The Association of Realtors reports online home searches are up 253% in the last four years. More buyers are turning to internet resources than ever before which are bringing about interesting changes in the overall process of buying a home. It was not very long ago when buyers relied almost exclusively on the brokers choice of what homes to see with a typical showing consisting of three to five homes. Buyers often wondered if they were seeing every home that met their criteria and frequently complained about some brokers showing them what the broker wanted to show rather than what the buyers wanted to see. With the growth of internet search resources ranging from consumers directly accessing many Multiple Listing Services to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and of course, every major real estate firm web sites, buyers are presented with more and more choices.
The process has changed from brokers selecting homes for the buyer to see to buyers selecting homes then utilizing the broker to provide the local knowledge and unique expertise that only an experienced and seasoned broker can provide. Many brokers have complained profusely about the changes but the fact is the move towards buyer driven selection of homes has brought about a renewed focus on the part of the brokers to provide exactly the information and guidance savvy buyers need to make the best choices in their home purchase. The move is one from a tour guide to a consultant. Granted it has never been an “either or” but many less qualified brokers
survived because of the fact that some buyers simply did not know any better. Buyers taking the time to get educated and get more actively involved in their transaction are good
news. Brokers who think they can sit back and rely on exclusive access to data are a thing of the past. With the best brokers moving more and more into a consultant role, buyers should expect a very high level of expertise and experience. In my next article I will suggest a list of questions to ask before you enter into a brokerage agreement.
By Brian Leavitt, Northstone Real Estate Inc.
Brian Leavitt has more than 30 years’ experience serving the
Eastside real estate market with over 1000 homes sold. Complete MLS search is available at http://www.northstonehomesearch.com
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