Chris Kelly envisions a future in which real estate listings look similar to video streaming.
“All of us were extremely excited to cut the cable cord,” the HomeServices of America president and CEO said last month while on stage at Inman Connect New York. “Remember when you finally did it, you probably told your friend or your family, ‘I finally cut cable, right?’ And then now you have Apple TV, Disney Plus, Netflix, Paramount. All the rest of them, Peacock. […] How many of you are saying now, ‘Couldn’t someone just bundle these things together into one place?'”
The comments came amid a broader debate about private listings. Some brokerages — most notably Compass, but others as well — have worked in recent years to build out networks of listings that do not immediately appear on multiple listing services or major portals such as Zillow. And the rise of these networks has generated significant debate among industry professionals.
But during his appearance at Inman Connect, Kelly painted a negative picture of a future dominated by private listings.
“Now I have to go to […] 12 different places to watch the shows that I want — or see the listings that I think may be for sale,” he said. “Tell me how that is putting the consumer first or how that’s a better experience.”
Kelly appeared on stage with Stuart Siegel, president and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas, and Joe Skousen, CEO of Inside Real Estate. Watch the full debate above.
