Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1482996
| LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2022 | 9 The real estate industry has changed dramatically since many of us in Solera bought our first home 30-40+ years ago! Some of the changes include: Online Listings: Buyers have become pros at searching online listings for a new home. Expectations have changed for prospective buyers who scroll through properties online. Because of the speed at which buyers can now review a massive amount of data, they usually are aware of how much a home is worth on the current market. They understand the implication when a price is too low. There's probably something wrong with the home. They also know when a home is listed at too high of a price. Professional Photography: The best real estate professionals will use the services of a professional real estate photographer who takes captivating exterior and interior shots that highlight interesting details of a property. Streamlined & Online Communication: If you bought or sold a home fifteen or more years ago, you remember the paperwork and meetings you had to have with brokers, lenders, agents and then finally the closing. Most of those meetings have now gone virtual and most of the paperwork can be done right on your computer or smartphone. We use Docusign and our clients love the ease of signing documents now. Signing contracts can be done as quickly as opening an email. This streamlined communication makes it easy for everyone to stay in touch and move quickly and efficiently through the home buying and selling process. Of course, if a client isn't comfortable signing documents electronically, we still can meet in person and signing can be done with a pen. Few or No Open Houses: Do you really need an open house to sell your house? Actually, you don't. Here are three reasons why open houses don't work anymore: Only 1 percent of all buyers come from open houses. I've done many open houses and only one couple purchased the home because of the open house. 2. You tend to get buyers who are just looky-loos. You also get neighbors who want to know what your house looks like, people looking for decorating ideas, or other neighbors who want to sell their home and want an idea of how to price it. 3. Most buyers are working with a professional Realtor. As a result, prospective buyers will see your home by appointment. If you want to sell your home, an open house is not necessary. You just need to show your home by appointment and make sure those buyers are pre-approved. No Flyers and Flyer Boxes: Since most people searching for a home have already identified properties they like online, flyer boxes are now obsolete. When you drive around Solera, it's rare to see flyer boxes. In my opinion, they serve no good purpose and make the yard look cluttered. Transaction Coordinators: Most Realtors and Brokers use the services of a Transaction Coordinator (TC). This person keeps every detail of the transaction organized. Often TCs work as virtual assistants and are employed by several brokers/realtors. Our Transaction Coordinator makes sure each document is accurate and properly distributed. She is our quality control professional, and I don't know what we would do without her. Home Offices: A few real estate offices still exist; however, many real estate professionals have home offices. Realtors who prefer a home office have all the necessary equipment needed to service clients in a professional manner. Yes, the real estate industry has changed… but for the better and for everyone. Real Estate Industry Changes By Diana Mangan Realtor and Resident