I just heard of this new company that is planning to launch in mid-2009, called Aybaf. It is a new virtual brokerage model with the following pertinent points:
- A world-class consumer web portal, currently generating north of 2 million unique visitors per month
- Roughly 15,000 web-based leads every month, growing at 10% on average month over month (adjusted for seasonality)
- Full suite of online agent tools, ranging from a baseline free set to premium tools from Aybaf partners that the agent will select on an a-la-carte basis.
- Free will include: Agent Profile Page, Email Marketing Engine (including weekly CMA reports automatically generated), full-on listings syndication, Agent Website (agent.aybaf.com) with multiple templates featuring the agent’s own listings and a WordPress blog included.
- Options include: IDX feed, VOW site (with state-specific registration pathways), independent agent site (www.agent.com), Custom design (through Aybaf’s network of web development partners), Search Marketing (Aybaf has tools from AdWords to Omniture, where any agent can go purchase keywords easily), Featured Listings (on a competitive bid basis on geographies), and PR (through network of PR partners).
- Full social media support, included in the above suite of tools, from group blogs on blog.aybaf.com to individual blogs (hosted and managed on Aybaf’s Class-A datacenter) to premium paid services (all at agent’s discretion).
- Enterprise CRM platform, with social media tools. As I heard it, Aybaf is looking at the Zappos.com model of leveraging social media as a customer retention and relationship tool, and deploying that out to both an internal customer-service call-center as well as member agents. Every customer is tracked, leads are distributed according to proprietary algorithms, and performance tracked to ensure that leads are going to productive agents who respond quickly.
- Customer surveys after each and every interaction, to ensure that only the best agents remain affiliated with Aybaf, and to let agents know what they did well and where they can improve. Continual quality improvement is their goal.
- A range of partnerships with service providers, as well as a simple online resource center for agents to order services. For example, if you need a yardsign, Aybaf offers partnerships with six different yard sign companies at discounts ranging from 5% to 15%, and an online order center to easily expedite ordering yard signs. Same for any service an agent might need, from direct mail to SEO consultancies.
- Training will be available 24/7 through Aybaf’s automated Agent Resource Center, featuring WebEx, pre-recorded sessions from top names in training, as well as a network of coaches, consultants, and trainers on topics from business planning to social media. They’re incorporating BlackBoard software for enabling online education for all of their agents.
- Full range of professional services through partnerships. They are signing up real estate lawyers, mortgage companies, title companies, etc. at a rapid clip and integrating them as much as possible into the Agent Resource Center.
There were some other details, but the above are the main points.
The most amazing thing about this is that every agent will be on a 100% split, and because Aybaf is a purely virtual brokerage (except in states where they must have a physical office, in which case it will be the smallest possible “storefront” with a single desk, or even just a PO Box), the “desk fees” are only $19.95 a month.
Aybaf’s business model is premised upon making money upon delivery of actionable leads (they haven’t figured out the precise rate, but thinks it’ll be in the 10-15% of GCI, and only if it leads to an actual closed side for the agent), and taking a piece of any premium services the agent purchases.
What do you think? Could this work in real estate?
-rsh
UPDATE: You might want to read this, the followup to this post.
33 thoughts on “Introducing: Aybaf – A New Virtual Brokerage”
Interesting, but it scares me. Not, scares me.. .like, how will I make money in the new economy? But more, what happened to brokers actually accepting risk for their agents.
Brokerage is not about being cheap, or about providing web leads, it is about oversight and policy.
Sure, agents want freedom, and I’m not saying that brokers should be micromanaging their agents, but if you are making $240 from an agent each year, there is no way you are accurately pricing risk.
Every agent needs a different type of broker, but you could not convince me to be a principal broker at Aybaf for any price.
Interesting, but it scares me. Not, scares me.. .like, how will I make money in the new economy? But more, what happened to brokers actually accepting risk for their agents.
Brokerage is not about being cheap, or about providing web leads, it is about oversight and policy.
Sure, agents want freedom, and I’m not saying that brokers should be micromanaging their agents, but if you are making $240 from an agent each year, there is no way you are accurately pricing risk.
Every agent needs a different type of broker, but you could not convince me to be a principal broker at Aybaf for any price.
So they are going to make $240/year/agent. How many agents will they have to hire to break even (much less make a profit)?
No (or little) brick & mortar will certainly reduce their overhead, but the systems they are building and supplying can’t be cheap.
Seems they would need to hire a significant number of agents to be profitable.
