I get these folks quite a bit, but I usually don't have to really do anything. They just show up at my website and setup their own search to be emailed to them.

I have to be honest, I cannot recall a single person of this type that actually turned into a client. Usually, if someone wants to buy, they may find me through the site, but get in touch immediately.

It's interesting to theorize where the technology will take us. The internet is first and foremost a way of sharing information. As it gains more and more entry into households, I suspect we will see more and more first contacts occur online. However, be that as it may, I suspect that just about all of the tried and true ways of doing business will continue to have validity for a long time to come. 

Shut the dreams off at night, is one recommendation.  Second is don't email back, third, do and play their silly games as I do not think they are serious about the transaction, or they want you to give them information for free so they can sell their home as FSBO.  Sound familiar?  LOL

Jane, you will always have people who want something for nothing.  All you can do is provide the service and hope that they call you when they are ready.

I've read that internet prospects contact websites earlier in their sales cycles than you would otherwise traditionally know about.  I try to service these contacts with the expectation that some of them will eventually get around to actually doing siomething - even though it might be quite a ways in the future.  But I try not to dream about them   (LOL) 

Jane,

I have had a number of these type of buyers end up contacting me by phone and buying.  I try to be responsive to all e-mail inquiries.  Some people, however, do push the limits of what I am willing to do without every having spoken with them, in which case I will tell them to give me a call.  This weeds a lot of the looky-loos out.

I am a little guilty of this, the agent I work with has me on one of those auto e-mail accounts, and a very specific set of search criteria.  I am upgrading houses, and the next one is going to be the one we own for the next 20+ years so I am being ultra picky... the agent doesn't mind because I don't waste her time looking at houses I am not seriously interested in.  My wife is getting a little tired of it though, we have been looking for about a year now.

I can afford to be very picky, I already own, and I am in no rush to move.

There will always be these buyers in the box. I have had one for two years. I send (automated) lots of emails. We have looked at a couple of houses in 2 years. Will they buy? I do not know but their son did so I guess it has been positive. Also, there is no effort after the initial automated search set-up.

You may think these people are time wasters but you never know. Contact from anyone interested in buying isn't all wasted time. If you advertise in the paper you get the same hit or miss so for the little amount of time it takes and the low cost I would say it's worth it. .... but not if you are going to have nightmares about it!

It's interesting isn't it!  I have several buyers like this now, and have had some in the past.  I makes you feel a little awkward when you finally get to meet them.

Jane - I have had the same, in fact have about 5 online now.  One in fact referred 2 others. Good, bad? I don't know.  At moments, I am excited yeah, buyers at other times I am feeling little used.  But overall I think it is good news if they are still talking with you even on line after all this time.  Funny, one who seems to be getting a little closer just emailed me her new baby's pics.

Jane - Buyer in the Box is too funny..... see, i'm a taco bell fan.... i can instantly relate.!  ron

I have an MLS search feature on my website and also special reports for customers to access after they register.  The interesting this is that I get more business from the people registering for reports on real estate than I do from people using the MLS search.

Jane, I would move the relationship forward to on the phone soon. If they won't talk on the phone in a reasonable amount of time they are just tire kickers. Don't give CMAs to FSBOs.

Not all "buyers in a box" will buy right away, but if you are providing them with service and keeping in touch with them, where do you think they will go when they do decide to buy or sell?  With whatever system you are using, can you do broadcast emails to all of your "box" people?  I send mine all emailed flyers about open houses or new listings, but I also send them weekly emails with hints for buyers, sellers and household hints, as well as local events that they might enjoy attending.  Each email arrives as a personal message from me but takes just minutes a week to compose them.  My program also sends them daily lists of all new listings meeting their search criteria from all local companies, as well as letting them search on their own, and I send individual emails when someting comes up that is relevant to just one of them.   It is a great system, much appreciated by them, and I have made some nice friends (and no nightmares!).

I think the key is not to think of it as hard work and a chore, but to think of it as building relationships.

As an email-inclined client and a previous IT manager, I'll give my two cents: The web is the future. For many, especially anyone under 40-45, email is now the communication channel of choice, for a wide variety of reasons. Those who explore how to work most creatively and effectively with this tool will be in the best position to take advantage of that market segment.

From your posts, I see there are some downsides, but I can say that my husband and I are now looking, and we intend to buy in 1-3 months. We are 100% ready and 100% serious. Our approach: We research recommended realtors online, and start with a first email to see their response. Initial response was approximately 40%. Based on the quality of the responses we received, we made a short list of agents we're now interviewing in person. Point being, not all email queries will lead nowhere. Not responding guaranteed that we will not consider using those agents or reach out to them again. If anyone asks, we can only share our experience that that agent, for whatever reason, chose not to communicate with us even one time.