I thought the survey done by the National Association of Realtors regarding Pennsylvania had some interesting facts.:

1. 86% of home buyers purchased their home with the assistance of a Realtor. Even though clients can search for homes and look at virtual tours, they still need to walk through the home and negotiate a price and terms. In other words, they need us!
2. 86% of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes. They typically searched for 12 weeks and  walked through 10 homes before purchasing.  This tells me that the Internet is definitely an important tool and we as agents definitely need a presence on it.    
3. 53% of first time home buyers were referred to their agent by a friend of family member. It is always so nice to get a buyer or seller referred to you.  There usually is not much if any competition for the business. Try to always deliver more than you promised.
4. 97% of home buyers ranked honest and integrity as very important.This statement is self explanatory.  If an agent is not honest, they should not be in the business. It is hard enough to have the public like us.
5. 66% of recent buyers said they would definitely use their agent again. Another 19% said they would probably use their agent again or would recommend them.  Follow up!  These clients can not use you again if they forget your name, where you work or how to get in touch with you.
6. Average age of home-seller was 44 yrs old, of which 72% were married.
7. Typical seller has owned their home for 6 years.  This means if you are still in the business and have stayed in touch, you should hopefully have a listing and possibly another sale in 6 years.  If they are moving away, you can refer them. This of course does not count other business that they may have referred you.
8. 87% of home sellers used an agent to sell their home.  In PA, 11% sold their home without an agent assistance (National Average is 12 %.) Of the sellers that sold their home without an agent, understanding the necessary paperwork was difficult along with preparing the home and pricing it right.  

It is always wise to know as much as possible about our clients, Overall the home buyer in Pennsylvania has a slightly lower annual income and they are younger than the national average. These buyers were also less likely to purchase a single family home and almost as likely to purchase a home in the suburbs as the national average.. The full report can be found on www.parealtor.org.