Why Do You Need a Tech-Savvy Realtor?

In today's highly competitive real estate market, it has become more important than ever for sellers to hire an agent who understands how to market their home on the Internet.

The day has come and gone for Realtors(R) who use old-fashioned sales methods in real estate - putting a sign in the yard, putting the property in the Multiple-Listing Service (MLS), running an occasional newspaper ad, and sitting back waiting for the phone to ring.

This method might have worked at one time, but no more. Consider these facts:

• In every age group, newspaper readership is wayyyyy down. In the 30-45 age group, less than 35% of people read a newspaper! Even in the 45-55 age group, only slightly more than 45% of people read the newspaper.*
  
• Only 21% of traditional buyers found their agent through brochures, fliers, or mailers to their home. 92% of Internet buyers found their listing on a website and 63% of Internet buyers found their agent through a search engine!
  
• This trend will only continue- have you tried to get a teenager to read a book lately? They are probably too busy using their IM-ing (instant messaging for those of you who are not familiar) or watching YouTube videos!
  
• 77% of buyers use the Internet in their search for a home, according to a 2005 study.

*2006 CAR(R) Economic Study

So when you are interviewing an agent to sell your property:

• Ask them about their marketing plan, including their "Internet" marketing plan,
  
• View their website, is it professional and does it stay updated?
  
• "Google" their name, does it come up on the first page or do you have to dig down to find it,
  
• "Google" the property address of one of their listings, does it come up?
  
• Request a list of websites where they advertise,
  
• Do they have a Blog? Blogs have great Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for both your agent and for your property.
  
• What is their system for lead tracking and follow up? Internet marketing brings a lot of leads, if they don't have an efficient way to manage these, opportunities are lost.

And finally, contact them through their website to see if they respond! My in-laws are trying really hard to sell their property in another state. They contacted several agents to discuss listing it and have been unable to get a call back! Look for an agent that responds to inquiries consistently.