Lola, so many consumers are now by-passing the "referral" in lieu of the internet (which I think it an interesting trend in and of itself). Good points for anyone considering hiring any professional based on information found online.

Lola, I still think that the best way to find an agent, if you don't already know one you love, is to ask friends and family members for referrals.  And you do not have to sign a buyer broker or listing agreement on the first date.  I've always had better luck with friends' fix ups than with the Match.com guys.

Colleen...yes, and perhaps with good reason.  Referrals are important and statistically we use them because they tend to lead us to people who are more likely to do the job correctly.  I encourage referrals and ask for them myself.  But, the research options available online can enhance the experience of choosing a service professional by providing more information to help make the right choice. 

Patricia, LOL...I've never had to deal with Match.com although I know several couples who are happily married courtesy of the Internet.  Referrals are excellent aids.  But, with more people going online, I thought it would be helpful to point out a few simple things that people can do to increase their chances of a successful pairing.

Lola, I like your comparison that a Realtor/Customer first meeting is like a blind date!  Some click, some don't!  I would add that a seller should also pay close attention to the descriptions and the quality of the photos on the listings, which is so important to capture potential buyer's interest on the net. 

Lynn, oh my goodness yes!  How many times have we seen Million Dollar listings look like shabby dumps because the photography was sooooo poor.  The same can be said for a basic knowledge of staging, or better yet the ability to recommend a competent stager.  How an agent markets a property is definitely something which a consumer should research.  Thanks for adding insight to this blog post through your comment.

Lola,

Great post! Much of what you advocate goes doubly for title insurance companies!!! There are many 'sham' operations with no bricks & mortar...be leary of those...not leary...stay away from them completely!!! Thanks,   Fran

Lola, This is so true and really applies to almost any business.  I am often told I am "googled" first where they can find my blogs and online presence and what we have done.  I think it's a good idea to see what efforts someone will go to for their business and their clients.

Lola - this is really top notch advice for anyone who is searching on-line to find an agent to work with, either as a buyer or seller. I have been found that way a number of times recently and I think you are really on target with the issues these potential clients need to investigate. I do a lot on-line and have no issues with folks googling me - in fact I encourage prospects to do so. It's also a good way for them to see what agents are doing on-line with the listings, and if they are showing up in Google or not. I tkae print-outs of my Google results on listings to listing presentations. It never fails to impress.

This deserves to be featured.

Jeff

Good advice I agree they need to do their research before making a decision.

Another well written post. And I understand how hard it can be for buyers to commit to an agent they met online. The up side is, most buyers who start their real estate searches online, are not in an immediate hurry. So they have the advantage of seeing if the agent they contact, will follow through over time =)

As for the fake testimonials, *sigh* there will be people with no scruples in every industry, AND there will be some clients who are the same way.

Lola, this is great. I have to tell you sometimes I worry when agents chose perhaps the number one, two or three agents in a state. First of all they may not live near by. I got a call for Grand Rapids, I immediately referred them to you. Same thing with Birmingham, referred them to Maureen.

Many online visitors are not familiar with the locations, distances in Michigan, I handle referrals very carefully because it always relects back on you the one who referred.

Many local agents, say they are online, but are they? If they are, where are they in the searches.

Great post. I agree we should be careful when we refer agents. Fortunately because of AR we get to know agents by networking and by their posts.

Lola .... you brought up some excellent points that I'm going to incorporate into my marketing ... THANKS GIRL!!

Lola,

Thanks for the post. With all that is happening today as it relates to consumerism and the real estate market in particular, it is hard to fathom someone attempting to transact business of this financial magnitude with an unknown.

Wow Lola, great post............ meeting a realtor is like a blind date............well said!  Makes us think about the customer more when putting it those terms.........huh?

Lola - Very informative. Blind dates....you never know. I went on one in my life 31 years ago, been married 29 years!

HI LOLA!

Featured post well worth it's weight in gold!!  I like how you compared it to a blind date!!  All you've said makes so much sense.  I bet many people get hooked up with the wrong agent (which is another way that agents catch a bad rap).  A key thing that you touched on was that they can interview the agent through question and answer in their blog.  They can cover a lot of ground and save themselves a lot of trouble that way.

Cool post!

Hi Lola- Great points.  Most might find this a dauting task at first but it can definitely benefit them in the end.  KM

You make some very good points. Ultimately, it is the job of the client to educate themselves about what they need and want. That's the only way they are going to find it and make sure it's the real deal and will get the job done.

Happy Closings :)

I always tell sellers at listing appointments that if they are interviewing other agents, and those agents claim they will be getting their home placed on their website, to find out how that agents site ranks on google, and if it can even be found. I just got a million dollar listing because the client said I was all over the internet so they felt I could get them the best exposure compared to another agent they interviewed.

Hi Lola, I always enjoy your thoughtful blogs. I can say that it works both ways when it comes to blind dates. My company, ZipRealty, is one of the top internet based companies. I receive a tremendous amount of leads derived from our internet presence and often get calls to visit properties. My picture is on my site along with my biography but I often feel like I'm on a blind date when I meet someone for the first time. Fortunately, I like to meet people and can say that all my dates have been excellent. Don't shortchange the internet buyer, many prefer the anonymity of browsing on their own. My job is to make them feel comfortable with my expertise and competence when they do decide to step out from the safety of the internet.

