I Have the Internet - Why Do I Need a Realtor When
I Buy a Home?
The internet is great. Never before have home buyers been so empowered.
With the internet it is possible to research homes in another town, compare
prices, size, features, etc. without ever speaking to a real estate
professional.
If that’s the case, why should anyone ever use a Realtor to buy property?
Isn’t that a waste of time? Not if making a good buying decision is the main
objective. The internet can offer data but it can not interpret it. That’s the
big advantage of working with a Realtor. Realtors not only know the market but
they know how to interpret it.
A Realtor doesn’t just spend time working with buyers and sellers.
Realtors study market trends. Which areas of town are appreciating fastest?
Where are properties turning over quickly and where is inventory piling up? What
features are buyers looking for that they are willing to pay more for? What
features make a home dated in buyers’ eyes?
All of these are questions that Realtors research every day. With over
7000 resale properties on the market in the Naples area at any given time, and
thousands more being built it is a full time job to stay on top of this
ever-changing market.
Features that might be considered standard in one neighborhood could be
overbuilt in another. Knowing that properties are taking longer to sell in one
area than in a comparable area might make a difference in what price a buyer
might want to offer. Even knowing what government or environmental regulations
are new or pending can make a difference in a home’s value in the future.
Most new communities are not found on the internet through the same
sources as resale homes. It makes it difficult for a prospective buyer to
compare apples to apples. Realtors tour new communities on a regular basis and
track their sales as well.
This market demands constant education. Seminars put on by the Naples
Area Board of Realtors, the Collier County Building and Industry Association,
and others are invaluable resources. Realtors work with appraisers, home
inspectors, lenders, and other professionals on a regular basis. These become
sources for market information as well.
Buyers can use the internet to save time and to get ideas. They can
eliminate homes that do not meet their needs and explore areas that look
interesting. A good realtor will not talk a customer into or out of buying a
home, but will make sure it is an informed decision that results in satisfaction
for years to come.
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