Do you think this overtake of social media into the real estate business is a good or bad thing? What will it turn into in the future?
Sunday, May 27, 2012
"Home Tweet Home"
This morning in the Chicago Tribune, an article in the Real Estate section was talking about how "more real estate agents are turning to social media." It said that now real estate agents are friends with their clients on Facebook, and use that to communicate with them. One interview with Terri McAuley, who is a broker at Koenig and Strey, said that she estimated about 75 percent of her clients have never actually met her in person. With the world of technology emerging, more and more people stop communicating in person or even on the phone, but rather on facebook, twitter, youtube, texting, etc.
After reading this article, I was thinking about the pros and cons to this way of communicating with agents, brokers, etc about important things, such as buying a house. With the internet so easily available, you can much more easily find out information or look at very recently updated listings, and communicate quickly with them, such as through text. However, there is always a risk with never meeting the person who is helping you make such a big investment. There's a lot more room for errors to occur, and it seems a bit laid back to be tweeting and talking to them on Facebook about it. You also get to see into their daily life, as do they into yours.
Do you think this overtake of social media into the real estate business is a good or bad thing? What will it turn into in the future?
Do you think this overtake of social media into the real estate business is a good or bad thing? What will it turn into in the future?
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I think that it's definitely a good thing to combine social media with real estate, but there is a limit to it. I think that it's very important keep in contact with clients in many different ways. However, social media like twitter should not be used exclusively. A face to face relationship is very important in terms of selling a house. When someone is shown a house, it's much more effective to be shown by the actual broker in person. Otherwise, how can they know if they really want to buy the house?
ReplyDeleteI think that, whether good or bad, the combination of social media and real estate is inevitable. Despite it's inevitability, however, I do think that it has its cons because clients don't receive the personal experience of working with and getting to know a broker like they would in the "good ol' days." For example, I remember at the beginning of the school year when Mr. Bolos and Mr. O'Connor talked to us about social media. They said that while they understood that e-mail and twitter were important forms of communication, they wanted to create personal relationships with us and delve into the world of American Studies in person, not over a computer. Therefore, I agree with Anna when she says that "a face to face relationship is very important in terms of selling a house." Indeed it is.
ReplyDeleteIn the future, I believe we'll see a lot of people beginning to buy homes over the internet, (not always a good thing because without seeing a house in person, I don't think you can be 100% certain that it's the best place for you).
I agree with what's been said; it's impossible to make such a decision as buying a house without a) meeting your broker or agent and b) actually seeing the house. I think a mixture between technology and the tangible, in-person relationships people have is bound to happen if it hasn't already. This synergy between technology and "real-life" is happening not only in real estate, but all over.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, in writing for the school newspaper, I've always been taught to conduct interviews in person, never over email. I will admit that I've conducted many interviews via email simply because it's easier sometimes. But other times in person is the best way to go because you can ask follow up questions immediately and establish a relationship with the person you're talking with. All in all, it seems to me that technology is a great way to simplify things, but it can't overshadow more old-fashioned techniques when they truly are the better route.