Searching for homes for sale has never been easier. One click of a button online or in an app, and you can see all of the homes currently available and waiting to be sold on sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin.
While real estate websites are convenient, the information may or may NOT be accurate. And while they provide DATA, they do not provide INSIGHT. Home buying and selling aren't like buying a loaf of bread, a TV, or even an automobile. Due to the complex factors, buyers and sellers are best served to use the services of professionals that provide market knowledge, relationships, and, of course, insight. Buying or selling a home is one of the most personal decisions an owner can make and one of the largest financial decisions. There are a number of reasons why you should establish a relationship with a REALTOR® you trust.
Benefits of Hiring a REALTOR®
Personalized Service
A REALTOR® will take the time to get to know you and what you want and need in a house. Since a listing website goes by data from other parties, it’s impossible for it to cater to your unique wants and needs. Moreover, your REALTOR® will know not just what you want in a home, but what you want from your neighborhood, whether that be walkability, proximity to schools, easy access to your work commute, or closeness to area parks, shopping, and other attractions.
They Know the Area
A home listing website presents unverified data, not human experience. Websites are static, and just reflect a moment in time. They don’t reflect the area and they can’t sense subtle trends of the local buying and selling market. A local REALTOR® lives in the area in which they work. They are around town every day, and they know it well. This makes a huge difference in their ability to provide guidance about buying or selling a home. A good REALTOR® will know the distinguishing factors and amenities of neighborhoods.
Access to Local Data
REALTORS® have their ear to the ground and have access to local data. They are likely to know of houses that are available, sometimes days before they show up on a home listing website. In a seller’s market, it’s possible that some of these houses will already have contracts on them before you will even see them on Zillow or Realtor.com.
When it comes to listing your house for sale, it’s always better to get a recommended listing price from a local and experienced REALTOR®. They utilize a number of different sources to provide information. They will look at the condition and upgrades in your house, as well as comps from recently sold homes that are comparable to yours, and give you their informed guidance on the best price at which to list your home.
REALTORS® Have the Best Resources
When you are buying or selling a house, it’s important that you have access to service providers in the area who are trustworthy and will do a good job. In both the buying and selling processes, you may need to hire people to provide a number of services such as inspections, repairs, and more. Your REALTOR® will have a list of vendors that have served other clients well and who they trust to do a good job.
Risks of Using a Listing Website
Outdated or Misleading Information
Many listing websites post user-reported data and government records to give a house’s potential selling price. Some people may use this information when coming up with a listing price for their home, but it isn’t always accurate.
These figures are automated, so they don’t usually take the home’s location, condition, recent renovations, and other features into account. Zillow’s “Zestimate” claims to be accurate within 10%. However, depending on the price of the home, this can be tens of thousands of dollars in difference.
They Don’t Have Access to MLS
MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, is a tool only available to real estate agents and brokers. It is a comprehensive database of current properties listed by agents who are members of the local association. It also contains the sales which members of the association have transacted over the last several years. While some of these websites have negotiated access to the MLS, not all have done so. . As you navigate the uneasy path of selling and/or buying a home, you will be best served to work with a REALTOR® who has access to the most up to date information and who knows how to apply it to your particular residential needs. You’re Buying a Home Locally, so Shop with a Local Expert!
Many of the commercial websites will offer to help buyers schedule showings of the homes they portray. And buyers mistakenly believe the home will be shown to them by the listing agent. In reality, the website provider is selling the leads generated by the listings on their websites to agents who may be unfamiliar with the property and the seller. And, the website company may be selling the same lead to a number of agents who pay them fees for these leads. This process often results in confusion and may compromise the services provided to both the buyers and sellers. Buyers and sellers can simplify the process by starting with a REALTOR® who is dedicated to serving them professionally.
Contact an Experienced Memphis REALTOR®
Agents at Marx-Bensdorf REALTORS® have years of experience helping our clients find their dream homes and selling current homes when the time comes. We will help you to get top dollar and make the process seamless. We have 40 licensed agents ready to help! Contact us or fill out our online form to get started. We look forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs!