Special offer
Tony Lewis, Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo (Summit Real Estate Group)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

No.

It may change how and who does business but there will be the need for representation.  

Jun 08, 2015 01:58 AM
Rainmaker
212,755
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

I think we still have a safe career for awhile, people will always want to see a place in person. The only time I can see the entire viewing, sales, closing process being able to be done online is if Virtual reality ever takes off and you can literally tour any home in a life like way from your current home. 

It's possible in a distant future with Facebook buying Oculus for a billion dollars there are certainly companies working on virtual reality.

Jun 07, 2015 07:58 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,164
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

We definitely have a surplus of several hundred thousand real estate agents. And, many of them have antiquated thinking and practices. The roles of real estate professionals are rapidly changing.

Jun 07, 2015 06:59 AM
Rainmaker
175,614
Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ
Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

No.  It has made it easier for home buyers/sellers to see what is available and what someone else thinks a property is "worth" but there is still too much legality involved in buying or selling a property for me to worry about it.  I choose to embrace the technology that deliveres ready and willing clients to my office door steps :)
Spirit

Jun 07, 2015 03:55 AM
Rainmaker
22,353
Karen T Brown
HomeBased Realty - Lancaster, CA

Oh Chris and Dick I loved that answer.

My response is no, we are still needed. I don't mind my clients doing some research, I feel it adds validity to what I'm telling them; it can help narrow down what they want in a home. Also, we are kept up to date on the new laws and quite frankly, what stops many people selling or buying their own house is that they don't want to have to think or hassle with everything. I also think more lawsuits will incur without us. Granted it was Facebook, but I read an article that talked about a buyer suing the LA and seller for not disclosing the house they bought was infested with dangerous snakes. Personally, I think without agents, a lot more dishonesty will happen. Sure some people think there's nothing to selling a house, but we all know that's not true.

Jun 07, 2015 03:44 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

They may be tech savvy, but that doesn't make them real estate savvy.  I see no end to the job of the Realtor.

Jun 07, 2015 03:39 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Doubtful

Mar 27, 2018 05:39 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

The over whelming answer is that we are necessary.  Now it is our job to promote the meaning of a Realtor and that we are Fudiciaries and to let the public know what we bring to the table.  We should be promoting this as a unified group of licensed professionals.

Jun 08, 2015 03:23 PM
Rainmaker
516,437
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in Conroe/Willis, TX

I don't think so.  I have had some buyers say they could google everything they needed to know and they didn't need a real estate agent. They tried purchasing a fsbo then gave me a call when things were not working the way they intended.  The ended up purchasing and have called me since for more business.  We as Realtors add a lot of value.

Jun 08, 2015 11:08 AM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

No as you need a human to open the door and write a contract.  Unless with get realtor robots!

Jun 08, 2015 02:59 AM
Rainer
3,423
monica colaneri
Simply Real Estate - Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Realtors are necessary. What technology doesn't take into account is the "Human Factor"  At the end of the day, our buyers and sellers, want a live person to talk too and  someone to listen to their concerns.

Jun 08, 2015 02:40 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

e v e n t u a l l y

Jun 08, 2015 02:37 AM
Rainer
50,929
Libby Offnick
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Mooresville, NC
ABR, e-PRO, SPS

I personally think it will change the way we "do" business but not put us "out" of business.  Dealing with appraisals, inspections, conflicts, title problems, etc. can't be handled by a simple on line search.

Jun 08, 2015 02:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Tony Lewis Who is going to show the property and insure the transaction is successful to the closing. If this were true, we see a whole lot more FSBO's.

Jun 07, 2015 11:07 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

NO WAY, a buyer can find a home online but then they need to be pre-qualified, they need to see the home, they need to make a good offer, they need to do inspections, they need help with their mortgage, what do they do if something is found in the inspection process? Then there is communication, updates and the glue that holds the sale together, 

Jun 07, 2015 10:18 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Tony. I don't see it that way at all. It will enhance the need, as long as you build a referral based business.

Jun 07, 2015 08:54 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

I do not think it will make it obsolete. It will make it harder to turn a profit.

Jun 07, 2015 07:23 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Tony - The internet has certainly changed the way people search for homes, but I don't think it can replace writing a offer, negotiations, inspections, addendum's, disclosures, securing a loan, and everything else that has to do with the actual process of buying or selling a home.

Jun 07, 2015 04:39 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Tony Lewis - actually Internet is helping us!

You could not have blogged if Internet was not there!

Jun 07, 2015 03:42 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

No it is a people business and people like to look a Realtor in the eye, face to face. Even FaceTime can't replace this. 

Jun 07, 2015 09:23 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

The internet didn't place my ads for open house today, The internet didn't design, order, pay for, and mail my post cards announcing the open house, the internet didn't put up and take down my 7 directional signs, the internet didn't host my open house for 3 hours, the internet didn't but the ink so i could print fliers, the internet didnt't go to the store and buy snacks etc for my open house, the internet wasn't available to meet and interview visitors to my open house, the internet didn't turn off all the lights and locks the doors for me at my open house, the internet didn't take all the photos I needed to market the house, the internet didn't place all the ads I used to promote the open house, the internet didn't report results to the sellers, the intrent wasn't there when we signed the listing agreement, the internet didn't do the cma and suggest list price to seller, the internet never picks up my buyers and drives them around to view houses, the internet doesn't pay my MLS or realtor association dues, the internet doesn't answer my phone or reply to texts or emails, the internet didn't meet my buyers home inspector and spend 4 hours at the house with them, etc, etc, etc....

Jun 07, 2015 08:31 AM
Rainer
61,641
Renee Paray
Coldwell Banker Realty - Blue Bell, PA
REALTOR

I do not feel that the internet is going to make the job of the Realtor obsolete. The home is one of the most expensive purchases you will make, so why wouldnt you want to visit the home in person? 

Last week, I received two phone different phone calls from potential clients which said they wanted to see a home listed for sale. However, when I checked out the addresses in the MLS they were not for sale. The websites they had received their information from did not bother to update from 2 years ago when the houses sold. 

I have also seen houses that look wonderful on the MLS, but when you get to the home, it is much smaller than in the photos. 

Jun 07, 2015 07:09 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

No no and no. For some consumers perhaps, but by no means, for all. The public is vastly mistaken if they think they know as much as Realtors who have sold hundreds of homes.

Jun 07, 2015 06:58 AM
Rainmaker
345,130
Yolanda Hoversten
Self Employed - O'Fallon, IL
Referrals for O’Fallon, IL & the Metro East

If Zwestimates become accurate, maybe. Otherwise, no.

The Internet has made the searching process shorter, however. 

Jun 07, 2015 06:17 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

No way, the internet does not analyze trends.

Jun 07, 2015 06:08 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

It makes the value of our profession different than in the past. People can get some information much easier without using an agent. But getting accurate information is a different story. Accuracy, complex legal forms, disclosures issues, IMO the reasons people should use a good agent are even more important now.

Jun 07, 2015 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

 No.  It has and will change but there will always be a need for real estate professionals.

Jun 07, 2015 03:45 AM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

They can research all they like but who is going to unlock the Supra?

Jun 07, 2015 03:19 AM