Thursday, February 14, 2013

How Technology is Transforming the Role of Real Estate Agents

Before the Internet became popular, real estate agents only had the MLS to work from to find homes for their clients. Now, however, all potential home buyers and sellers as well as agents have the opportunity to do research about home sales in their preferred area over the Internet. Due to this, real estate agents have had to strongly embrace technology in order to stay current and maintain a solid business. 
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How do Real Estate Agents Use Technology?
 
Many real estate agents have begun to fully integrate technology into their business paradigm. After all, it is now easier to connect with potential buyers and sellers, and it is also easier to track all of the real estate that is available within their sales area. Most real estate agents have their own website, and they provide information about each of the homes that they currently have listed. By doing this, they can cut a lot of their own legwork out of the process of selling a home. After all, in the past, a real estate agent had to seek out people who were interested in buying and selling. Now, however, most interested buyers will spend a lot of time looking for homes on the Internet, such as those offered by Movoto Realty. By the time a potential buyer contacts a real estate agent, they are often seriously interested in one or two specific listings.

Real estate agents also take full advantage of smartphones to help them stay in touch with all of their clients. Most people who work in the real estate sales industry have unusual hours, and it is imperative for an agent to be able to contact their clients when they are not in the office. It is also important for a real estate agent to have easy access to their calendar and the most updated information about all of their listings. By using a smartphone, an agent can have everything that they need sitting in their pocket.
 

Technology that Benefits Agents and Buyers
 
One of the biggest technological advances for real estate, aside from the Internet itself, is the ability to allow buyers to see virtual tours of every home that they are interested in. Although photographs and a solid description are a good way to grab a buyer's interest, it is often the virtual tour that makes the viewer decide to ask for a real tour. Therefore, if you are a real estate agent who is not using this technology, you should definitely start using it immediately.
 

Using the Internet to Find a Real Estate Agent
 
Real estate agents are not the only people who can benefit from technology. In fact, the Internet makes it much easier for potential buyers to find an agent who they are interested in working with. It is important to take the time to research an agent before you agree to let them help you with your home search. After all, you do not want to work with a real estate agent who has a reputation for being difficult to work with or failing to contact clients when new homes go on the market. There are several websites that enable people to leave reviews about real estate agents, and you should definitely utilize them when you are trying to decide who to work with.

For any agent to thrive in this technological age, it is important for them to keep current with all that the Internet and social media has to offer. By using traditional tools in tandem with new technology, they are better prepared to offer clients a higher level of service and expertise. The Internet is providing both agent and buyer with all of the information needed to make an informed buying decision as well as to find the best home available that meets their criteria. 


Molly Henshaw is a freelance writer who specializes in small business and real estate subject matters. Movoto Realty has embraced technology and provides its clients with a user friendly site to help them find the right real estate agent. By looking for the top sales agent in your area, you know that they will have the expertise needed to find you the perfect home for your family.

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