The hazards of online home searches

There are many great San Carlos area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a list of Featured Properties so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (650) 595-5500 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. 

I seem to get a lot of questions from clients about the data produced by Zillow, Trulia and other home search engines alike. While these sites can be a huge asset to your search, it's important to take their information with a grain of salt. These websites use algorithms that have specific variables such as square footage, number of bathrooms and number of bedrooms. So it’s important to have a realtor look at your home to ensure these numbers are completely correct. The last thing you want is incorrect information to negatively affect the buying or selling process.

Also keep in mind that these search engines do not know where the market is headed. Is the market neutral, on the rise, or is it in decline? This can significantly impact the value of your home. In fact, in one case Zillow reported a home being worth $1.5 million but it ended up selling for $2.9 million; Zillow was almost 50% off.

So call a realtor, Find out what's happening in the market and how it affects your home price. And always be sure to call me if you’re interested in buying or selling a home. Thank you for joining me today, I hope to hear from you soon!

A home's online presence will be it's first impression

In today’s market, ninety percent of buyers start their search online. That means before a buyer even visits your home they have probably made a decision on it. How do they come to this decision?

The photographs and price are the first things a buyer will see. Many buyers have a system set up to receive notifications when a new listing is put on the MLS. Your home is being blasted to people all over the country. How good is that first impression?

You want to have photographs that showcase your home and a price tag that is enticing to buyers. I always tell my sellers that the peak market point is 21 days. If your home doesn’t sell by then, many buyers will develop a mental stigma toward your home; they will wonder what is wrong with it. To counteract that stigma you will have to reduce your price significantly.

It’s important to do your homework before hand. Get a good agent. Hire a professional photographer and determine a fair and competitive asking price. These tips will give you the upper-hand, and ultimately make you more money.

If you have any questions, please give me call. Thanks for watching!