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Seattle Real Estate: List It with Gerhard, Sell It on Google™.
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Real Estate on the Internet:
Buyer (and Seller) Beware!
This article summarizes the advice I give my clients for becoming discriminating web consumers and understanding the nature and purpose of real estate websites.
And there are plenty. The search term “real estate” turns up nearly 350 million pages on Google™. That puts it ahead of “God” with 181 million and behind “money” with 765 million pages. The Web is revolutionizing the real estate business. Virtual brokers have broken into the business. New models of payment for serving the customer are being explored.
That customer, I am afraid, is more confused than ever. The casual internet user looks to get information and falls into the trap of giving information away instead. “Want to know the secrets of buying a home with no money down?” You click on that link but instead of an answer you are asked to provide your email address and other personal information.
TIP 1:
No name, no game!
If a website gives no information about the author or company and no verifyable phone number you should be skeptical. Don’t do anything on the web that you would not do in the “brick and mortar” world.
TIP 2:
Not ready yet? Fake it!
On this site and others you can search for properties. You are asked to give your name and email address before being able to search — see Tip 3. However, nobody knows who you really are, so you can use a fake name and email address like me@me.com. In fact, I prefer obviously fake information. It simply tells me that the person is not yet ready to talk to me.
TIP 3:
Watch where you are going!
“If you don’t know where you are going, every road will get you there.” For startes you should know where you are. Before you click on that link you should know where it will take you. Watch your browser window carefully. The top is the “where,” the bottom the “where to.” While you are reading this the top address bar should say: gnade.com/seattle-real-estate-topics/real-estate-on-the-internet.html That’s my domain name, the name of the folder and the name of this document — the html-page. Now watch the bottom of your browser, called the “status bar.” If you click on this link “search for properties” you will leave my website and be taken to the website of my broker, Brio Realty, who provides you with the ability to search for properties.
Continue to next page for TIP 4 and how to spot self-endorsements and wild goose chases.
Questions? Call me at 425-891-8213 or send me an email
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This website is not soliciting the owners of any homes currently listed on the NWMLS.
