FOR PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYERS LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, IT WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH.
HOW MUCH INFORMATION DO YOU GIVE A CONSUMER? I have several hundred prospective home buyers subscribed to the IDX system on my web sites. Propsective home buyers are invited to register for daily updates of newly listed properties or properties for sale if the price has changed. These are ACTIVE listings and a valuable resource for folks considering purchasing a home. Since I am dedicated to "PULL" advertisting, while I often have the name and contact information of the consumers in the system, I do not contact them or follow up on notices of listings sent. I'm offering a service to the public and, when they are ready to look at homes, they call or e-mail me with a request to tour, mortage information, transportation information, etc. I'm happy to chat about real estate any time and I have found that when buyers contact me, they almost always ask for our help. That is my plan. But, the IDX system on my web site is only there for general information. The purpose of the web site and the IDX search listings feature is to sell our services.
THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY CAN "DO IT THEMSELVES" Consumers don't always understand. Buyers whom we do not represent, have never spoken to me before, are not working with any agent in my network will call and expect me to provide them with detailed information about homes that they find interesting from their tour of homes listed for sale. I try to explain the purpose of the IDX system. I also try to explain to folks why there are limits to how far we will go providing information to someone who has not engaged us as their buyer's agent. Sometimes they understand, sometimes they don't. Fact is, the public have become convinced that they are entitled to any and all information about homes listed for sale that they wish.
A few says ago, I received mail from "James". Generally, I don't get mail with comments from prospective buyers unless they are ready for our help. James just wanted information. The public do not want services. The public want information, and more information and more. The glut of information on the Internet about homes, housing, real estate, has convinced the public that they can "do it yourself" real estate until they are ready to write a contract and if they could do that without us, they would.
I thought the chronicle of James's contact was interesting.
FROM JAMES:
"Why don't you have interior and exterior pictures like your other postings (room dimensions also)? I don't want to get the impression that you are hiding something. Please be serious and add them (street address for potential drive by visit also) since this looks like a nice house!"
MY RESPONSE TO JAMES:
Hi James. Nice to hear from you.
Your questions, at least some of them, are reasonable. However, your question assumes that I am the listing agent for the homes you see on Homesdatabase. I am not. The web page on which you see homes listed for sale is offering our SERVICES to help home buyers find a home. All active listings show on this page, however, we are not the listing agents for any. We are BUYERS AGENTS. We help buyers.
We have no control over whether the listing agents have listed room dimensions, more photos, or any photos.
The reason there are no addresses showing on the listings on my web site is because we don't send folks out to drive around or drive by homes. We show homes. Often, when buyers have the addresses, if they drive to a house that they like, they will call us and want to see the house right then. We can't arrange appointments on a moment's notice. So, many folks looking at a home will knock on the door and ask the owner to show them. In fact, they may have a flyer from my web site in their hand which would appear that I sent them. I did not. Or, since we are not immediately available to show the house, the prospective buyer will call the listing agent from the yard sign. I do not send folks to listing agents to see homes with agents who represent the owner/seller of any house. So, I removed the addresses.
We are ready to assist buyers to find a home and assist buyers all the way to settlement. We believe that the information on the Internet is sufficient for home buyers to get a "feel" for homes and areas.
We are very serious about what we do. What we do NOT do is send home buyers out to do it themselves. Our services do not cost our buyers any money. Many buyers believe that they do not need 
an agent and they can find a home to buy themselves. True, but finding a home to buy is the easiest part of a home search. We, as experienced agents, want to be working with a buyer when they view homes because there may be information about homes that buyers would not know. We have years of experience and can often spot defects in properties that a prospective home buyers might not notice. We can also determine the approximate market value of the properties we show so that we can advise our buyer/clients whether the list price is reasonable.
For instance, the home you find so attractive from the photo has ground rent of about $450 a month, a fact that the listing agent didn't believe important enough to disclose in the listing. The listing agent is that person whom you'll call when you see the sign in the yard as you drive by homes. You'll probably call them for help because you don't have an agent. That listing agent represents the interests of the seller. Even with a photo and diminsions for every room, the $450 monthly ground rent is important information. I probably just saved you a drive by a home that you wouldn't buy. Sometimes, in fact, often, a good buyer's agent working in your intrest will make buying your dream home something other than a nightmare.
Keep looking James and have fun. If you ever get serious and decide to use the services of a good buyers agent, get back to me.
FROM JAMES:
That is reasonable. I'll contact you when we can get together. It will have to be a weekend.
James.
I may hear from James again. I may not. I'll leave him in the system. I have over 9,000 folks looking at homes in my IDX system and several hundred getting daily updates. One of these days. . . . .
Courtesy: Homefinders.com
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