he days of dropping a sign The first shift was from the
in the yard, putting an ad individual agent to an entire
in the paper and baking team. This approach allows the
cookies for a Sunday Open House agent to focus more on finding
are gone. Today's real estate buyers for your home. The
consumer is using the internet to agent’s staff can focus on
gather information and make marketing the home, processing
preliminary decisions before they paperwork and doing the
even go out to see homes. If day-to-day operations. Ask
your listing agent isn’t prepared yourself, why wouldn’t you want
for this shift in the industry, an entire team working to sell
your home could go largely your home versus a single agent
unnoticed. when it doesn’t cost you a penny
more?
Over the last several years the
real estate industry has changed Secondly, agents needed to be
dramatically. Some agents feared more proactive. Custom full
it, some agents ignored it, but color brochures have become
the best agents embraced it and commonplace in most homes for
learned to play by the new rules. sale. Agents became involved in
The best Realtors discovered more direct mail campaigns
they now had to do more to market marketing homes to neighborhoods
a home. They had to learn all and potential buyers. Some
the new avenues consumers would Realtors have even developed
come into contact with homes for buyer databases that they can
sale. Most of all, they had to reference as they list homes for
be technologically savvy and have sale. These databases
a proactive marketing campaign to automatically alert them to
get a home sold. matching buyers making an instant
connection between buyer and
seller. to buy the home sight unseen!
A huge shift in the industry has Another shift has been in value
been the internet and it’s added services. Consumers are
ramifications on how consumers doing more work on their own,
are searching for homes. This they need justification for what
led to more and more Realtor they’re paying their agent. More
websites. It began with a few and more Realtors are offering
sites posting a picture of a home value added services such as home
for sale. Then came virtual warranties, home appraisals, home
tours, allowing home buyers to staging experts to prepare a home
preview a home from the comfort for sale and even FREE moving
of their desk or couch. The trucks!
latest cutting edge tool used by
some of the best agents are home Even with all this technology,
websites. An entire website the heart of the transaction
devoted to a single home for still needs to be good
sale. These sites provide more communication and superior
information for buyers than any customer service. Some agents
other avenue, even seeing the have unfortunately lost touch
home with an agent. These sites with these qualities as they have
offer unlimited photos (both become more wrapped up in the
exterior and interior), virtual technology. If you’re
tours, property documents (like considering selling your home,
disclosures) available for online make sure your agent possesses
viewing, links to schools, area these skills. Get plenty of
information, mortgage references and find out how they
calculators, heck, you can even will be communicating with you
set up a showing appointment! throughout the transaction.
What’s next, maybe you’ll be able
Perhaps the last thing that is These are just some of the things
important when you’re looking for changing the real estate industry
a Realtor these days is some form over the last few years. Take
of Performance Guarantee. Some this advice to heart when it
agents like to charge a comes time to sell your next
processing fee, or marketing fee, home. A lot of consumers may be
for listing your home for sale. unaware of these changes, and
If you decide to cancel your what they should be looking for
listing or it doesn’t sell – in a Realtor. Don’t get burned –
you’re out! A good agent will find an agent that has adapted to
provide you with an “easy exit” these changes yet held on to the
or Performance Guarantee stating most important qualities like
that you can cancel your listing customer service and
at no cost. communication!
About the Author:
Kris Kombrink has been working in his family-owned real estate business since 1995. Specializing in Geneva, St Charles and Batavia Illinois residential real estate his team stays on top of the latest trends while maintaining superior customer. Learn more about his team at http://www.kombrink.com
Read more articles by:
Kris Kombrink
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
