Has The Internet Replaced Your Realtor?

We cannot dispute that the internet has changed the way all of us do business today and even how we shop for personal items. Even if we do not actually buy from a web site, most of us turn to the internet for our “window shopping” and research before we go to the store. This is the same with real estate. Almost 90% of home buyers begin their home search and pre-purchase education by turning to the internet. This isn’t necessarily bad. However, the internet cannot and should not replace your Realtor.

Usnews.com recently published an article by Matthew Bandyk about the pitfalls of online real estate searching. Bandyk lists five common mistakes consumers make when “buying” real estate online without the help of a real estate professional. To me, the most critical of these common mistakes is “assuming you can do it all yourself”. Bandyk lists this as one of the mistakes but I think it is the common thread among all of the blunders. The consumer cannot possibly review all of the information that is online nor, for that matter, decipher which of it is accurate, current and applicable. We are always better consumers when we take the initiative to educate ourselves. But, in a real estate transaction, a Realtor will make sure that the purchase contract protects the parties interests by making sure all the elements are complete and subject to attorney approval. The Realtor will have knowledge of valuations in the area and assist you in paying a fair price for the property.