The real estate market has been completely revolutionized by today’s modern technology. Updated listings and professional real estate agents are only a click away. The trick is, knowing where to click. There are dozens of real estate websites out there, so how do you know where to look? Let us help narrow it down for you. Here’s three reasons why local real estate websites are better than national sites.
When you click to open a local real estate website, you can trust that the content is relevant and reliable. When a licensed real estate agent from your area is responsible for maintaining the content, they are pulling data directly from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS®). Local real estate agents only have to focus on a small area or region, so they are able to notice when something needs changed and update their content almost immediately. If you want fast facts, check out a local real estate website.
National websites like Zillow.com, Trulia.com, and Realtor.com have grown in popularity; however, websites like these are becoming known for publishing misleading information. Anyone can get on and list their house for sale on Zillow or Craigslist. They can insert whatever information they want without being penalized for adding misleading information since they are not a licensed realtor. Also, these national sites are pulling data from hundreds of different MLS services across the country. It is difficult to stay up to date with such a large, rapidly changing market. These platforms are not regulated, updated or maintained like a local website would be, so this is not the best way to find accurate data on homes for sale in any given area.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you go to a national real estate website is that it’s loaded with ads. Why? Ads are a major source of revenue. They usually have nothing to do with the content you need and can be a major distraction as you search for homes. A good way to test the motivation of a website is to analyze the ads. Local websites tend to have fewer (if any) advertisements. The goal of a local real estate website isn’t to make money. Local real estate agents utilize their website to share accurate information with people in their community who wish to buy or sell a home. No tricks. No games. Just informing and discussing local real estate topics. If you notice a website has numerous advertisements, you can guess that they’re more focused on their web traffic and bank account than they are on the content they’re publishing.
Lastly, local real estate websites support local professionals in your community. Who better to shop for houses with than someone who lives right down the street? The internet is great for researching crime rates, school districts, and population statistics, but some information just isn’t quantifiable. A local expert can tell you all of that PLUS inform you about a neighborhood’s history, current market trends, and particulars of the buying/selling process. Clients benefit from the experience and advice provided by a local professional and their website.
When it comes to real estate websites, local still makes sense.
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