And What It Means For Seller And Agent

I feel like I’m about to embarrass a few agents in my area.  Let it be if so.  My commitment first of all is to a client and so should it be for every listing agent in Tampa Bay area.  I’d like to talk about Realtor.com and the need for agents to use it correctly.  I think you will agree that Realtor.com is probably the most accurate MLS aggregator and in most cases you can rely on the information provided by Realtor.com.  On their site you will find the most up to date status, pictures and description available for your review.

If you are a home owner and about to list your home, you should know that Realtor.com is the #1 home web search engine in the USA.  Next in line are Zillow and Trulia.  During a listing presentation you will often hear the agent say that your listing will be posted all over the web to draw attention of as many buyers as possible.  Exposure is good.  Something even better is exposure that is maximized and beneficial for the seller.  Realtor.com offers enhanced profile feature.  Very often a broker of a real estate firm will pay the cost to help their agents with marketing.  However, sometimes it’s left up to the agent to obtain enhanced profile and pay the fee.  More often than not I see homes for sale on Realtor.com (sometimes very expensive listings) that do not have enhanced features.  Here’s what it means for you:

-          You are limited to 12 low quality pictures from MLS

-          You have a random product (like Viagra, for example) advertized next to your listed home

-          There are no virtual tours or video tours available

-          Any buyer request will go to a random agent in the area, not your personal agent

FYI: When home sellers become our clients, they get enhanced profiles not only on Realtor.com but also on Trulia and Zillow. 

And if you are a listing agent, perhaps you should think about the benefits you can offer to your clients, not mentioning how this can also help your business.

The cost for enhanced Realtor.com profile depends on the number of listings you have.  Trust me, you will make up on this cost with a portion of your first commission check.  You will be able to:

-          Post up to 30 high-definition pictures

-          Show off you branded video tour

-          Post your virtual tour

-          Have your full contact info next to you listing info

-          All information requests and listing questions come directly to you

Many agents do not like working with buyers.  Still I suggest you have an enhanced profile and refer the buyer out to someone in your office for a fee rather than give it all away to someone you don’t know.