It Is So Easy Now To Buy Real Estate on Realtor.com...

I get a call. We are talking. The gentleman on the other end asked me about my listing. I am telling him there are others, which are not my listings, but... sorry, not interested.

Why? Why are you only trying to talk to the Listing agent? Why not work with your own agent, especially when we are still not asking you for the commission?

Because it is easier to deal with the source. Meaning Listing agents. It is so easy now to buy Real Estate on Realtor.com..... Really? You think so? So, what did you find on Realtor.com?

- Or, here is a great unit:

"Bank Owned condo in the heart of Daytona Beach. Incredible deal. This ground floor unit has been completely remodeled inside. You can rent the unit for some income or have it as a second getaway. Relax by the pool or take a swim in the ocean. Easy to show. Priced to sell" (quoted from Realtor.com)

jon zolsky blogYou are asking me why you would need me when you can get all the info off the Internet? You want me to explain?

OK, here we go...

Yes, it is priced at $24,500. And this is its biggest and maybe the only great point. But in this market this is not the only unit for less than $30,000. You have choices.

So, what are you going to choose from? What is your criteria? How you know what is a better deal?

Just by price?

Here is what you have chosen off the Realtor.com. A unit in the property where the management company walked away a few months ago and the front desk is closed. There are no rentals, and people are trying to rent on their own. While some do it even successfully, the property deteriorates, because now there are no eyes on the property 24/7 like is should be. You will keep milking this cow and eventually face sizable assessments.

 - Why?

If you are milking a cow, and do not take adequate care of her, and feed her well, you are milking a dying cow. That's why. Is that what you wanted to buy? Did I hear "No?"

So, what about the Internet? It sure is so easy to buy on the Internet. Then why, when talking to me, you keep saying "I did not know it, I did not know it, I did not know it"? Actually, what did you know? Just the price?

No answer...

 
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89 Comments on It Is So Easy Now To Buy Real Estate on Realtor.com..... Really?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAR
29
2010
556,373 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Jon -- Haven't you heard?  Everyone on the planet is a real estate expert thanks to the Internet! :)
10:00pm • #77
246,069 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

I've talked to a few people lately that have been way more educated than the average buyer, but for everyone one that is educated there are 5 that think they are, and aren't.
10:24pm • #78
761,801 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I have had buyers do the same thing to me but for a different reason.  They wanted to save the seller the 3% they would pay to a buyer's agent so the seller would pass those savings on to them.  Not understanding, that I was going to save him more than that 3%.  These people just don't use their heads sometimes.
10:32pm • #79

Not to mention the many websites that have not-so accurate information.
11:30pm • #80
1,352,282 Points 42 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

There's so much information on the internet available to everyone, but what is not often available is the interpretation of that information and the knowledge and expertise to know what to make of the information.
11:50pm • #81
MAR
30
2010
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wow, wow, wow

I am so touched by all the comments. While I am usually a more controversial, this is not really a situation where we have very different opinions.

It would be very easy for us to rant about misinformed and uneducated Buyers relying on Internet, and often remarkably missing a point, but... read comment #35

"This is an excellent testament to all who are in the service business, if there is no perceived value to your services than there is no value"

I think a very important question is WHY there is no perceived value? Where did we lose the ability to make clients see this value BEFORE they get in contact with us.

There is something broken in this mechanism, and we do not want to simply whine about it, it is too serious...

i will try to respond to as many comments as I can... I promise
12:36am • #82
Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

When someone calls me and wants to only deal with the listing agent I usually give them two quick points:

1) it is not in your best interest to use the listing agent as a dual representation, there is a huge conflict of interest

2) dual representation is ILLEGAL in most states. It is legal in our state, but what does that tell you?

Desert Mountain Scottsdale Real Estate
1:13am • #83
109,105 Points 1 Featured Post

Funny that this blog should come up now.  Just recently I had not one but 2 buyers that called me after calling the listing agent, writing an offer, getting it accepted and now are calling me to ask if I could help them out now, because they don't think that the listing agent may be working in their best interest....really?  You're kidding right?  I can hardly believe that the agent that has a signed contract with a seller would not be working for the buyer that came to him from the internet. Agency Disclosure should have cleared that up for you from the get go.  Why is it the buyers wishing to work only with the listing agent believe they are going to save money?
2:10am • #84
730,389 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jon, good point. There is more to a deal than the price. Buyer representation is a must in this market. Thanks.
7:32am • #85

I totally agree with #44 -- no name listed...
9:42am • #86
1,125,721 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

You mean we're just not "order takers" at a desk? You mean they might need our brains???

 

:)
10:00am • #87
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David (Comment #9) - true. And we should know better

Carla - we got to the point in prices, that people are not afraid to experiment with a known result. Somehow hoping for a miracle because they are deserving people

Debe - And I truly thought that it was just me (LOL). That type of thinking is universal.

Dorie - I am getting calls usually every day or every other day. And so often I am puzzled by the attitude.

Bill - this is too funny, but true

Wallace - I guess they are. But still, why refuse professional help.
10:41am • #88
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jim - I find thhe same problem. People call on "great deal" which is already not available

Missy - funny, I did this too. If they eant it, let them have it.

Joe - Realtor.com is not the major source of calls, but it still happens.

Corinne - nobody knows everything, but refusing to be helped is hard to understand

Patricia - having successfully bought a few small items from the internet makes people think that they can safely do anything they want, and always win.

 
10:47am • #89
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Ted (comment #23) - tell them next time they are buying a car, call directly GM. Somehow people understand how that works, but donot understand how we work

Jenna - that's often the reason they call while deep in the process, and ask help.

Gregory - that's the skill that I mever really mastered, but I should

Kathy - really, why not? Makes no sense to me.

Heidi - I never was concerned with this. We operate as transaction broker, and I am to get the best deal. It is not the legality, that bothers me, it is the knowledge or lack thereof, that really concerns me.
10:56am • #90
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Marney - "a great source of misinformation" - very well said. And even if it is just info, it may be lacking interpretation, and it is the key

Damon - I am not sure about it (LOL). It may be an unearned compliment. Thanks

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Synergy - I did  not know you can do it

Thomas - or, yes. They may also watched the TV commercials with those secrets "revealed"

Melanie - They take it in their own hands, and it is fine with me. I am very often sure I could make it a better experience for them, but I can only offer, and they have the right to reject.

 
11:01am • #91
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

The internet is a great research tool but not a good way to "pick out" a good purchase. There's no substitute for the expertise, knowledge and representation of a buyer's agent to get you the info you need. 
1:46pm • #92
APR
03
2010
112,130 Points Called Shot Master

Jon, Internet is the best marketing tool we use, and that is to let people know. But then it is always about who you work with, and what their expectations are
11:55am • #93
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Carla - it is often excaerbated by the fact that Listing agents are sometimes poorly handling their side, as they got the listing in a condo-hotels, but have very little idea of the specifics. They need to sell it, period. They may have little understanding what owning it means for the Buyer, what it involves, because they are SELLING
12:38pm • #94
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kyle - I am not even sure that the cost is in iussue, and even when they know that the cost isn't, they just seem not to understand that there is wqay more involved than just the info on Realtor.com
12:44pm • #97
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David Monsour - you are very generous in your statistics.
1:55pm • #99

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Jon Zolsky, your Daytona Beach, Florida connection

Daytona Beach, FL

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Jon Zolsky, Daytona Condo Realty LLC, 386-405-4408

Address: 313 S Atlantic Ave., Suite A, Daytona Beach, FL, 32118

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