Charles Rutenberg Realty Owner Joe Moshe Predicts Change in Real Estate Business Model by 2015

“ Social Media, Mobile Technology Will Drive Home Sales for Agents in the “Flat World” ”

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(iRealtyWire.Org) – In The World Is Flat, author Thomas L. Friedman tells how information technology drives down barriers to empower individuals challenging traditional models of doing business. On Long Island, Joe Moshe, Broker/Owner, Charles Rutenberg Realty, says the traditional way Real Estate Agents sell homes will disappear within five years in the Flat World, thanks to the availability and use of information technology, social media and networking that will empower individual Agents to break their bonds with Broker-dominated brick-and-mortar offices.

Today, Real Estate Agents have to report to the office for mandatory floor time. They stay at their desks to make phone calls, which means they are spending less time in the field. Even worse, once they close on a deal, the Agent must give a substantial percentage of their commission (in most cases 50%) to their Broker, even if the Agent has done all the work.

“The successful Agent today understands that leads and sales are generated by being in the field, Internet marketing and social networking,” Mr. Moshe said. “The days of going to the office are over.”

At Charles Rutenberg Realty, each Agent has his/her own presence on the Charles Rutenberg Web site (www.crrli.com). The Web site offers the Agent’s biography and contact information. The online Agent list offers the Agent’s name, coverage area and links to their personal Web page and e-mail address. While out in the field, Agents have text messaging capabilities available on their cell phones to alert them of new and prospective buyers.

The firm uses the latest technology to reach out to new customers through search engines, online advertising and Realtor-based Web sites. Charles Rutenberg links its listings to other sites such as Realtor.com (the Web site of the National Association of Realtors), Google, Yahoo!, Craigslist and others at no charge to the Agent. Each agent can pay a nominal fee for a professional self-branding Web site fee that will cover site building, hosting and transfers of their listings to search engines. The Web site also has the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database on it, of which Charles Rutenberg Realty provides the MLS feed free of charge. Perhaps, most importantly, Charles Rutenberg provides extensive technology training and support to its almost 800 Agents who work independently. In addition, Mr. Moshe said, Agents will turn to social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to announce available residential properties or a closing on a sale.

“Five years from now, you will see more Agents out in the field instead of being behind a desk,” Mr. Moshe said. “Real Estate agencies need to get with the times and see that an Agent’s ability to make more money is dependent on how much time they spend outside the office and how much training and education they get. Learning new marketing methods will enable Agents to empower themselves and make more sales. I don’t understand why any Agent would pay for their own expenses, do all the work and split their commissions with the broker.” Upon making the sale, Charles Rutenberg’s Agents keep 100% of the commissions and pay only a $330 transaction fee.

Charles Rutenberg Realty has a full staff of six highly skilled professionals in its Plainview office to assist Agents with all their needs. Charles Rutenberg also has locations in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties.

In a little over three years, Charles Rutenberg has become the fastest growing Real Estate Office with almost 800 Agents. It is the No. 1 Real Estate Agency in New York and has the most listings and homes in contract. “Our model empowers our Agents to work independently and be motivated to make more sales because they get to keep all (100%) of their commission. That’s why we have been successful,” said Mr. Moshe.

For more information, call (516) 575-7500 or e-mail: jmoshe@crrli.com, or visit http://www.crrli.com.