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A blind date has got to be one of life's scarier moments! Many of us have been the recipient of this form of 'relationship assistance' at some point in our lives.
Although, there are no guarantees that even your best efforts will yield the results you desire, taking the time to do some preliminary research will greatly enhance your prospects for a successful match. Let's examine some critical aspects which you should consider as you review potential prospects.
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42 Comments on How to Avoid Getting Stuck With The Wrong Online Real Estate Agent!
Fran, Absolutely. This advise can be helpful in evaluating any number of Internet offerings. While a brick & mortar address does not necessarily tell the full story, their MEMBERSHIP on the local real estate board and their status as a licensee is extremely important. It's this type of basic information that consumers should be sure to check when making a determination regarding hiring a real estate agent.
Carole, 5 years ago, hardly anyone would have thought of 'googling' anyone. I was googled for the first time by a client in 2001 and to be honest with you, I didn't know what they had done. I went home and discovered google for the first time! An online presence is essential for business today...and that means every sort of business.
I agree with much of what you said. However the thing that is missed is that those in my generation and younger are still in the "Right Now" generation. The reason so many on-line real estate agents and mortgage brokers can flourish is because we look straight to the internet. Gone are the days of TV and radio ads. Gone are the days of the telephone book! The computer and the use of the internet will be known as the hottest and most depended on piece of technology in the 21st Century. By the time you will have read this comment though, there will have been 3 computer upgrades, 8 new cell phone prototypes, and someone will live longer because of the cure found in a medical lab.
Real Estate agents and Mortgage Brokers will need to have an on-line presence if they will have an opportunity to survive.
Jeff, appreciate your comment. This form of marketing is fairly new and consumers are inundated with tons of information. It's sometimes hard to sort out what is really valid and then even more challenging to figure out what is a good personal fit. My goal is to arm people with a few tools they can use to determine what might work best for them.
Terry...research saves you a lot of hassle. It's time spent upfront which yields dividends in the long run.
Hi Lisa, The most fascinating aspect of this new way of doing business is that more and more people are comfortable transacting business online.
Ten years ago, the idea of doing a transaction with an Internet professional was not normal...indeed in our area, the largest brokerages did NOT even advertise that they had a website! I found an old newspaper real estate advertising section from 1998 and was surprised in retrospect to see only telephone numbers! What a difference a decade makes.
Missy, you're absolutely right about areas/locations. I have had calls this year from individuals who were looking for an agent and not realizing that they were calling an area which was sometimes hours away. If I was unscrupulous, I could have pretended to be an 'expert.' With an online expert, this can be difficult to determine. Asking the right questions makes a difference.
That's also why it can be especially helpful to read blogs and see what others have to say about the agent. The Referral Section on Active Rain is something that can reveal additional insight.
Gita...thanks for your comment.
You're welcome Pippa. We need to understand how we provide value and let consumers know.
William...while it's hard to imagine, it's actually happening all the time. Sometimes things go well and sometimes they don't. The problem is that many people don't even know what to inquire about.
Michelle, well yes, it does. The Internet is a wonderful source of information. You just need to verify before trusting.
Gary, Congratulations on 29 years of married life. It's a whole different scene out there today...:)
Yvette...thanks for your comment. Since blogging is fairly new, this may not be something a lot of people think about. Although Google is making it much easier by indexing blog articles and the news media also is incorporating blogging into their regular news feed.
Thanks for your comment Kristin.
Chris, you're right that it is the responsibility of the client to educate themselves. It's just that there are very few instruction manuals out there right now...
Jennifer...When clients are SHOWN the difference in results, no more convincing is needed. The Internet is where everyone is looking.
Brian...Zip Realty is doing a lot of very intelligent things when it comes to Internet marketing. Simple tools such as finding a home by the type of mortgage you would like to pay on a monthly basis or the real estate pricing game are an acknowledgment that the consumer is engaged and wants to know the value of the data you provide before committing. Very smart!
Real Estate agents need to be more involved in providing an interactive experience. Interesting thing about a blind date...the more you know about a prospect, the less scary it is. :) True for people and for online business. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.
Elrico...I really hope readers of this blog STOP and take time to reflect on what you wrote in your comment. Thank you for adding additional insight to this discussion.
Lola, I LOVE IT!!!
I never thought of equating an online Realtor or in my case an Internet lender with a blind date ........ LOL
That is now a permanent part of how I will describe them ....... LOL
Hi George, sometimes a change of perspective reveals things in a new light. :) Glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.
Well said. Such a huge thing to make sure you can carry what your selling on the Internet.
Lola - With so many buyers and sellers who may be months out before deciding to buy or sell starting on the internet to find information on the real estate market, homes or a particular town they are considering a move to, the majority of agent and company websites today do not provide that personal window that a blog can create in allowing them to get the infomation they want anonymously and finding the agent they feel will best suit their needs.
I do think blogging is the best way to get to know a Realtor. I just got a buyer from Russia who has been following my blog for 8 months. When we talked it was like we were old friends. I agree that static websites really don't tell you much about an agent and people need to do their homework. Great advice.
This is becoming more common today than ever. You make some excellent points regarding expectations and what to ask the Realtor prior to meeting them. As Diane points out - when people meet me they feel like they've known me for a long time through my blog.
You brought up some great points for consumers/clients to think about and questions to ask when selecting an Agent. On line interviews through our blogs or by reading our blogs is what I have found some to be doing.
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