Field Guide to Working With Empowered Consumers
(Updated May 2007)
Today's consumers have a great deal more information on homes and the home buying and selling process than they had in the past, thanks to the Internet. How will you work with these empowered, savvy home buyers and sellers? Find out what the empowered consumer needs, wants and expects from the following articles. (R. Carlson, Information Specialist)
Homebuyers' Use of the Internet
80% of home buyers used the internet as a source.
81% of internet home buyers also used a real estate agent.
63% of non-internet buyers used a real estate agent.
74% of buyers who searched online drove by or looked at a home they first saw online.
Source: The 2006 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Click here to purchase a copy online, or call 800.874.6500 to place an order.
Internet Homebuying Trends
Ellie Mae announces Encompass WebCenter, (Mortgage Banking, Apr. 2007). Q
REALTOR.com is 'on the move', (REALTOR® Magazine, Apr. 2006).
Virtual reality: from cyber space to living space..., (Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11, 2006). Q
Science explains why the internet didn't disintermediate REALTORS®, (Houston REALTOR®, Feb. 2006).
Real-estate bubble is also buoying newspapers-- for now, (Wall Street Journal, Aug. 24, 2005). Q
Go wireless! How Wi-Fi technology is changing real estate, (Houston REALTOR®, July 2005).
Using the Internet to Connect with Consumers
More REALTORS© invest in and demand technology, (REALTOR© Magazine Online, May 11, 2007).
Your very own pond of prospects, (REALTOR© Magazine, May 2007).
Don't underestimate power of over-40 set, (REALTOR© Magazine Online, Apr. 30, 2007).
Can blogs push home classifieds, (Editor and Publisher, Apr. 2007). Q
How to make a deal bloom, (Business Week, Mar. 26, 2007). Q
Practitioners tapping voice-over technology, (REALTOR© Magazine Online, Feb. 28, 2007).
Do real estate blogs really build business?, (REALTOR© Magazine Online, Jan. 22, 2007).
Creating the 'wow factor', (Black Enterprise, Nov. 2006). Q
Attract more online customers, (Black Enterprise, Nov. 2006). Q
Click your way to client satisfaction, (Houston REALTOR®, Nov. 2006).
Treat your web site like your busiest office, (REALTOR© Magazine Online, Nov. 13, 2006).
Herding 3,000 cats, (Journal of Cases on Information Technology, July-Sept. 2006). Q
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
200 marketing ideas for your website (Adobe Reader)
Put your business online (Adobe Reader)
Building a web site for dummies® (Adobe Reader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Blogging for business: everything you need to know and why you should care, (Chicago, IL: Kaplan Publishing, 2006). HF 5548 H74
101 ways to promote your web site, (Gulf Breeze, FL: Maximum Press, 2006). HF 5548.5 Sw3
Naked conversations: how blogs are changing the way businesses talk with customers, (New York, NY: John Wiley, 2006). HF 5548 Sc3
Ajax hacks: tips and tools for creating responsive web sites, (Sebastpol, CA: O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2006). HF 5548.5 P47a
Don't make me think: a common sense approach to web usability, (Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2006). HF 5548.5 K78
The Non-designer's web book: an easy guide to creating, designing, and posting your own web site, (Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2006). HF 5548.5 W55
The keys to a successful Web site, (Texas REALTOR®, June, 2006).
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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