Choosing a Tech Savvy REALTOR® to Sell Your West Bank Home
June 21, 2008 by lisa
Filed under Blog, For Sellers, Real Estate Talk
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, over 80% of home buyers begin their search for a new home on the internet, long before they ever contact an agent or view houses personally. This makes perfect sense, since google has entered our language as a verb. We "google" maps and people and even ask questions online to find more expert information on topics of interest.
From the REALTOR.org website:
According to the 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84% of all homebuyers used the Internet as an information source. (Source: 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.)
With the staggering number of potential home buyers utilizing the web to find their dream home, it has become more important than ever to use a West Bank REALTOR® who has embraced technology as a staple in the advertising of their listings.
What type of technology should a professional West Bank REALTOR® use?
Whether through their desktop computer, cell phone or via wi-fi access to their laptop, today’s REALTOR® should have the ability to send and receive emails without having to run to the office computer to do so. Sending documents to lenders and title companies immediately via email makes for a much smoother transaction and provides documentation that tasks were completed in a timely manner. Since time is of the essence in real estate transactions, email is one tool your agent should never be without.
Digital Camera
Pictures are the number one request of today’s home buyers who are searching online. Homes with multiple photos and virtual tours receive many more views than homes with no photos or only one photo of the exterior.
The New Orleans MLS service allows agents to upload 8 photos to every listing, yet many still have just one photo of the front of the house. I haven’t seen a home yet that I couldn’t take eight photos of to showcase in the best possible light and capture the attention of both buyers and their agents. Remember, buyer agents are using the information provided in the MLS to decide which homes best suit the needs of their clients and often will skip over homes with only one photo.
Website
Not just a company provided website, but one that serves as a resource for both buyers and sellers and ranks well with the search engines. Most people surfing the internet for information never go beyond page 2 of their search results. If your agent’s website doesn’t show up in the top 20 spots for homes for sale in the area, how many buyers will find it (and your home)?
Additionally, round the clock, 24/7 web access to the activities taken to market your home is a convenience that few agents are offering. See the snapshot below of how easily my clients can remain informed of all activity on their homes while listed.
Blog
Many people don’t even know what a blog (web log) is and may not even realize that they are reading one when surfing the net for information. This article is part of a blog! REALTORS® who blog have committed to providing the most up-to-date information to their customers and clients and are more likely to keep up with other advances in the real estate industry that will enhance their ability to market and sell home listings.
Video and Virtual Tours
A new market is emerging for real estate videos and virtual tours. No longer are buyers content with seeing just photos, they want to see more of the homes they are most interested in along with neighborhood information. The ability to provide video tours of your home is offered by very few REALTORS®. Doesn’t your home deserve the best marketing your commission fees can buy? YOU could be one of the first home sellers on the West Bank to take advantage of the power of video advertising!
What’s in it for you?
Participating in online networking and advertising has had the benefit of increased exposure for all of my clients’ homes for sale as I’ve continued to expand the number of places that my listings are advertised. Here are just a few of places you can expect to find your home when listed with Lisa Heindel…
Want to know more?
Feel free to contact me at (504) 616-6262 for details on my entire marketing plan and how I can help you sell your West Bank home. Or, just google me…
Here’s the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.
Lisa,
Great tips for choosing a REALTOR today - many people don’t realize what they’re NOT getting!
Cyndee,
Thanks for stopping in and for your comment. There are so many new tools at our disposal that are not being used by the majority of listing agents, so I thought it was important to let sellers know that they can (and should!) expect more for their commission dollars.