Why is using an Agent so important in today’s Internet savvy market? Reality.

 

Most buyers assume the very purpose of using an agent is to help find that perfect home. With the evolution of search sites and IDX abilities on the Internet, that perception has begun to show some holes. Buyers are under the impression that as Realtors, what made us so valuable is our access to listings. With the change in times, anyone can pretty much access the MLS on line. Here is where the misconception lies. Having knowledge does not give you wisdom.  Accessibility does not equate to skill.

 

First, let’s tackle what apparently is not obvious to the general public. The information you receive via your favorite resources such as the local papers, popular anti-agent sites and even brokerage firms that allow MLS searching in the privacy of your own home, lack a certain something. We call that something, Real Time. The information that is filtered to the public (and yes, it is filtered) can quite often be days, even weeks old and missing very relevant information. 

 

My favorite example involves past buyer clients who were very much involved in the home search process. Now I certainly applaud the effort, but the truth be told, I began to sound like a broken record when clients would email or call inquiring about a property that sounded absolutely perfect and beaming with pride at their discovery only for me to bust their bubble with news that the house is under contract, off the market or having serious flaws in regards to their criteria. 

 

Fact, information that is made public is for the purpose of attraction. Every ad you read from in the paper to online is about appealing to an audience. Home marketing is no different than a commercial. We have but a short amount of time to capture buyer’s attention. The nuts and bolts of the property are pretty much reserved for other agents. An agent will often be the interpreter of the small print. You know, that fabulous car deal that sounds to good to be true and after you have hauled yourself down on a Saturday afternoon, you listen patiently to the salesman’s pitch and about 2 hours later, you uncover that the great bargain you were planning on getting, you do not qualify for. Why? You didn’t read the small print. Let’s face it; no one is going to save you time, aggravation, and money by saying up front whether or not what it is you want fits with what they are selling.

 

Now the Internet certainly serves a greater purpose. I love it that it allows buyers to inevitably narrow down their search time under the guidance of a seasoned Realtor. I also love how it helps to give them a better sense of value, with limitations of course. What it doesn’t do is replace wisdom. An experienced agent will not only help filter unworthy and wasteful properties from your email-inbox, they will help you understand and weigh the pros and cons before each showing.

 

 Unless of course you are one of those individuals who has nothing else better to do on the weekends then visit homes out of your price range, lack the features and amenities you require and have potentially serious design and location flaws.