Homebuyers want the right balance of agent and automation

Potential clients who receive what they perceive to be an automated communication are unlikely to respond

Homebuyers want the right balance of agent and automation
Potential clients who receive what they perceive to be an automated communication are unlikely to respond.

Just 14% of respondents to a survey by Move Inc. would respond to that kind of communication and overall the poll reveals that a personal approach from real estate agents works best.

"Finding the right balance between automation and personalization is critical to an agent's ability to deliver an exceptional experience, yield more closed business and bring more repeat and referral business into the pipeline," said Luke Glass, executive vice president, industry platforms for Move.

Homebuyers said that the inside knowledge that real estate professionals offer – such as upcoming assessments, HOA fees and neighborhood detail – is as important at pricing trends, days on market and recent sales.

Alongside the unique perspectives that an agent can provide, buyers also want transparency and three out of four said that includes online tracking of the offer-to-close process.

“The emergence of technology and automation onto the scene has greatly improved the real estate process in some ways, yet these findings reveal that many agents are failing to leverage technology or to use it properly at key points along the journey, to the detriment of the agent-client relationship," added Glass.

The survey highlights five key factors that buyers use to decide which real estate agent to choose: Honesty, local market expertise, likeable personality, personal connection, and client recommendations.