I have had it with every Tom Dick and Harry.com providing " real estate" information online.
For one thing, many of my buyers are on total overload, spending countless hours online searching for homes, and driving themselves crazy with the " too much information" situation.
Honestly if you are a buyer looking for a home online I hope you are reading this!
Many of these websites provide partial and outdated information. The general public does not understand the difference between the MLS (private for licensed real estate professionals) and MLS listings. (provided online to the public).
As Realtor's, our data base for listings is updated in real time, and provides far more information than the public has access to. I am frustrated because many people come to me with scores of homes they want to look at, and something that you would think would make my life easier, has indeed created many problems. Buyer's have too many homes to choose from online, particularly if they are not familiar with the area. Plus, there are sites tha pull partial information and leave them thinking they have enough information to make a decision about a property when they simply do not. I have had several buyers just on total over load after spending waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time looking for a house online. This is a service I am happy to provide for them, and I think it would be really beneficial all the way around. I do think that it is good for buyers to have a good idea what is available, but they need to understand that many of the homes floating around on sites are already under contract! The primary agency sites are the best source of updated information. (not the we want every one to pay a referral to us.com)
Another pet peeve of mine is that some of these sites are bothering my sellers as well. They see their home being half represented online and then they call or e-mail me, and I have no control over those sites. So, online exposure is great, but it has gotten kind of out of control.
So be careful what you believe on websites because not all of the information is being brought forth. They will give all kinds of information about what homes are " worth" which is a whole different (sore) subject. Don't get me started! It is not a good idea to have a website " average" the value of a home when they cannot see the condition and other factors. This takes a real person. Like a real -tor.
The moral of the story: Hire a Real Estate professional (with great references) and trust that they will provide you with the information you need, when you need it in regard to buying and selling homes!
I might be open to going back to the " book" of listings only privy to Realtors! (just kidding) How about a balance of limited, dependable information, rather than zillions of sites with TMI? (too much (mis)information!
OK I feel better now.
BethAnn Long ~ Spokane Realtor- Coldwell Banker Tomlinson South Inc.
509-362-4607
...there's no place like your home!