Fran, Absolutely.  This advise can be helpful in evaluating any number of Internet offerings.  While a brick & mortar address does not necessarily tell the full story, their MEMBERSHIP on the local real estate board and their status as a licensee is extremely important.  It's this type of basic information that consumers should be sure to check when making a determination regarding hiring a real estate agent. 

Carole, 5 years ago, hardly anyone would have thought of 'googling' anyone.  I was googled for the first time by a client in 2001 and to be honest with you, I didn't know what they had done.  I went home and discovered google for the first time!  An online presence is essential for business today...and that means every sort of business.

I agree with much of what you said.  However the thing that is missed is that those in my generation and younger are still in the "Right Now" generation.  The reason so many on-line real estate agents and mortgage brokers can flourish is because we look straight to the internet.  Gone are the days of TV and radio ads.  Gone are the days of the telephone book!  The computer and the use of the internet will be known as the hottest and most depended on piece of technology in the 21st Century.  By the time you will have read this comment though, there will have been 3 computer upgrades, 8 new cell phone prototypes, and someone will live longer because of the cure found in a medical lab.

Real Estate agents and Mortgage Brokers will need to have an on-line presence if they will have an opportunity to survive.

Jeff, appreciate your comment.  This form of marketing is fairly new and consumers are inundated with tons of information.  It's sometimes hard to sort out what is really valid and then even more challenging to figure out what is a good personal fit.  My goal is to arm people with a few tools they can use to determine what might work best for them.

Terry...research saves you a lot of hassle.  It's time spent upfront which yields dividends in the long run.

Hi Lisa, The most fascinating aspect of this new way of doing business is that more and more people are comfortable transacting business online. 

Ten years ago, the idea of doing a transaction with an Internet professional was not normal...indeed in our area, the largest brokerages did NOT even advertise that they had a website!  I found an old newspaper real estate advertising section from 1998 and was surprised in retrospect to see only telephone numbers! What a difference a decade makes.

Missy, you're absolutely right about areas/locations.  I have had calls this year from individuals who were looking for an agent and not realizing that they were calling an area which was sometimes hours away.  If I was unscrupulous, I could have pretended to be an 'expert.'  With an online expert, this can be difficult to determine.  Asking the right questions makes a difference.

That's also why it can be especially helpful to read blogs and see what others have to say about the agent.  The Referral Section on Active Rain is something that can reveal additional insight.

Gita...thanks for your comment.

You're welcome Pippa.  We need to understand how we provide value and let consumers know.

William...while it's hard to imagine, it's actually happening all the time.  Sometimes things go well and sometimes they don't.  The problem is that many people don't even know what to inquire about.

Michelle, well yes, it does.  The Internet is a wonderful source of information.  You just need to verify before trusting. 

Gary, Congratulations on 29 years of married life.  It's a whole different scene out there today...:)

Yvette...thanks for your comment.  Since blogging is fairly new, this may not be something a lot of people think about. Although Google is making it much easier by indexing blog articles and the news media also is incorporating blogging into their regular news feed.

Thanks for your comment Kristin.

Chris, you're right that it is the responsibility of the client to educate themselves.  It's just that there are very few instruction manuals out there right now...

Jennifer...When clients are SHOWN the difference in results, no more convincing is needed.  The Internet is where everyone is looking.

Brian...Zip Realty is doing a lot of very intelligent things when it comes to Internet marketing.  Simple tools such as finding a home by the type of mortgage you would like to pay on a monthly basis or the real estate pricing game are an acknowledgment that the consumer is engaged and wants to know the value of the data you provide before committing.  Very smart! 

Real Estate agents need to be more involved in providing an interactive experience.  Interesting thing about a blind date...the more you know about a prospect, the less scary it is. :) True for people and for online business. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

Elrico...I really hope readers of this blog STOP and take time to reflect on what you wrote in your comment.  Thank you for adding additional insight to this discussion.

Lola, I LOVE IT!!!

I never thought of equating an online Realtor or in my case an Internet lender with a blind date ........ LOL

That is now a permanent part of how I will describe them ....... LOL

Hi George, sometimes a change of perspective reveals things in a new light. :)  Glad you enjoyed the article.  Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

Well said.  Such a huge thing to make sure you can carry what your selling on the Internet.

Lola - With so many buyers and sellers who may be months out before deciding to buy or sell starting on the internet to find information on the real estate market, homes or a particular town they are considering a move to, the majority of agent and company websites today do not provide that personal window that a blog can create in allowing them to get the infomation they want anonymously and finding the agent they feel will best suit their needs.

I do think blogging is the best way to get to know a Realtor.  I just got a buyer from Russia who has been following my blog for 8 months.  When we talked it was like we were old friends.  I agree that static websites really don't tell you much about an agent and people need to do their homework.  Great advice.

This is becoming more common today than ever.  You make some excellent points regarding expectations and what to ask the Realtor prior to meeting them.  As Diane points out - when people meet me they feel like they've known me for a long time through my blog. 

You brought up some great points for consumers/clients to think about and questions to ask when selecting an Agent.  On line interviews through our blogs or by reading our blogs is what I have found some to be doing.