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The agent’s guide to crafting a winning unique value proposition

Your unique value proposition is more than just a catchy slogan, writes media expert Jeremy Knauff. It’s a powerful way to differentiate yourself from your competition.
Quality control standards for AVMs may cover discrimination

Proposed standards would include random sample testing and reviews to ensure a “high level of confidence” in the estimates produced by AVMs.
A 4-decade first, TopProducer rolls out lead-gen features

“Before coming to the market with our first lead product to connect consumers with real estate professionals, we wanted to create even more meaningful conversations for agents by enhancing our proven lead engagement technology,” TopProducer’s Kerm Foltz said.
ChatGPT plugin to empower Zumper search experience

Machine learning has been a component of Zumper’s overall solution for some time, but its ChatGPT use will enhance consumer-facing interactions primarily in terms of search, according to the company.
Mortgage rates ease on debt deal, but jobs report fuels inflation fears

Friday’s strong jobs report renews worries that the Federal Reserve is not done hiking rates to combat inflation as policymakers face June 14 decision to “hike, skip or pause.”
Apartment at Jay-Z’s former ‘stash spot’ lists for $1.4M

The two-bedroom apartment at 560 State St. in the Boerum Hill neighborhood is in the building eulogized by the rapper as his former “stash spot” in his 2009 hit “Empire State of Mind.”
UrbanDigs launches custom advisory service for NYC agents

Reports from UD Advisor examine listings and specific situations with hyper-local market data, relevant sales and custom analytics from UrbanDigs to provide agents with actionable, data-based recommendations for their businesses, Inman has exclusively learned.
SphereBuilder, another social media engine or something more? Tech Review

SphereBuilder offers listing marketing, marketing analytics, ideas for improving your online presence and a host of features to produce and measure digital marketing.
Airbnb sues New York City over ‘de facto ban’ on short-term rentals

The company says only nine of its nearly 40,000 units in New York have been approved under the new law — which Airbnb claims is meant to drive out short-term rentals.
SEE: Inside ‘Fifteen,’ The Agency’s first-ever NYC luxury condo project

The brokerage launched sales this week for its first-ever luxury condo new development project in The Big Apple. Sales agent Shane Boyle filled Inman in on all the juicy details, including the unparalleled views.
Zillow, Elon Musk, bombshell commission suits: Inman’s Top 5

Wondering what you missed this week? Find out with Inman’s Top 5 most-read stories of the week.
Your Inbox Zero obsession won’t make you a better agent

In his first column for Inman, Jay Papasan, the co-author of “The One Thing,” says that while Inbox Zero is held up as a productivity ideal, it’s not necessary for streamlined email management.
Hiring in real estate ramps up — but lags behind other industries: Labor

May was a strong hiring month for the U.S. as a whole. But in a down market, real estate didn’t quite keep pace, according to new jobs data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tick, tick, boom: The Download on the bombshell commission suit

Each week on The Download, Inman’s Christy Murdock takes a deeper look at the top-read stories of the week to give you what you’ll need to meet Monday head-on. This week: We move a step closer to the courtroom as the bombshell lawsuit’s judge sets a window for scheduling the upcoming trial.
Robert Reffkin’s mom, Ruth, has joined Compass’ Garson Team

The senior Reffkin’s move to the social media-forward team will create a cross-generational collaboration that capitalizes on combining varied skill sets to best help clients, Inman exclusively learned.
Will AI replace real estate agents?

While AI has the potential to automate and certainly enhance many aspects of the real estate industry, writes California Realtor Ken Sisson, it is unlikely to replace human agents completely anytime soon.
David Doctorow steps down as CEO of Realtor.com parent Move, Inc.

Doctorow oversaw the company as its revenues and site traffic rose to record highs, the company said. But as with the rest of the industry, Move has shown signs of a slowdown.
82% of Americans favor upzoning as fix for skyrocketing housing costs

Zillow’s latest housing survey revealed overwhelming support for accessory dwelling units, duplexes, triplexes and other dense-housing complexes as housing costs have doubled from pre-pandemic levels.