Don’t Play Zillow Whac-A-Mole
by Jill Heineck, Associate Broker
Heineck & Company @ Keller Williams Realty Peachtree Road
Recently a friend called to ask for an agent referral. She and her husband were looking for a house in Athens, Georgia. That’s not my area, so I gave her the name of a colleague who lives and works in the city.
“I’ve been playing Whac-A-Mole on Zillow,” my exasperated friend told me. “Every time something good pops up in our search, we call the agent, and it’s already under contract.”
Too little, too late
Websites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com tap into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a service from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) that lets listing brokers share up-to-date information on properties with brokers representing prospective buyers. However, listings on these third-party websites can be delayed by several days, which also means delayed updates on price changes and pending sales contracts.
So, by the time you find a house you’re interested in, it’s entirely likely that a dozen people have already seen it and at least one is negotiating a contract. In a fast-moving real estate market — which most are these days — 48 hours can mean the difference between finding the home of your dreams and playing Whac-A-Mole.
Even if you luck out online and find a home you like that’s available, third-party sites don’t offer the value-added service of a real live agent who lives and works in the market. Six photos and a 200-word description don’t tell you a lot. An agent can tell you whether a house is actually better looking — or worse — than it appears online. He or she can tell you about community and quality of life issues, such as a new elementary school that’s under construction, traffic patterns that might affect your commute, or rezoning that might affect future property value.
Plus, a buyer’s agent spares you the hassle of calling numerous listing agents to set up viewings. The best news? The cost of the buyer’s agent is built into the listing price, so you don’t pay a dime out of pocket.
These days, very few of my clients need me to drive them around to scout out locations. They are super savvy people who have done a lot of homework online. NAR stats show that buyers are online for about two weeks before contacting an agent. In most cases, they have done the drive-bys and already ruled areas in, or out. They might have even already found homes they’re interested in. So I tell my clients, “While I might not find the house, I will do everything in my power to make sure you’re the one who gets it!”
There’s not an app for that
Sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com can be great tools, especially for reconnaissance. However, there’s no app to replace the value an agent brings to the transaction. My role has morphed from an Uber driver to a bona fide guide, navigator, and negotiator. From crafting a strategic offer, to negotiating a win-win contract, to navigating the contract-to-close period, and overseeing the financing process — simultaneously. You could say I am an expert project manager.
The benefit to you, the buyer, is the confidence and peace of mind that comes from having an agent with specialized experience and expertise in your corner — getting you the best the market has to offer and bringing you home sweet home.