Buyer's Agents, Have Consumers Really Chosen Their House Online?

They are few and far between on really purchasing that home that they shopped for on the internet. More times than not, I end up finding the home for them than them finding it on the internet.

Sometimes what you see online is nothing to what you see in the house.  I have known many agents who use photo shop.  While they may start their search..it does in fact help to narrow down the search.

I have had a buyer purchase through me sight unseen...does it happen often...no...do I see it happening more...yes...but the reality is our job is much bigger than P.J. portrays.....finding a house is simple but finding the right house to call home and actually closing on it...now that is an accomplishment.

If only our jobs were that simple..

The interesting thing about the internet is the fact that it takes all confrontation away, that the buyer used to have to deal with when contacting a Realtor.  Now, they can just hop on the internet and see pictures and information without having to talk to anyone.  The buyer still has to rely on the fact that the listing agent took pictures of everything, and didn't leave out a picture of something that was less desirable.  I have had buyers say, "I found the perfect house online last night", and then we get to the house and, "oh, I didn't know that was there."

You can only see so much on the internet, or at least as much as the listing agent decides to show you.

I had a client a few years ago that wanted to put an offer on a home based on what they had seen on the internet.

I went to see the home and asked them if they would like pictures of the home and its surrounding area. 

They decided to wait until they came to town after seeing the pictures. They did not buy the home but bought one very different to the home that they liekd online. Some pictures can really flatter a home that looks nothing like its physical presence :)

Jeff:  I've had a couple that bought one of my listings that they found online--however, they did take a look at several others before going back to that one!  In general, the VAST majority do see something online only to find that they don't like the neighborhood or the location's proximity to the city.  Regardless of the fact that those Buyers found the listings online and puchased the first one that they saw, our jobs are not complete when they FIND it--that is the EASY part!  The Sellers are paying the Buyers Agents here in NC and the Buyers are getting the advantage of our experience, knowledge and guidance for FREE!  I don't feel as though they should complain--it's not often that you get so much for FREE!!

Intriguing post, Jeff, and a great response with lots to ponder. The buyers I have worked with all seem to appreciate the value of the information in helping them to research areas, consider different homes (while ruling out some) and finding those they wish to tour. So often what you see is NOT what you get. I have had folks comment on how much more prepared they are, and how much time they saved in their actual physical search by going on-line first. Obviously the information on-line comes, in large part, from agents themselves. If our only value was in helping folks to identify a home, as it was in the past when agents controlled the MLS books, then I can see Pj's point, But there is so much more.

Jeff 

Geez.  I sound like a broken record.

"IT DON'T TAKE NO RHODES SCHOLAR TO FIND A (*^%$^* HOUSE TO BUY."

It's what happens next that separates the experienced buyer's agents from the rest of the industry.

York County Pennsylvania Real Estate here !

Great blog! I am happy when consumers are proactive I think they like to know that they have a part in the process. Generally speaking NO they do not buy the home they had picked via an internet search. It empowers them to know they can help.

Dawn :)