Why You Need a LOCAL Real Estate Agent

Tony & Darcy, thanks for stopping by!

Gene, I don't even think they're useful for buying purposes, much less selling purposes. 

Jeannie, if an appraiser uses such computer generated data, they're doing their clients a disservice.

Joan, they have a algorithm which they feed with public data, owner input and multilist information. 

John & Susan, I totally agree.  My point was that distant internet sites are suspect for the purposes of getting accurate market values - not that all local agents are equally good.  "Buying" a listing by promising the seller an unrealistically high market value can only lead to disappointment for all parties involved.

The sellers won't get their home sold if they're asking an unrealistic price, the agent won't get paid. 

I spend a good deal of my time (1) improving my own knowledge, and (2) trying to demonstrate to the public why choosing me as their local agent, out of all the many other local agents, would be a good decision!  Not all agents are equal, any more than all attorneys, restaurants, or auto mechanics are equal.

Jo,

Again, I totally agree with both your comment and John & Susan's comments.  I do have a concern, though, about doing blogs on how to weed out dishonest or unknowledgeable practitioners. 

First of all, I don't want to imply that any other agent, especially my local competitors, would fall into such a category.  There is a wide range of  both experience and expertise among real estate agents. 

My emphasis is on why buyers and sellers should choose me as their agent, rather than why they shouldn't choose someone else!