You can look for houses online, browse by price, location, ameneties, even lifestyle. However, you can't buy a house online. If you click on a house you see listed, it is best to try to communiate with the agent on the other side of that screen and remember a few important tips while doing so to get the best experience.
1 ) Just because it's on the internet does not mean it is really available.
Houses are all over the internet, as are buyers, and Realtors®. Thanks to syndication of listings from MLSs, as well as direct input on sites like Trulia and Zillow, there are a LARGE number of inaccurate listings online. I wrote large in all caps because it is really big. Potential home buyers need to remember this when house hunting online. If you want to see a house and it is no longer available, you might want to think about working with a local Realtor® who can give you notice of homes as soon as they are listed, perhaps even before.
2) Not all agents listed next to a house are the listing agent for the home. They could be a "buyer" agent for the home who might do a great job of helping you buy it, but may not know the entire history of it right when you call.
I get a steady number of inquiries on homes from prospective buyers, some of which are on Zillow, some come from my blog or website. On Zillow, they put "buyers" agents up next to homes for buyers to contact regarding a house. This is also important to know and remember when looking for homes online. These agents can often be very helpful and represent your interests well, but give them a chance to research the home, and help you figure out a way to see it or potentially buy it.
3) Agents with a heavy internet presence are probably not sitting by their phone 24/7 waiting on you to call.
An agent who has taken the time to market themselves well on the internet probably has a lot of business. We get booked up for the week in advance and rarely have time to show houses within less than 24 hours. There are always exceptions, but don't expect that we can just run over and show you something within a few hours. I have some weeks that are literally booked hour to hour 7 days a week, others that are not, but especially in the spring, schedule an appointment with an agent to see a house in advance.
4) When you inquire about a house online, give your name, email and phone number.
When we get anonymous emails like this:
glg99zzzww@yahoo.com wants to know more about 1243 Main St in Pleasantville.
The first thing I think is - Is this spam, is this a serial killer, or just someone who is clicking around on the internet out of curiosity? Think about it. If you got an email like the above that said nothing else, what would you do/think? Compared to an email like this:
Hi, Coral:
I found your name next to 1243 Main Street in Pleasantville on Zillow and think the house looks nice. Can you tell me how long it has been on the market and the approximate square feet? How might I possibly schedule a showing? I have been pre-approved for a home in this price range and this looks like it could be a good fit.
I can be reached at 212-555-2234 or at amanda2004@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Amanda Smith
Which one would you sit up and pay attention to?
5) Be nice. You are trying to get an agent to pay attention to you, right? So being friendly will help. If the agent asks you questions, answer them, and don't try to make the agent who has been kind enough to respond to you, feel stupid, as they are only trying to best serve your needs. For example, I once got an inquiry on a rental that was not only not my listing, but not even really active on Zillow. It was for a condo, I knew the building, but it was simply not listed for rent anywhere I could find. When I responded to the person inquiring, I wrote after the standard, "Dear Susie Q, thank you for contacting me...I cannot find this house for rent anywhere, are you sure you clicked on the right address?" I got back "It is not a house it is a condo and yes, I clicked on the right address and it has your name right next to it!"
Again, put yourself in the recipient's shoes. Would you bend over backwards to help this person? Probably not.
6) Just because a home is listed on the internet, it does not mean you have a right to see it in person.
Having internet access and a computer does not give you the right to walk into another person's home. Getting pre-approved for a loan and having that letter available is your ticket into that house. If you are serious about home buying, this is a critical part of the process and if you want the best agents to take you seriously, you need to have done this homework.
The internet is a lovely place, and can be a great way to find a home. But at some point, you are going to need a human being to help you if you want to actually step in the house, or get advice on market value, negotiations, writing an offer, disclosures necessary, etc. and it's a good idea to remember these tips if you want some help seeing homes you find on the internet.
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