Current buyers have so much more information at their fingertips than previous generations of buyers. They are digitally driven and have often done so much due diligence of a property before even viewing it. More informed buyers means that estate agents have got more to work with and can deliver more value.
The Rise of the Self-Directed Buyer
Whereas traditionally, people would start their buying journey by visiting an estate agent, now buyers are likely to have started it online.
Whether they’ve spotted a property on social media or already done a virtual tour, potential buyers can turn up and have already done a lot of research and know exactly what to look out for.
An estate agent can help by giving a much deeper level of insight and give context to information they’ve found online. They can give more knowledge about local areas, prices comparisons and give a different perspective on something overlooked. They can also provide reassurance throughout the whole process.
From Gatekeeper to Guide
Estate agents used to have the ability to control the level of information given out in a listing for a property. It’s much more democratic to allow them to provide a listing but that buyers have the ability to do a lot of their own research.
An estate agent that is transparent automatically becomes more trustworthy because they’re not trying to hide issues with a property, they’re trying to be up front and find the best property for a buyer. Giving buyers clarity means there’s less chance of issues cropping up further down the line and wasting everyone’s time.
Digital Presence Is the New Shop Window
Spotting a great property through an estate agent window is a tradition that’ll never go away but these first impressions are fewer and far between because an online impression happens first.
A quality digital presence is the new shop window, so making sure marketing material is on point is highly important.
Including:
- Professional or high-quality imagery
- Good social media content that shows off a property’s features and personality
- User-friendly website that makes browsing easy
The Expectation of Speed and Convenience
Gone are the days of waiting a few days for responses, buyers are eager to get the ball rolling and expect quick response times and flexibility when looking to book a viewing. Questions they might have about any part of the process could be the difference between making an offer or not, so easy communication is key.
Delays in the process means buyers could head towards competitors instead. Meeting expectations and choosing estate agents that are committed to helping buyers as much as possible is a good idea.
The Human Touch Still Matters
Even though a lot of research is carried out predominantly online, the physical experience of viewing a property and the human emotion and decision making involved is unmatched. A decision can be made based on a feeling alone.
And buying a property is one of the biggest decisions someone can make – gathering as much information as possible is important but it can’t replace instinct and a gut feeling.
Combining your own research with the reassurance and extra context you can gather from an estate agent is a strong combination that sets you up for success.
For more information and standing out online and how an estate agent can help you, get in touch with our team at Home EA today.
