Buyers Love the Convenience of On-line House Hunting

The real estate industry has moved on-line with good reason -

that's where the buyers have gone. Real estate sales methods are

being redefined, as people increasingly rely on search engines

to locate precisely the house they want. More than 53% of house

hunters use the Internet in their home search, according to the

National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Their surveys also show, seventy-five percent of buyers locate

their agent online. And seventy percent of real estate firms

have a website - many of them searchable. Searchable websites

allow a person to enter their specific preferences (3-bedroom,

price range, etc.) and see that firm's available listings

matching those criteria.

Expect Internet reliance for real estate to increase further,

because computer- and Internet-savvy buyers find answers that

way (no matter what they're buying). Studies show web searchers

tend to have higher education and incomes, and are more likely

to buy. To gain credibility with Internet-oriented buyers, agents

must demonstrate they understand what's wanted - not just homes,

but HOW they prefer to buy them.

Web searchers prefer to take an active role in their home search,

rather than waiting to see what their agent suggests. Now, the

pressing challenge among real-estate firms is to find even

better ways to serve buyers and sellers online. Simply sticking a

listing on-line doesn't make it easy to find. It's too easy to

get lost in the pack.

Impress with Technology - Without Needing High-tech Skills

Firms employing online methods effectively out-perform the rest,

by delivering answers in the way buyers prefer-ample pictures,

simple and direct facts, and easily found online.

Visualize this - a website entirely devoted to one particular

property. The domain name? It's location, of course http://www.

1122MainStreet.com

Take a peek. No question about where it's located. The home

stands out in a high-impact way. And its front yard signs send

passers-by to the unique website for all the particulars.

Any property offered from its very own website rates extra

attention - and gets it. Realtors are pleased to learn they

don't need to know any technical stuff at all, to produce a well-

designed, one-of-a-kind website. Following the easy steps lets

them create a unique site within minutes. Each property appears

its own domain name (the address) until the sale is made.

Single Property Sites, http://www.singlepropertysites.com has

pioneered property-specific websites. Their package provides

everything from templates, to hosting, to tech support. No

technical know-how is needed. Yet a customized website costs

only a few dollars a month per listing. It's so cheap an agency

can provide websites for every one its listings - without it

costing sellers anything.

Deliver Convenience in a Way that Appeals to both Sellers and

Buyers

To the oft-quoted real estate phrase, "location, location,

location," add "convenience, convenience, convenience." Nowadays,

that's what everyone looks for. As improbably as it would seem,

individualized sites are convenient and simple.

The unique marketing strategy gives any property a competitive

advantage. But it also provides the agent a valuable advantage

during the listing interview. One no other sales agent can match.

1. Convenience for Sellers

Sellers want their property to sell quickly and easily. They

expect their agent to make their property stand out from similar

homes. Providing maximum Internet exposure guides buyers

directly to their property. And it's so fast it's not dependent

on customary printing or newspaper schedules.

2. Convenience for Buyers

The address takes them to the website, with numerous pictures

and all the property specs. No need to click through numerous

listings that don't interest them. It's much easier to find the

home that "rings their bell," without needing to visit the

property initially.

3. Convenience for the Listing Real Estate Agent

Individual websites expedite the whole sales cycle. Since

properties sell faster, it's easier to focus their energies on

getting them closed. When courting sellers, it's a powerful

distinction. Also, it maximizes open-house activity.

Sellers Claim Ownership of their Property's Website

Cindie Day, an agent with Piele Realtors, http://www.

pielerealtors.com of Denver, claims it's much easier to sell a

property with its own website. "Sellers share the site

information with friends and co-workers. It looks so deluxe and

impressive, people assume it's expensive. But it's much cheaper

than newspaper ads. I'm putting all my listings on their own

site since they sell faster that way."

When it comes time for a seller to choose which agent brings

"something extra," offering sellers their own buyer-oriented

website (for no cost to them) counts as a noteworthy listing tool.

©2005, Paul Eastwood

Paul Eastwood, Single Property Sites Inc., Tomorrows listing

tools for today's Agents http://www.SinglePropertySites.com

303-346-3037