VIRTUAL REAL ESTATE

by Darrin DeRoches December 3 - 9, 2009

The Internet and real estate are intertwined more than you would think. A recent survey revealed that about 87 per cent of people look online at real estate first, even before they call their mortgage broker or real estate broker. Everyone knows the internet is part of their business, personal and social life; using the internet in the proper way is key. Anyone can get a website, email and advertise on line — how you use these tools will aid you in the sale and purchase of your dream home. Do not be fooled by the glitz and glam of the internet: make it work for you. The first thing I would do when looking for a real estate company or agent is look at the web. If they do not have a website, move on! The site itself can be elaborate or simple, just see if it works. Email the company and a prospective agent. If they do not get back to you within the hour or at least a couple of hours, kick them to the curb. Too many companies put you on hold or do not respond to simple inquires. How the hell they are going to sell your property or find you one if that’s the way they conduct business? In today’s world every single agent should have a smart phone, period! An email, text, or call should be handled right away — every inquiry has to be handled! The real estate company is working for you, so check out their web presence and email proficiency. It may sound simple enough but I send emails on prospective properties to agents and companies and they do not respond. I have clients looking to buy, but they cannot even answer my email. It happens all the time! I still believe in meeting with clients and talking one on one. We all use the phone, but 87 per cent are using the web, so emails are imperative. The glitz and glam of the web can become distracting. Buzz words like “metrics” and “lead generation”, and virtual tours and the like can all sound great, but are they effective? A virtual tour of a property is a great tool to expose a property, but not to over expose. Facebook, Craigslist, Kijiji, and Twitter are all great tools to talk and socialize, but for serious buyers it is all MLS.ca and OpenHouses.ca in our markets. The internet is a huge place to be a part of and a huge place to get lost in. You can spend hours listing and blogging to market real estate, but hitting the right spots with the right product is imperative. You can sell your house by yourself or with help from companies using the web as a tool, but to properly attract the right buyer or seller, an agent with the basic use of email and online tools will get it done properly. Phones, papers, email, and website are all pieces of the pie; it is just in the way you mix it together to get the best end results. Test it out: email a company and agent with your inquiry and see if they are really in the market. Email me your results, or even test me: email darrin@uniquerealty.ca. V [DARRIN DEROCHES] Darrin DeRoches is a local real estate and mortgage broker. He can be reached to answer questions, comments or stories about real estate experiences through this weekly column at mail@uniquerealty.ca.