I was called yesterday by a Buyer who found me on Zillow. In discussing her situation, she boldly shared her outrage that the Realtor she was working with wasn't doing anything. She was spending too much time online looking at homes and sending them to her Realtor so that she can take a look at the house. She said "just because I can find homes on the Internet, doesn't mean I want to spend all my time looking for my house. Isn't that the Realtor's job." I took this opportunity to genuinely empathize with her situation.
I have spoken to a lot of people who feel they are doing most of the work in finding a property. Unfortunately, in today's Internet driven society, I think some Realtors have forgotten that we are still the experts and are relied upon by buyers to find their dream home. It's really easy to simply say; "Go to my website, register on my IDX, and search for homes. When you find some, go ahead and save them." I certainly use that phrase, but what I think agents need to remember, though, is that our website search tool should simply assist us in understanding what our clients like. WE ARE THE EXPERTS!
We know neighborhoods, value trends, pros & cons of certain homes and areas, as well as being connected to local agents who may have homes coming soon to the market. We should use this expertise to control the buying process. How many times have we been finding homes for our clients and then they send us something from the web that we already discarded for various reasons but need to show anyway because they found it online. Buyers now look at a lot of homes whether online or in person. If you do your job right in the beginning, you can comfortably advise your clients why we're not looking at certain homes they found online. The trust factor becomes critical. If you need to spend a little time showing them discarded homes in order to build that credibility, do it...trust me...you will save time down the line.
I'm going to get a new client out of this call because I agree that agents need to take searching for a home as a priority. Will some buyers be helpful in the process by using our website to search for homes...absolutely...BUT remember, we are the experts and we need to reinforce that fact everyday. IF NOT...a day will come that agents become simply paper pushers and paid a lot less for our efforts.
Chris M. Vinci, Owner, CRS, CLHMS, CMAS
da Vinci Realty in Evergreen, Colorado
303.679.0360 or visit www.CoMountainLiving.com
Chris M. Vinci, Owner, CRS, CLHMS, CMAS
Voted "2011 BEST OF.." by Mountain Connection readers
da Vinci Realty in Downtown Evergreen, Colorado
303-679-0360
No doubt, we are the experts. Sending home listings that closely match our clients needs shows how you are in tune with your client and they know that you have their best interest at heart. Our job is to make the home buying experience an easy and pleasurable one for clients. Saving them time and money by finding the best homes is part of that, usually the first part of that.
There is so much "information" on the Net. People need pros to sift it.
In this respect, I think it makes a big difference who the individual is. I have some clients that won't look at anything I don't send them and others who seem to go out of their way to find homes that I haven't sent them (whether they match their stated criteria or not).
I've come to follow the buyer's lead and give them as much or as little as they want.
Yes you are right Chris. It is the realtor's job to find the home that match the buyer's criteria. We know the area better than what the idx might send our clients. We have to practice our due diligence. Some agents are lazy depending on what their idx provider is sending the prospective buyer without following up if what they are gettig are matching their requirements. Have a great year.