I am a realtor and I enjoy what I am doing but I would be foolish to think that this game of real estate is going to stay the same over the next ten years. Internet is going to change everything we currently are doing. I see a day when an individual will actually buy a home without ever going in it. A person will buy a car on the internet so I know its a matter of time before someone buys a home the same way. I see a day when an individual will go to one website make an offer wait while the seller is contacted and accepts or counters then they will punch another button or look at a webcam and talk to a financial institution, an appraisal will be done online through comparables already online. Underwriters will put it all together send out the HUD in record fashion and instead of thirty days to close it could be less than 24 hours. So where does that put the brokers and realtors?
Today the MLS is not what it used to be. Anybody can find almost the same info that is on our multi-list. To be honest I would love for some clients to look on the MLS and see exactly how their property is being marketed, because in some cases they would not be happy. I see one picture listings and in some cases no sellers disclosure form or not enough info about the property to make me want to show it to my client.
I am already shifting to video tours. Nobody in my market is doing them and I know its a matter of time before it really starts to take off. Some of the realtors in my market have just shifted to Virtual Tours(sorry panning pictures just don't excite me).
We as realtors have got to get out of the mindset of give them a little and they will call for the rest. I say give them everything and let them make the decision because when they do it will come with a serious offer.
