In the past, some real estate agents feared Zillow. As the website has continued to grow, many agents recognize the value it offers to them and their business. Instead of being the competition, Zillow has become a resource agents can use to develop brand awareness and to find leads.
Home buyers have the information they need at their fingertips with Zillow’s advanced mobile applications. They can stand in a neighborhood and find a map of all the homes nearby for sale. It’s time to embrace this technology if you haven’t already!
Increase Your Leads
Advertising with Zillow gets your name in front of more people. Studies show that most buyers research online before contacting an agent. In fact, the 2013 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers put the number at 92 percent. Of those, 90 percent went on to work with a real estate agent to complete the process.
Sites like Zillow (and Trulia-which Zillow purchased last year for 3.5 billion!!) allow buyers or sellers to locate an agent through a resource they trust. They can specify agents by location or search for a specific person. They can read reviews to decide if this is someone they are interested in working with.
Develop Your Reputation
Zillow allows you to build your reputation in two ways. First, you can create a profile on the site for buyers or sellers to find you. People can provide reviews, which will influence others to give you a chance.
The second way to build your reputation is by getting involved in the community. Visit the forums and take the time to answer questions. People who post questions on the forums are interested in buying or selling a home, but they aren’t quite ready to take the next step. They go to these forums to ask for advice or information. When you provide what they’re looking for, you develop credibility. They are more likely to remember you as someone they “know” when they are ready to move forward.
Keep Your Finger on the Pulse
Real estate agents can benefit from Zillow by reading the questions and visiting other areas of the site. They can learn who is putting homes on the market that are For Sale By Owner. This allows them to know more about the market and their competition. They have their industry statistics, but Zillow is another resource to find out what’s happening currently in the market.
Zillow makes it easy for buyers and sellers to find information and facts about real estate. What it cannot do is walk them through the process step by step. A real estate agent is essential for that part of the journey. It can never replace the agent, but it can partner with them to make the home buying or selling process easier and more stress-free.
What the site can do for the agent is to let them know what questions people are asking and to ensure they know what is happening on the other side of the market. Zillow is a valuable resource for real estate agents if they utilize it and know how to make the most of this tool.
The key is to embrace technology and work with your home owners help maximize their property to stand out amongst the competition. Indiana Residential can save you time by serving as your one stop home improvement resource so you can focus on all the other ways to get ahead in todays competitive market. Contact Us today.
