What do consumers want from their real estate agent?

Released  September 20, 2004
By Megan Greuling
https://www.lendingtree.com/2004/09/real-estate-agent/

Charlotte, N.C., September 20, 2004 – Forty-three percent of recent home buyers or sellers said prompt responsiveness was what they most appreciated about their REALTOR®, according to a recent survey conducted by RealEstate.com. The survey results were collected from 702 consumers who used the Internet to find an agent to work with them.


“Today’s consumers are used to instant gratification,” said Jeff Lyons, general manager, RealEstate.com. “The speed and convenience of the Internet for goods and information, combined with the proliferation and development of cell phones, PDAs and a hundred other convenient communication-based technology products, has turned us into highly-connected consumers who are used to getting information in minutes and hours, not days or weeks. Why wouldn’t consumers expect the same from their real estate agents?”


But being electronically connected doesn’t mean consumers are willing to sacrifice a conversational relationship with their real estate agents, as 23 percent of those surveyed said an agent who really listened to their needs was most important to them. Other traits most appreciated in an agent were market expertise at 15 percent, use of technology such as Web sites, email, and digital photos at 13 percent, and negotiating expertise at six percent.


So, overall, do homebuyers and sellers think their agents “make the cut?” The answer is a resounding yes. Eighty-six percent say they would choose to work with the same agent again to buy or sell their next home.


“Whether you’re buying or selling your home, a real estate professional has the expertise consumers need,” concluded Lyons. “Even as technological innovations abound, the REALTOR® still remains the heart of the transaction.”


EDITORS NOTE: To obtain the corresponding infographic for this release; please contact Mindy Neubauer at 704-944-8541 or at [email protected].


About RealEstate.com RealEstate.com offers an unmatched suite of services – including home listings, a Find-a-REALTOR® matching service, valuable rebate offers and access to home loan products – all to help consumers find and finance the home of their dreams. Acquired in December 2003, RealEstate.com is an operating business of LendingTree, Inc.®.


REALTOR® — A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.