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THE ABC’S OF INTERNET HOME SEARCHES

By
Real Estate Agent with The Solomon Group Real Estate

         You got a new job, or you were transferred, or you just decided you want to live in another city, or buy a new home. You need to find houses for sale. What do you do? The Internet. You type in a few words like, "view Round Rock homes". You get a list of websites then to go to. The possibilities are endless of what you may get, but one thing you will get is the ability to do a search of homes for sale. You provide the requested information and you are able to look through the listings. You look through a few, and then say, "Let's see what else is out there." You go to another site, you look some more. Then you go to another site. Guess what? What you are seeing is the same availability on every site; they all come from the MLS or Multiple Listing Service, which is every home that has been listed with almost every Board of Realtors agent, which allows other agents to bring up any home that is for sale within the system. Each website is then able to connect into the MLS through an IDX link. The listings you see are not just what that agent has listed, but every home that is available within the criteria you set. Basically, you have the same availability to homes for sale no matter which or how many websites you visit. If you have gone to different websites I ask that you do yourself, and me or the other agent a favor, speak or email with us so that you get a feel which you are most comfortable and then choose one (as long as it is me). This will eliminate a lot of unnecessary emails, phone calls, and duplicate listing updates from each agent. 

         When you are asked for your information, generally, name, email, and phone number, if you give your phone number be prepared to be called. As an agent I want this so that I can find out about you and what your guidelines are so that I can help you the best that I can. I am not going to try and make you buy a house next week if you do not want to buy for another six months or more. Or try to get you to buy a 300K house when all you want is a 200K house. After discussions I can set up searches that more specifically match your needs. If you only have to look through 20-40 listings instead of 100-120 because you want the master on the main floor or a side entry garage because you want the house to be the focal point, that is what you will get which will save you a lot of time looking through them. I only want to provide you with the information that is meaningful to you that will help you make the best decision for you. My job is to make the process as smooth as possible and for you to be as informed and comfortable as possible.

        Also, if you are working with another agent, YOU should not have to do a home web search yourself, that agent should be sending updated listings that match your criteria. If not, that agent isn't doing the right job for you; YOU are doing the work for the agent. If you want to make changes in the criteria, let the agent know. My goal is to find you exactly what you want, not; I tell you what I think you should buy.

I am putting this out to help inform you as a client, which in turn will help me do the best job possible for you; making the dream of owning your perfect home a reality.      

Comments(5)

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Maria Weston
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Hi, Phillip!

I found your post very interesting. I am in charge of Internet Marketing for Fliipping Pad and I think that all you mentioned is very important for the client because they usually get "lost" in all the information they find when they are looking for the dream home, and then feel frustated since the first week of searching.

As you say, they have to be prepared for calls, and usually they are not; may be they do not communicate well with the agent or do not enjoy the agent's personality, and then home buying becomes very stressful.

Thank you for sharing!

Maria

www.flippingpad.com

 

Mar 24, 2010 02:06 PM
Robert Hicks
United Country River City Realty - Savannah, TN

Well put Phillip, it is amazing how often we still get clients that do not really understand the best way to choose, and how to work w/ an agent..We must always continue to educate our clients.I think sometimes we as agents, forget, that our clients don't do this everyday like we do...

Mar 24, 2010 02:26 PM
Robert Hicks
United Country River City Realty - Savannah, TN

Well put Phillip, it is amazing how often we still get clients that do not really understand the best way to choose, and how to work w/ an agent..We must always continue to educate our clients.I think sometimes we as agents, forget, that our clients don't do this everyday like we do...

Mar 24, 2010 02:26 PM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

This is good information.  Thanks for posting this.

 

Ginger

Mar 27, 2010 10:11 AM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

So true... I see home buyers jump from Zillow to Trulia to a Realtor Website thinking they are going to find something different.  Meanwhile they are driving themselves crazy.... Home buyers find a system you like and learn how to use it.  Usually if a property shows up on one site but not another it is becasue of the criteria you put in....   Just to highlight this point.... I received an irrate phone call from a buyer client asking why a certain property wasnt showing up on my website.  Why... because you had me set the criteria as needing 2 garage spaces and a minimum of 3 bedrooms.  The house had no garage and only 2 bedrooms...of course it wouldnt show up.

The only other consideration is some websites update faster than others.  Some of your large 3rd party sites take days to update and many times are showing some very old information.

Mar 28, 2010 01:20 AM