In the past, buying or selling a house has never been an easy process, or at least more difficult to the general public. Previously it always involved a real estate agent, the gatekeeper of all the information needed to make an informed decision. Now, as technology invades the real estate sector, things have evolved at a rapid pace. Gone are the days when you “had to use a real estate agent” if you thought of buying or selling a house.  Now you can find and explore options that intrigue you online, all on your own.

As a buyer, traditionally the searching and screening for homes have been the primary responsibility of your real estate agent, but with the evolution in technology, this has become less of a requirement. Now, a buyer can literally browse listings all over the world, without the help of an agent. However, a buyer may still feel the need to have a real estate agent take you on tours of homes, and once you have decided on a home, write your offer and finalize the last steps of the purchase. 

As a seller, in the past, you relied solely on a real estate agent to advertise and list your property to a potential buyer. No with sites such as Dealty, Zillow, and others, sellers have the ability to list their own property and have it be seen by buyers instantly online. There is no doubt they will receive interest, provided they have quality photos and have priced the property correctly.

But,

what comes next?

Is a seller ready to handle buyers or agents wanting to tour their property and what about when an offer does come in on their property?

Experts of Home/Property Transfer (buying/selling):

A real estate agent should make the experience of either looking to buy a property or looking to list a property a smooth and informed one. They should listen to your needs and assess your price range to present you with the best options that work for you. Now, technology has made this process far more streamlined and less cumbersome.  Websites like Redfin, Dealty, and Trulia have made it easier than ever to find a house on your own. A comprehensive list of available properties can be easily found on multiple websites. 

Information on Social Life of Different Areas:

An experienced agent who is familiar with the city and neighborhoods would have detailed information regarding the neighborhood you are considering. Through their knowledge and experience, they may be able to provide valuable information that can help determine which area may be more suitable for you and your family as per your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Now, this information is provided and more accessible than ever.  Many websites can give you the exact scenario related to any neighborhood including important figures like pollution levels and crime statistics.  

Marketing and Sales Expertise:

As a seller, you need exposure to as many people as possible to provide a greater chance of finding that perfect buyer.  Real estate agents may provide this exposure to the house to attract suitable potential buyers through their marketing and network.  However, marketing your home in today’s world does not always require a realtor's network.  You can easily rely on any of the following sites (Zillow, Dealty, Redfin) which have a high traffic volume that allows consumers to search on their own for that perfect home!

For Financial Evaluation of a Property:

As you work to determine the listing price of your home, real estate agents may provide the financial evaluation for market competition and evaluation of a property. They advise you on peak seasons for selling and buying properties too.  With all of the innovation and data resources available, many real estate technology platforms can now provide the same information and can give you a quick, free, and comparable home evaluation which may provide a competitive analysis of the area and properties. Technology has certainly enhanced the availability of this information as well.   

Parlé with Clients:

The most in-demand skill when it comes to realtors is negotiation. A good agent has the skills to balance the list price to gain attention and activity on the listing and also obtain the highest price possible for their client in the current market. A great agent will be a great communicator with all parties involved.

Going through the above points may have made you think that you can do almost all of the stuff yourself. (Hint: you are doing half of it already) This might convince some people they can do it all on their own, and many can. But the truth is there will always be a need and demand for great real estate agents.  

Today, for real estate agents not only to survive but thrive in today's world, staying up to date with technology and digital marketing is a pre-requisite. Instead of getting terrified or averse to technological innovations they can use these to their benefit and evolve. An agent with an attractive and responsive digital presence is likely to have an advantage over others. Using technology to their benefit they can better serve their clients. Marketing over different platforms can get them ahead in this new race.  

What Does Stats Say about this? 

We all know the vast majority of buyers search online, on their own before they purchase. There is no doubt there have been some major changes to the real estate industry over the last few years. But buyers have been using the internet to search for homes for many years now and there is still a demand and always will be a need for good real estate agents. However, with more and more websites providing greater amounts of data and additional tools, many buyers are deciding they can complete a transaction on their own. This means more listing agents are working directly with buyers, or buyers and sellers are bypassing the use of agents entirely and completing transactions directly on their own.  

Some Insider Tips: 

One thing to consider for homeowners who are listing on their own, they may be limiting their showings and visibility unless they are willing to offer a commission to a buyer broker who brings them a buyer. This means, if a buyer prefers to work with an agent or is already committed to working with a buyer’s agent, they may never see the seller’s listing unless the buyer is searching online on their own. Visibility is everything, including the little things such as a sign in your yard, simple things can make all the difference. The more potential buyers that see your property, the higher the chance you will receive an offer. So, make sure to be available, answer your emails and your phone, as you never know if you have a buyer or buyer’s agent inquiring.  

Great agents will remain a valued resource to buyers and sellers, but certainly, some buyers and sellers are capable of completing a successful sale on their own. Stay open-minded, there is no reason we can’t all be creative and successful working together.

Previously it always involved a real estate agent, the gatekeeper of all the information needed to make an informed decision. Now, as technology invades the real estate sector, things have evolved at a rapid pace. Gone are the days when you “had to use a real estate agent” if you thought of buying or selling a house.  Now you can find and explore options that intrigue you online, all on your own.