Who will vet these agents, or will they hire anyone with a license and a pulse keeping them and their monthly checks while an algorithm distributes leads to “productive” agents? (Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to assign a brokerage generated lead to the right agent for that client. You know, by hand — matching the clients needs with the agents skill set and personality.)
I hope they have a substantial E&O policy in place. As Keith correctly points out in the comment above, there’s no way they could be providing the proper oversight to the number of agents they will need to have at the prices they are charging.
But wait. I see now that they are going to make 10 – 15% on every lead they provide that closes. Doesn’t really sound like “100% commission” to me, that sounds like a 85 – 90% split.
Of course brokerages that charge $1500/month “desk fees” claim “100% commission” too.
I give my agents almost complete autonomy to run their business as they see fit — within legal and ethical bounds of course. But I make damn sure they are compliant with all rules, regs and policies. Who will be doing that for Aybaf’s agents that are spread across the country?
Can it work. Sure. Sounds like some cool tools. I do share Keith’s concern about oversight. And while I love and embrace technology, some things (like assigning leads) are best lest to personal and professional judgment.
So they are going to make $240/year/agent. How many agents will they have to hire to break even (much less make a profit)?
No (or little) brick & mortar will certainly reduce their overhead, but the systems they are building and supplying can’t be cheap.
Seems they would need to hire a significant number of agents to be profitable.
Who will vet these agents, or will they hire anyone with a license and a pulse keeping them and their monthly checks while an algorithm distributes leads to “productive” agents? (Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to assign a brokerage generated lead to the right agent for that client. You know, by hand — matching the clients needs with the agents skill set and personality.)
I hope they have a substantial E&O policy in place. As Keith correctly points out in the comment above, there’s no way they could be providing the proper oversight to the number of agents they will need to have at the prices they are charging.
But wait. I see now that they are going to make 10 – 15% on every lead they provide that closes. Doesn’t really sound like “100% commission” to me, that sounds like a 85 – 90% split.
Of course brokerages that charge $1500/month “desk fees” claim “100% commission” too.
I give my agents almost complete autonomy to run their business as they see fit — within legal and ethical bounds of course. But I make damn sure they are compliant with all rules, regs and policies. Who will be doing that for Aybaf’s agents that are spread across the country?
Can it work. Sure. Sounds like some cool tools. I do share Keith’s concern about oversight. And while I love and embrace technology, some things (like assigning leads) are best lest to personal and professional judgment.
@Jay
Interesting and valid concerns, Jay.
I do think, however, that 10-15% on lead provided is hardly 85-90 split, since true 85-90 split is on leads that the agent farms himself. I believe companies like Weichert and others have this model, where if it’s a “house lead”, then they charge an extra %, and the agents seem to think that’s fair, as long as they keep 100% of leads they’ve brought in themselves.
Insurance is actually one of the biggest line items; apparently, that isn’t a major concern for them because of scale. Plus, indemnity provisions and the like can probably provide them more security as well.
Finally, I’m going to find out, but their model is similar to Sperry Van Ness in Commercial from a recruiting standpoint. They want to tempt the experienced, top producing agents, who have a proven track record. As Kris Berg mentions in her latest post, it doesn’t seem that experienced agents need anything from the broker.
@Keith
My understanding from speaking to numerous high quality agents (and see the Kris Berg link above) is that they really don’t need the broker for anything at all, especially ‘oversight and policy’. They routinely violate all kinds of brand ID guidelines in favor of building their own personal brand. Some agents, you would have to search long and hard to find out what brokerage/brand they are with from their business cards or websites.
How is Aybaf different from those?
-rsh
@Jay
Interesting and valid concerns, Jay.
I do think, however, that 10-15% on lead provided is hardly 85-90 split, since true 85-90 split is on leads that the agent farms himself. I believe companies like Weichert and others have this model, where if it’s a “house lead”, then they charge an extra %, and the agents seem to think that’s fair, as long as they keep 100% of leads they’ve brought in themselves.
Insurance is actually one of the biggest line items; apparently, that isn’t a major concern for them because of scale. Plus, indemnity provisions and the like can probably provide them more security as well.
Finally, I’m going to find out, but their model is similar to Sperry Van Ness in Commercial from a recruiting standpoint. They want to tempt the experienced, top producing agents, who have a proven track record. As Kris Berg mentions in her latest post, it doesn’t seem that experienced agents need anything from the broker.
@Keith
My understanding from speaking to numerous high quality agents (and see the Kris Berg link above) is that they really don’t need the broker for anything at all, especially ‘oversight and policy’. They routinely violate all kinds of brand ID guidelines in favor of building their own personal brand. Some agents, you would have to search long and hard to find out what brokerage/brand they are with from their business cards or websites.
