Real Estate Bloggers And Journalists – Are We All That Different?
How does what we post on real estate blogs affect your views?
Update: The amendment allowing for the extension and expansion did eventually pass and was signed into law by the President. You can read up on the new rules and changes in “First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit – The New Extension And Expansion.” I still stand by my thoughts on the damage that can be caused by misinformation of this kind (even when it eventually becomes true and correct).
With the recent “breaking news” on the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit being extended into 2010 and the rash of real estate bloggers who jumped into the fray announcing that it was indeed passed, I became concerned over the similarities between real estate bloggers and journalists.
As a local San Antonio real estate blogger, a big part of my job is to discuss real estate news with you through my posts. Whether it’s neighborhood information, market reports, national real estate news, or an article helping you understand the steps to buying a home – in many ways I am a journalist. I report to you and you read the news in my posts. Because of this, I need to maintain a certain level of accuracy for your benefit as well as mine. If I posted only half-truths and lies, you probably wouldn’t return here. If I lead you astray with some misinformation, you’ll suffer the consequences of my incorrect post. It doesn’t make sense for either of us.
And in the wider scope of things, what message does misinformation send to the public about the real estate industry? We have always struggled with the stories of the “bad apples” who make us all look like money hungry crooks. Not all real estate agents are, there are some out there that care more for the consumer than you will ever realize. Of course, it’s the bad ones that make it into the headlines. It’s the bad ones who seem to always be known on a first name basis with the public. They are what keeps our industry from connecting with the public in a meaningful broad-based way. We could do without them. Many of us Realtors® fight that image day in and day out and do what we can to improve not only our image, but our actual skills and handling of the real estate world. Several of us during this most recent spate of tweets and posts about the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, took our time to speak with those passing out the misinformation and help teach them why what they had said was wrong. Some of it was met with anger on their part, some of it was met with grateful thanks. Instead of leaving these people hanging there to look like fools, some of us took the time out of our day to help improve our industry, something we care for a great deal.
Please note that although the tax credit has not yet been extended, it is looking likely. I am not here to argue the validity of if and when it will happen (that’s another post for another day), but rather to discuss whether we as real estate agents need to step up our game and take more responsibility for what we are reporting.
Related articles by Zemanta
- The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit – How misinformation affects us all. (sanantoniorealestaterockstar.com)
- First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit NOT Extended Depsite What You May Have Heard. (rerockstar.com)
- THE TAX CREDIT HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED. Yet. So PLEASE stop saying it has been! (phoenixrealestateguy.com)
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Comments
Great blog post. I’m an avid real estate blogger; and I pride myself on trying to post factual information vs. rumors.
I do think we have a responsibility to research, research, and research some more to make sure we have the facts correct.
Kathy – Thanks for stopping by. I definitely agree that we need to “research, research, and research some more.” It can be difficult and mistakes can be made, but when I see agents blindly re-tweeting info from other people without checking the facts and writing articles based on an article that was only half-read, that’s when I begin to worry. Many of the articles that people used as links to support their posts and tweets were quite clear that nothing had been voted on, yet people claimed they had. On the other hand, many journalists should share some of the blame as many of the article headlines read as if it were a done deal, but within the post they used a bit more specific language to state that it was “tentatively agreed upon.”
Matt: You can’t be a real journalist until you have perfected the art of forging 30 year old documents in Microsoft Word. Then you get a $10 million settlement when you get fired. Nice work if you can get it.
This is why so many believe what they read on blogs-it is more reliable than what the networks or the NY Times produce.
Thomas Johnson´s last blog ..Dancing.
Thomas – I guess I have a lot to learn, I never was very good with Word. I agree with the underlying theme of what you’re saying, that in many cases journalists aren’t exactly “trusted” news sources either.
That’s part of what I’m getting at. Perhaps we need to push harder at being better in order to avoid the same fate.
Thanks for stopping by.
rerockstar´s last blog ..How do we connect? Social Media, San Antonio real estate, and you.
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