By Realtors provide services that can never be replaced by technology
With so many real estate–related sites popping up today, the media seems laser-focused on one question: are REALTORS still relevant? Last week, as mentioned in Bob Moles’ blog, KQED Radio’s Forum (KQED is a Northern California’s NPR station) Forum, aired an episode on this very topic. Read Bob’s blog post on the program by clicking here.
The landscape of real estate has definitely changed, and where once the service that REALTORS® provided was mostly information-based (i.e. giving consumers access to listings and CMAs), today our role is primarily knowledge, experience and relationship based. Meaning, it’s our professional expertise and qualifications, in-depth knowledge of the market, relationships we have with industry professionals and partnerships with listing syndications companies and affiliates that is of real value to consumers. With that in mind, I thought I’d articulate the key “services” REALTORS® offer consumers today that simply cannot be replaced by technology.
- Market research and assessment. True, there’s a lot of information available online to consumers these days, but that doesn’t replace the resource we as REALTORS® can be in providing a professional overview of the market. There’s a big difference between reading data on the internet and actually working day in and out in real estate, physically going into homes and viewing them regularly and having an insider’s perspective on buying or selling conditions.
- Personal Considerations. As REALTORS®, we sit down and discuss with our clients their personal goals in order to make an objective assessment of their situation and how we can best help them achieve their dreams. This one–on–one connection is one of the most important things we do and can’t be replace by technology.
- Objective assessment of homes condition and preparation
- Onsite assessment of home value and development of pricing strategy
- Publicizing and coordinating home viewing, and gathering feedback that may help in selling the home more quickly
- Advertising and marketing homes through the MLS and dozens of cooperative marketing networks, direct listing services, referrals networks, agent open houses and other traditional marketing channels such as direct mail.
- Reviewing, coordinating and overseeing contracts to protect our clients and ensure all their “ducks” are in order..
- Consultation and advising to buyer/seller to ensure that all their questions are answered quickly and they are receiving truthful, objective information throughout the period their home buying/selling process.
- Connecting client to qualified professionals in the market who can do inspections, provide title and other reports, offer home owners insurance, provide financing, and more
- Coordinating and managing property inspections and verification of records; coordinating appraisals
- Reviewing and evaluating offers and assisting in negotiations
- Managing and ensuring safekeeping of records for current and future use
- Closing preparation and coordination to ensure that everything runs smoothly
- Remaining accessible to the client after the sale to answer questions about filing claims with home owner’s warranty, if necessary, to clarify and attempt to resolve any conflicts about repairs, and to provide any additional information or paperwork that is required for office files
Also, NAR has created 12 touch points that cover why consumers should continue to use a REALTOR® today. You can read them by clicking here.
