid ones, will go to work for a client on the buy side or the sell side, and do a better job than one on commission. I think this was Inman’s point as well, it has never been the case in the past, the difference between order taker sales people and the sales professional is vast and no amount of technology changes this.
Some agents do work the way Gelman believes– a slow sloppy response to a client inquiry, show them some property, and overall add little value to the transaction. These order taker agents could very well be replaced by a better professional, salaried is an option. But the commission structure typically weeds this type out fairly quickly.
The reason the high quality agent is hired, is because clients have a high degree of trust and confidence in their competence, and they know they’ll need that when it comes to making their final decision. My customers wouldn’t trade that relationship for a customer service relationship in the high stakes zero sum game of real estate.
As far as Gelman’s arguments about the University studies comparing the consumer experience of salaried or commission agents, in his view favoring the salaried profession, I’d love to get a link to that… because I am sure there is something missing.
Gelman said he had a 2.5% share of the Seattle market, to Scott’s 17%… maybe 2.5% of the market is the right number for their model.
August 8, 2007 — 8:28 pm
Shannon Perry says:
Hello.
I work with Tom and Elaine Kennelly, Associate Brokers at Keller Williams Realty, Huntsville, AL. Elaine has asked me to search your blog and try to find your listing presentation. I have not been successful searching on my own and was wondering if you would mind emailing this to them. Their address is info@tomandelainehomes.com.
Thanks so much for your help with this.
Shannon Perry
perry.shannon@gmail.com
February 28, 2008 — 11:12 am