Dear Real Estate Agents,
I’m sure you have the heard the news: starting soon, StreetEasy will begin charging you for every rental you post on their site. Yes, this is a gut punch in the stomach for agents who need a reliable source for leads. It is also, quite frankly, a betrayal.
While as the founder of Leasebreak I would love for leasebreak.com to be your free alternative to post and search for rentals as we already are for many agents (we moved beyond just “leasebreaks” years ago), I am writing to you now as a colleague.
Maybe it is because I have been a New York City real estate agent for many years—thirteen, to be exact. Let’s face it, it’s a brutal business, especially the rental side of the business, an area close to my heart. Unless you have actually been in our shoes, you can’t comprehend what it takes to get a deal done from start to finish; you simply can’t empathize—and it is now perfectly clear that the executives at StreetEasy can’t either.
Thinking of leaving StreetEasy? You will survive!
Read how on breakupwithstreeteasy.com
We even wrote a “Dear Streeteasy” letter to sum up our feelings. ?
StreetEasy became the market leader by convincing all of the brokerage firms to post their listings on their website. To accomplish this, they deceived brokers in three ways:
First, they indicated that they would only accept listings from brokers. But then they surprised agents by allowing landlords and tenants to post on their site.
Second, they assured you all leads from your listings would go directly to you. StreetEasy’s new “Premier Agent” program abruptly ended that commitment.
Finally, they led you to believe it would always be free to post listings on their site. Yet now by charging all rental agents to post their listings, the deception has reached new heights.
One thing I want to make crystal clear: Leasebreak’s goal is not to become the next StreetEasy. The real estate community should never find itself in this predicament again: one firm or source that is relied upon too much, possessing too much market power, and justifying reprehensible business decisions which harm the community who, ironically, helped create it.
This is why Leasebreak wholeheartedly supports REBNY’s effort to once and for all provide a true MLS in New York City. Real estate agents need this to be protected from a greedy juggernaut like StreetEasy.
I hope that you will come to see Leasebreak’s rental marketplace as a free alternative. You already know that Leasebreak is the clear leader in finding shorter term furnished and unfurnished rentals between one and twelve months online, but did you know:
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Many 12 month listings are also posted on Leasebreak by agents, tenants breaking their lease, and condo/coop owners.
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Agents can post listings and get leads for free. They can also search listings for free.
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We host properties not listed anywhere else. Since our marketplace is free to list, many who post on Leasebreak are from owners and tenants who don’t want to pay the $125 to post on StreetEasy. (Who can blame them?!).
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We have a special program where agents can get exclusive rental listings or work with renters. Over 250 agents are in the program as of today, and they love it.
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We have “shares” or “rooms for rent”. While most agents don’t “work” these type of clients, many still refer their clients to a transparent, professional real estate website for these types of apartments.
We look forward to seeing you on Leasebreak.com. And please, don’t hesitate to respond and ask me any questions. Hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Phil Horigan,
Founder, Leasebreak
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