Real Estate Websites Are a Good Starting Point But Insider Info From Realtors Is Best

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Now that most buyers have a handle on the market they typically walk into an agent’s office and present a short list of properties they are interested in, complete with a list of must-have amenities, desired square footage and expected price range.  Doesn’t sound too much different than the way it’s always been?  Well, it is – and here’s how.  Where at one time buyers would have to meet with an agent, share their needs and wait for the agent to come back to them with a list of fitting properties on the market, buyers now have a lot more control.

There are no less than a dozen major real estate websites that promote real estate, provide ample listings, extend supporting information and other news, tips and tricks plus help to connect buyers with sellers.  Websites like Trulia, Zillow or HotPads are all great places to start a search but definitely not where you would want to end your search.  Here’s why:

Outdated, Inaccurate Information With No Way to Verify

Bit for bit, the information made available on these sites are often outdated, inaccurately reported, lacks important local data and sometimes is flat out untrue.  Case in point, there was a recent listing on one of these sites that not only advertised the wrong number of bedrooms and square footage but it also failed to update the newest appraised values.  Hundreds of potential buyers breezed right past the listing since rather than showing 6 bedrooms, it wrongly reported the home as having 2 bedrooms. The price was right though, so imagine the confusion on browsers’ minds as they saw a price tag that definitely reflected a much bigger home when they thought they were getting a smaller place.  In this case, the records used to compile data on the site were pulled from a source that did not take into consideration recent renovations and upgrades made to the home.

Agents Specializing in the Area Are Essential to the Transaction

The other reason that websites are only good to get a feel for the market but not enough to base your decisions on is that these are national (and sometimes international) websites.  With computer formulas looking at your criteria there is no way a generic website can share with you the innate sense of “that perfect home” as only an agent can do. It is paramount to hire a real estate agent that knows the vicinity, lives in the community and specializes in the area – especially if you rely on these websites for an initial glimpse of the market.

The knowledge of community schools and businesses plus first-hand information about neighborhood personality are things that set an agent apart from the results generated by a computer.  Things like crime rates, neighborhood reputation, area comparables and an intimate understanding of the area – are factors that buyers cannot accurately learn or make decisions on based on a national scale.
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There is no harm is gaining as much of an understanding of the industry as possible, in fact browsing to see what’s out there is a great preparatory tool.  But when it comes to choosing a home, settling on a price, determining whether the purchase is a good long-term investment – nothing compares to working with a quality, reputable, experienced Realtor.