16 Nov Realtors: Why You Need to Be Online

Over the past decade, the world of homebuyers has become increasingly digital. Consumers are online  the second they have a question or idea. They do extended research to look for information to support their buying decisions. They watch “how-to” videos on YouTube, they read review sites, they look up specific brands on search engines, and even research on the go with their smartphones and tablets.

According to realtor.org’s digital house hunt report, real estate related searches on Google have grown 253% over the past 4 years. Additionally, approximately one-fifth of real estate related searches happen on mobile devices.

How do real estate professionals market to people that are always plugged in and informed?

The typical homebuyer takes three months to buy, but they do engage with agents earlier in the process. This lengthy consumer “research” window affords realtors many opportunities to connect with homebuyers.

YouTube is the top video research destination for home shoppers. They use video to find out more information about a community, tour the inside of a home from their computer to see if it’s even worth seeing in person, compare features with other communities, watch customer testimonials, and watch how-to videos.

This is a perfect opportunity to be in front of your potential customers with relevant and helpful videos!

Also consider that 78% of new home shoppers visit three or more websites prior to taking action on a real estate site. Mobile apps are used by 68% of new home shoppers at the onset and throughout their research.

As an agent, this does not make you obsolete. Agents continue to bridge the gap between internet research and viewing and buying a home. Realtor.org reports that 88% of buyers use an agent and 67% use an agent frequently. Since we know that TV, billboards, and print channels play minimal role in research and decision-making, it is critical that you have a robust online presence.

image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net