With the influx of new technology and web-based solutions, everything is moving fast into the era of the internet. We can pull up our phones or laptops to order what we want with ease. Every industry is being revolutionized by technology. The same methods are attempting to be applied to the real estate industry.
Are you ready to make or accept an “Instant Offer”?
We could all agree that the simplification of the process through paperwork would be much appreciated by agents and buyers/sellers alike. However, the attempt of replacing the agent by third-party sites can lead to a snowball effect of disaster. Think about real estate being smack dab in the middle of fast food and a doctor. You can use your mobile device to quickly place your order for a $20 meal, but when it comes to getting a surgery, you’ll want to put that phone down and visit a professional. Now think of your real estate agent being in the middle of all of that. You can use your devices to look for a home, look at market data the way you look at WebMD. It’s fun and gives you a general idea of what to expect. The data online is an oversimplified version of what goes into the process of buying and selling. The same way it oversimplifies medical diseases and surgeries, you’d still expect to get a professional’s diagnosis.
You need a real professional’s input.
Although a real estate agent isn’t quite like a doctor, the industry in its legalities, contracts, and processes is similar in the sense that it needs to be taken seriously. Looking for a house online and wanting to put an immediate offer on one can be exciting and fun, but the issues that require a professional’s guidance comes after the initial contract is written up.
Same for sellers, if you decide to put your home on the market and want a website that will give you an automatic offer, how do you know you’re not being taken advantage of in the price? Is the cost of easy really worth it to you? Most importantly, how do you know you’re not being taken advantage of in other aspects of the contract?
There is a lot more to the sale of the home than just agreeing on a number.
Digging through public sites for homes for sales and getting instant home valuation estimates is a simple process to give you an idea of your market. A very general idea. But after you’ve found the perfect house, or after you’ve decided that the numbers make some sense for you to sell, call us to be your real estate agent of choice. We’ll give you a more detailed look into the current market and assist you through the full process.
Things can happen. You can be in the middle of a contract when the lending falls apart, or negotiations can’t be made on repairs. Emotions can get at an all-time high where things don’t seem as clear as they once were. It is that point in time that you are going to wish you had put down your laptop and had an agent fighting for you by your side. Use the internet, have fun with its amazing resources, but don’t let it replace your agent. We aren’t in an age, just yet, where technology can do everything a professional can. However, know that we use all the best technology to work with our clients to make the process seem easy!
Every state operates differently and laws/contracts/processes change often.
Did you know that in the state of North Carolina, all agents represent the seller without a buyer’s agreement in place with a buyer? Keep that in mind when you decide to call off a yard sign, walk into an open house, or visit a model home. These agents don’t represent YOU unless you sign an agreement allowing them to represent you. Even then, they may represent BOTH parties and you should know what that means to how they are allowed to work with you.
We keep you straight and informed through the process. Let us help you navigate the maze of real estate…don’t end up on a dead-end track.
Want to know more? Check out this flyer about working with a real estate agent in North Carolina.
