Isn’t it great when technology can make our lives easier? Of course it is. Which is why so many home buyers and sellers are looking to technology to help them in their important real estate decisions.
A new National Association of REALTORS survey shows:
Buyers used a wide array of resources in searching for a home: 85 percent used a real estate agent, 80 percent the Internet (up from 77 percent in 2005), 63 percent yard signs, 55 percent print or newspaper ads and 47 percent attended open houses.
It won’t be long before the Internet passes Agents as the #1 resource in a home search. Tools that make that process quick and easy are a huge plus. Companies that understand that power of communication tools like e-mail alerts, automated phone information lines and more powerful online listings continue to lead the market.
Another thing this survey highlights is that customers are saying full service agent a must. Companaies like REMAX, Semonin and others hold to this tact.
The survey finds 83 percent of sellers use full-service brokerage, 9 percent limited services and 8 percent use minimal service, such as simply listing a property on a MLS.
The whole article—Survey Shows Buyers And Sellers Use Technology And Want Personal Services— is filled with great information so I recommend you read it all. But I’ll leave you with this last tidbit. Sellers who use Agents are getting more money for their homes than when they try and go it alone.
The median home price for sellers who use an agent is 31.9 percent higher than a home sold directly by an owner; $247,000 vs. $187,200.
Which says nothing about the peace of mind that comes from working with a professional.
