Over 80% of the home buyers start their home search on various Internet sites. Sellers select their Realtor® based on how many Internet sites the agent displays the home. Conscientious agents make sure the home is featured in the best way possible by making sure the photos are as best as they can be. Now what happens when the most basic of information about the home is WRONG or MISSING?
Recently, I was pulling info for a specific neighborhood. I knew every home that was for sale in this particular community. However, when I did the computer search a full 25% of the homes were missing from the search. WHY?
I did some digging and found that there were errors or omissions to the original data entry into the MLS system that was incorrect and/or missing. That’s why it is important for an agent to actually print out a hard copy to make sure the spec sheet looks as we intend. Let’s face it … typos happen.
So, Sellers, ask your agent to show you the MLS spec sheet. Is all the data correct? Are there missing search fields and if so, should those boxes be blank or not? You can’t afford to miss showings in this market because of certain errors, so be proactive to make sure your home can be found by Internet buyers who might be searching for a home just like yours.
Buyers, as you are sitting in your jammies doing your home search, consider that your perfect home may not be showing in the search. That’s why it is important to work with a Realtor® who knows the area or knows how to search the data to override the chance that some homes might be missed by a typical computer search.
As the saying goes …GIGO … garbage in, garbage out. Computers only work as well as the agent who input the data.
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