Tech savvy homebuyers begin online
When buying a home, there was a time when we began with a drive around the neighbourhood with a real estate agent. Today, most home buyers begin their homebuying journey online.
As technology has evolved over the last decade, homebuyers are more knowledgeable about their needs, desires and what they can afford. This is a welcome change since more informed buyers make for a better experience for everyone involved.
Here are some of the ways to put real estate at your fingertips through the online tools available:
• Many homebuyers begin online at www.realtor.ca where photographs, descriptions, maps, and 3D virtual tours can be found.
• The royallepage.ca website and app are popular choices to research neighbourhood information including schools, amenities and even walkability scores.
• Buyers can research agents within a specific area of interest on royallepage.ca. Agent information includes languages spoken and areas of expertise.
• Mortgage rates are available through banking and lender sites. These sites often provide tips on organizing your finances, mortgage calculators and answers to your mortgage-related questions. Pre-approval applications for your mortgage are also available.
• Homeowners can also organize a flawless move with tips and web forms to arrange for a free moving estimate on royallepage.ca.
With technology evolving as quickly as it has, the notion of holding up a smartphone to a home for sale and instantly garnering many of the details, is not far off. Your real estate agent provides an important role in marketing the home, negotiating the best price and pulling together the important details of the final sale. And, when homeowners are better prepared through today’s technology, it makes the process of buying or selling a home that much smoother.