3 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Pro in a Digital World

Technological innovation and interconnectedness are only becoming more popular and ingrained in our everyday lives and actions as time goes on. And for the real estate industry, this is especially the case, with the internet starting to become the main platform with which to find a home to buy or advertise a home you are looking to sell. If you’re searching for a home online, you’re not alone; more and more people are solely using the web for this process. The question is, are you using all of your available online resources, and are you using them wisely? The Internet is a great place to start the home-buying process, and the access and availability it provides are invaluable. 

But at the end of the day, you don’t want to be contemplating this level of decision from just a website and a review — you want to sit down with a human being, talk about your needs, and let a professional who knows the local real estate industry, like the realty professionals at Lisa Duke Realty. Online home shopping is an amazing thing available to us, but there are a few reasons why you should make sure to include the consultation of a real estate professional as well. Keep reading to learn more!

Online Real Estate and House Searching

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the three most popular information sources home buyers use in the home search are:

-Online website (93%)

-Real estate agent (86%)

-Mobile/tablet website or app (73%)

If you’re starting your property search online, 93% of home buyers are right there with you. And why shouldn’t they be? The resources and collection of photos, reviews, and information about a home listing is an incredible tool that every potential home buyer should take advantage of. However, it’s also important to note that 86% of buyers are also getting their information from a real estate agent at the same time. As useful as an online property search can be, a lot of home buyers still find a lot of value in also utilizing a professional real estate agent in conjunction with an online search.

Here are 3 reasons why using a real estate professional in conjunction with an online search is key:

1. There’s More to Real Estate Than Finding a Home Online. It’s a lonely and complicated trek around the web if you don’t have a real estate professional to also help you through the hundreds of possible steps you’ll face as you navigate through a real estate transaction. Even if you find your dream home listed online and you are already starting to imagine your life inside it, there are still some important steps required to achieve that dream. Determining your price, submitting an offer, and successful negotiation are just a few of these key steps in the sequence. You’ll definitely want someone who has been there before to help you through it, like a real estate professional from Lisa Duke Realty.
2. You Need a Skilled Negotiator. In today’s market, hiring a talented negotiator could save you thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of dollars. As much you have the desire and passion to find the right home for yourself and buy it at the right price, utilizing the help of a real estate professional who has led more than a few of these negotiations is just a no-brainer. From the original offer to the appraisal and the inspection, many of the intricate financial steps can get complicated and confusing. You need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes, giving and taking the right amounts, with your interests in mind. You need a real estate professional, like the ones on our team at Lisa Duke Realty.
3. It Is Crucial to Make a Competitive and Compelling Offer. There is so much information out there in the news and on the Internet about home sales, prices, and mortgage rates, especially when you factor in the larger market and economy. How do you know what’s specifically going on in the housing market? How do you know what’s going on realty-wise in your area? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a lowball offer?

Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.”

Hiring a real estate professional who has his or her finger on the pulse of the market where you are looking for a home will make your buying experience an informed and educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear — you need a human being in your corner to advise and fight for you, instead of just an online account that shows you reviews and numbers and expects you to make the correct decision. 

Bottom Line

Online real estate searches are an incredible tool we all have at our disposal in the grander search for a home. But nothing can replace the experience, the human passion, and the informative consultation that a real estate professional can provide about the local realty market.  Luckily, the real estate professionals from Lisa Duke Realty have over a decade of experience providing the information, passion, and consultation to potential buyers and sellers in the Jacksonville area — our agents have the characteristics you are looking for in a real estate professional.

The combination of the online realty sphere and the expert advice and experience you can get from a professional agent is a great approach to buying a home. If you’re ready to start your search online, let’s get together. You’ll want someone who is educated and informed at your side who can answer your questions and guide you through a process that can be complex and confusing if you go at it with the Internet alone. So call Lisa Duke Realty today!