How is Aybaf different from those?
-rsh
I just can’t figure out the acronym: Aybaf. Seems like it’s get “yet another” in there somewhere but the mix of letters is stumping me.
I just can’t figure out the acronym: Aybaf. Seems like it’s get “yet another” in there somewhere but the mix of letters is stumping me.
If their getting all these web hit every month how come I can’t find them on the internet. Our “cash flow for life” program for Realty Direct Boston beats this model all day long.
There is no way they are getting that kind of web traffic.
If their getting all these web hit every month how come I can’t find them on the internet. Our “cash flow for life” program for Realty Direct Boston beats this model all day long.
There is no way they are getting that kind of web traffic.
If you ask me, they are biting off more than they can chew. Whey start a national virtual real estate brokerage without testing their business model in one or two markets and then after a year or so of testing their model, launch on a national level.
I am with Keith, there is no way I would want to be a broker with Aybaf (What does that mean)!
If you ask me, they are biting off more than they can chew. Whey start a national virtual real estate brokerage without testing their business model in one or two markets and then after a year or so of testing their model, launch on a national level.
I am with Keith, there is no way I would want to be a broker with Aybaf (What does that mean)!
I think Wurzer is on the right trail in studying this as an acronym. Mid-2009; maybe the first of April as a launch date, perhaps? How about: Attention You Brokers, April Fools!?
I think Wurzer is on the right trail in studying this as an acronym. Mid-2009; maybe the first of April as a launch date, perhaps? How about: Attention You Brokers, April Fools!?
Gotta love the moxie. Smart, Imaginative people can easily sit down and paper napkin and blue print a time machine or a space shuttle.
The key, execution, leadership, funding, patience, adaptability.
Especially leadership, leadership to develop and crusade a culture. How can a tribe thrive without a culture? How can you create a culture when every man and woman can deliver any level of legal service?
Also, there aren’t enough Kris Berg/Jay Thompson fireballs to support an unsupervised model. As they’ve done, they do it better themselves.
The world turns – cheers.
Gotta love the moxie. Smart, Imaginative people can easily sit down and paper napkin and blue print a time machine or a space shuttle.
The key, execution, leadership, funding, patience, adaptability.
Especially leadership, leadership to develop and crusade a culture. How can a tribe thrive without a culture? How can you create a culture when every man and woman can deliver any level of legal service?
Also, there aren’t enough Kris Berg/Jay Thompson fireballs to support an unsupervised model. As they’ve done, they do it better themselves.
The world turns – cheers.
are you serious? no way they will make money.
are you serious? no way they will make money.
Rob,
I thought they we’re going with the WTF realty brand name? 🙂
Rob,
I thought they we’re going with the WTF realty brand name? 🙂
No way are these claims true. Looks like they are doing too much. Fail.
No way are these claims true. Looks like they are doing too much. Fail.
Hmmm… Looks to me like someone’s floating a trial balloon…
This is only one of a myriad possible models that companies looking to capitalize on the new rules of the road for virtual brokerage might adopt.
I’ve
pointed out before that I think 100,000 broker and agent website will have virtual brokerage capabilities by the end of 2010. I’m more firmly committed to that view every day.
If this hypothetical firm got off the ground, it would account for several hundred VOW sites all by itself.
Hmmm… Looks to me like someone’s floating a trial balloon…
This is only one of a myriad possible models that companies looking to capitalize on the new rules of the road for virtual brokerage might adopt.
I’ve
pointed out before that I think 100,000 broker and agent website will have virtual brokerage capabilities by the end of 2010. I’m more firmly committed to that view every day.
If this hypothetical firm got off the ground, it would account for several hundred VOW sites all by itself.
2,000,000 visitors/month? It would have to be a site that we’ve heard of before that will just be adding brokerage services to it’s model. National, currently generating lots of leads…
Zillow? Trulia? Roost? Does the traffic count match any of those sites?
2,000,000 visitors/month? It would have to be a site that we’ve heard of before that will just be adding brokerage services to it’s model. National, currently generating lots of leads…
Zillow? Trulia? Roost? Does the traffic count match any of those sites?
aybaf.com is available for purchase…
Obviously that isn’t what it’s going to be called.
Who is it??
aybaf.com is available for purchase…
Obviously that isn’t what it’s going to be called.
Who is it??
Could it be Active Rain’s Localism.com? Rob has written about it often, and it seems to fit.
Could it be Active Rain’s Localism.com? Rob has written about it often, and it seems to fit.
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