Good question. This is something you will often find on lists of questions to ask Realtors when selecting a listing agent... "how many homes have you sold in this neighborhood?"
While it still has some vailidity, I think it is more a carryover from the days when Realtors were the keepers of information who chose what properties to show their buyers and listings were announced and promoted to agents at weekly office meetings. They were also the source of information for everything in the the community... schools, services, parks, what has been selling and for how much, etc. Under those circumstances using a 'neighborhood' agent had a distinct advantage in not only getting the word out about your listing but helping market your community.
If you haven't sold a home in awhile you may not realize how dramatically different the real estate market has become in the Internet age. Buyers are now doing their own online searching and research... they can find information not only about homes for sale and what has sold in a particular neighborhood but also about the community, schools and everything around your home. Potential buyers may be able to tell you more about your neighborhood than you know yourself!
The new 'neighborhood' has moved online to the Internet... with a reach around the globe.
With more than 90% of home buyers using the Internet for their home searching what has risen to the top in importance is your agent's command of using the Internet to market your home. It's not just a matter of having your home show up everywhere online... it's making it look good so buyers 'click in' for more information when they see your home... and put it on their 'must see' list.
You have only a few seconds to grab potential buyers' attention as they scroll through lists of properties for sale. You had better look good or they will just click on to the next property without ever seeing yours.
The Internet savvy agent has become the new 'neighborhood' agent. Buyers from across the country or even in another part of the world are searching online long before ever setting foot in your neighborhood. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from Germany while at an open house... she was calling about one of my listings she saw online on my exclusive website... and ended up buying it!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Selling Your Home Minneapolis
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