The Internet is not your agent, I am ....

I just wrote a similar blog last night about clients that insist on using the outdated information from the internet.  It is a never winning battle that just keeps going.

Not much has changed, however the internet and all that information has made it much more difficult to lead in a sale. Years ago I had a client who refused to see a home I thought would be ideal and a great buy. We went on to try and purchase two or three other homes as we had a healthy long closing on their present home in another city. When the last of the three attempted purchases blew up there was only two weeks left until closing on their present home, two weeks for school to start and four very actvie boys to get settled. Needless to say my clients were in serious melt down! With nothing to show them but that original pick which I had consistently reminded them about they finally relented and went to see it. They bought it of course and had possession on time. I had promised them that if they didn't like it after year or so I would guarantee there purchase price. I went back after a year and asked them if they wanted to look for another home and they didn't know why I was asking them since they "Loved" the place and the neighbourhood. That was 30 years ago and their still there.

(I must really know my stuff...that was too good on my part...aren't they supposed to move every 4 years or something? :))

I tell that story in detail everytime a buyer refuses to check out my pick. It often convinces them when I add that is the reason the have me around...let me earn my money. Of course I don't always knock it out of the park! lol But it's always at least close.

I had this same thing recently happen with a buyer. She kept sending MLS numbers of homes she wanted to see. Nothing was working. I finally called and said something came on the market you should see. I know it's not in the area you want but let's go look. They bought it. Like you, I am going to do more of this in the new year.

We earn our keep when we apply our LOCAL market knowledge to what we've learned by LISTENING to our buyers.  But sometimes it takes a special touch to put those buyers in the mood to follow our lead.

really great post! I've had the exact thing happen myself!

I found this on Zillow - I'm sorry it shows pending in the MLS!

I saw this on Trulia - I'm sorry it sold two months ago!

Can you send me more pictures of this listing - I'm sorry that is the only picture the listing agent uploaded!

And on, and on, and on! 

Getting control will be possible once you've earned their trust.  That just takes longer with some than others and when it becomes clear with a particular individual that it's never going to happen, then it may also turn out the parties are not a good fit for one another.     

Homes are like internet dating.  You never know what it is really like until you see it in person.

Hi Janet,  excellent point.  I wonder how manyy we never hear from because they have made an internet decision?

I am glad it worked out for you. Your post reminded me of internet buyers that I worked with. their son who was in 8th grade used to call and email me with listings he saw on the internet.He wanted to stay in the same middle school and none of the homes he emailed me qualified and it wasted a lot of time.

It is a good point, it might be helpful to address that at the initial buyer consultation to set that expectation/standard from the beginning. Have a great 2012!

Great Job on helping them out. Some people rely on the Internet sooooo much, when in reality some of the info is misleading.

Yes, buyers hire us for a reason. We've probably seen the home that they are passing up and know that it might fit what they're looking for. Doesn't hurt to look!

Great post and good for you in patience and persistence. I have found that sometimes you have to let them think the internet will be all for them, when it doesn't work then I step it up and usually win. I see it as the give and take of this business.

Here's to a great 2012!

I agree, the buyers like to be "in charge" because so much information is available to them.  Once I get a "feeling" for the type of home they are looking for I always try to get them to see a few of my recommendations while we are viewing their top choices.  Sometimes they end up buying them and sometimes they don't.  However, I always end up with more knowledge to fine tune their home search even more! 

The Internet is simply a tool. It is a way to get a potential buyer interested enough in your home to want to take a look at it, or to call for information about it. At that point, the "tool" has served its purpose and it is up to the knowledge and experience of a real estate professional (after a solid buyer consultation) to assist the buyer in finding the home they are looking for...with or without the Internet. If the Internet presentation isn't engaging prospective buyers...my take is it is the presentation and not the tool.

Janet, 

This is brilliant.  I do love what the Internet can do for consumers, but it really doesn't replace a good agent.  Point in case, I was working with a very nice first time home buyer who had a good budget.  They would e-mail me homes they had found that they wanted to see.  One he sent me was on a four lane busy road and needed major rehab - something they didn't want.  

I scheduled all of the appropriate homes and told them we would drive by and add that to our list next time if they still had any interest.  After they drove by they were absolutely THRILLED I had removed it.  I was looking out for their best interest and then the more I added to the list, the more it was appreciated.

All the best, Michelle

So often they think they know everything. I do like for them to do some of their own looking, but they need to listen to me too. Instilling in clients that we know the area is so important to looking professional and worth our fees.

Most people are tactile and probably real estate voyeurs.  They all love to peek on line and won't buy until they touch it.