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Ask An Ambassador: Put Your Consumer Hat On

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team 93383

 

This post give me much to think about.  WE all need to review out thoughts as a consumer some..

Get a different prespective.

Thanks,

 

At some point in the not so distant future Liz and I will move to be closer to our families.  Maybe next year, maybe the year following, so in the interim we're "calibrating" ourselves for the new market by looking at homes and acreage online.

Obviously what we can expect for our dollar in our section of Ohio is different than we can expect in Maryland and even that is different than what to expect in the panhandle section of West Virginia.  We're not locked into either state, so our home decision is going to be about availability, features and overall value.  And resale or new construction?  That's a decision still to be made too.

 

Where is this heading?

We've got our consumer hats on and that's a bit different than our agent hats.

1.  We're just in tirekicking mode at this point, so you know the last thing I want to do?  Talk to an agent or give up my contact information.  I do NOT want 47 Drip emails, 16 texts and 15 phone calls asking "how can we help you?".  The agent would be wasting my time and theirs.

So if your IDX search site requires registration, I'm out.  I don't care if you give me "3 looks free", or "15 looks free", when I have to step out from behind the curtain, I'm POOF.   There are other places I can go that don't require me to out myself.

2.  Yeah, Zillow.  I'll look there not because I care about Zestimates, because frankly I don't.  BUT you know who is there?  FSBOs & some new construction builders that aren't in MLS.  And you know what Zillow provides that's important to someone like us who wants some acreage?  Lot lines on aerial shots.  REALLY important, because not all 5 acre lots are equal.  Deep and narrow doesn't do much for me, I want more space in every direction and I don't want it next door to a concrete plant.

3.  But since not everyone pushes their listings to Z, we're looking elsewhere too.  And you know what doesn't work?  Calling your search "Advanced" when all you've done is add about 3 more fields beyond bedrooms, baths and price.  If I can't search to include lot size to screen out all the mass produced subdivision homes, your search is of no value to me.  Moving on....

4.  Frankly I don't know how some agents stay hired by sellers.  Seriously, some of the pictures put out there?  Blurry, crooked, 45 pictures that have each moved 2 degrees in perspective from the previous shot???  And don't get me started on the marketing copy that is full of typos.  You can unsell a house with poor presentation.

 

And all this is just at the preliminary stage of the game.  I don't even want to think about what we're going to run across when we finally start getting serious and start making inquiries.

Just some food for thought.

Is your website about the consumer, or you the agent?

Is it easy to use?

Is "Advanced Search" REALLY advanced?

Are you providing unique, value added information?

What's in it for them, the consumer?

Put your hat on.

 

Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,

Bill & Liz aka BLiz

Serving Warren County Ohio & Adjacent Areas

 

The Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite
Elizabeth Spear, ABR, CRS, Ohio License SAL.2002007747

William (Bill) Spear, CRS, Ohio License SAL.2004011109  Kentucky 77938
Ask for us by name if you visit the office!

EHO Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Bill Direct:  513-520-5305
Liz Direct: 513-265-3004     
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo:  Liz@LizSpear.com

Search Homes:  Https://WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com

Our Website:  www.LizTour.com

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Comments (1)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Ginger.

I can understand fully.  Frankly, we are currently looking for a new home, the only good thing is that it will be a local move. I have access to all the photos I want.

Jun 24, 2020 12:58 AM