We remember the myth of Pandora . . . the same motif woven through the "Don't Do It!" cautions:
- Don't open the box, don't eat the apple . . . don't gain the knowledge, don't unleash the muses . . .
The 21st Century has it's own "Pandora's Box." It's called: The Internet.
People are using the Internet for all kinds of things. And for the most part, knowledge is power.
But too much information, and people start to think they're experts when they're not . . . not at all.
I LOVE my clients who are proactive, and do their research, and find listings, etc.
I LOVE my clients when, after they have opened the box, still turn to me and let me do my job.
Some past experiences with people using their Internet "research":
- They know house values better then I . . . because Zillow has the market value at $250,000. I'm told "anything above that . . . " well, they'd be paying too much. The property is listed at $299,900. Coming from a buyer who was relocating to the local area, and NEVER toured a house, but just relied on . . . the Internet. Moral of that story: Next time someone wants to argue current market value with me based on Zillow's wonderful and up-to-date "zestimates," (oh gosh, they must be right, that's such a CUTE moniker -- Zestimates) I will refer them to Spencer, who I'm sure has sold a lot of real estate all over the nation and can get that property for the buyers at the Zillow market value.
- The "hazards" which lurk around every corner. Yes, there is an INHERENT RISK to just about anything. Owning property . . . driving a car . . . taking a shower . . . walking through wet, fallen leaves. What never ceases to amaze are those buyers who won't buy in a "high earthquake area," or "a floodplain." If an "area" is platted to be in a HIGH RISK earthquake or flood zone, hmmmm . . . does that magic line around the area, found on the map . . . found on the Internet, protect all the properties just a tad, a smidgen OUTSIDE the magic line?? You think the 100 year floodplain stops at the dotted line? What if the floodplain shifts during that 100 years, and nobody bothers to update the Internet? Moral of that story: If an area is marked a "high" anything . . . ask yourself what is beyond the magic line? Sangrala, Heaven, the magic Safety Zone?
- Some Internet stories are SO vivid . . . the readers have the "Deer in the highlight" stare afterwards. I had a client who was a Ph.D. Marine Biologist, well acclaimed, and very learned. We found an ideal property which had an oil tank. Not a big deal in the Pacific NW. We had the soil sample test ordered. But during their "research" on oil tanks on the Internet . . . they became unglued, unhinged telling me about what they had read. The horror stories of tanks leaking on to the neighboring property, the $20,000 plus clean-up job . . . OMIGOSH! Those things had NOT occurred, and probably weren't about to . . . When the soil sample was conducted, there was no evidence of any leakage. The sellers were required to decommission the tank. Moral of that story: Don't panic. For the love of GOD . . .
A seasoned Real Estate Agent in your local area has seen it all, and handled it all -- in the BEST INTERESTS of their client.
If you have concerns about buying or selling remember: the Internet is an INANIMATE object -- a good tool, no question. But, you wouldn't perform root canal work on yourself just because you found a step-by-step "HOW TO" guide on oral surgery on the Internet . . . would you?!?
Realtor(s) who make a living out of representing their clients KNOW how to handle a lot of things . . . a lot of local things! The current market, the current market values, trends . . . and can assist you with ALL due diligence needs and concerns.
Find a local, seasoned Realtor(r) today!
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