Homebuyer Survey Provides Insight into Perfect Real Estate Agent

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- "The consumer's experience in buying a home may vary widely from an enjoyable shopping experience to a frustrating quagmire of aggravation," said Michael Urbanski, CEO of Qazzoo.com, a social search engine connecting real estate professionals with local home buyers and sellers. Mr. Urbanski claims that the selection of the right real estate agent to work with can be as important as which home to purchase. If the expectations of the consumer are not aligned with the skills, experience and personality of the real estate agent the results can be anywhere from ineffective to disastrous. "We are constantly trying to determine how to help real estate agents do more business and be more effective. These surveys are designed to identify trends in order to see that both the consumer and the real estate agent are as well prepared as possible," said Urbanski. Consumers for first time homes and move up buyers have similar expectations and desires. According to the survey the main difference comes into the personality type of the buyer regardless of their previous experience in regards to real estate.  

This most recent survey focused on identifying the degree of involvement the average home buyer expects and desires from the agent that they most want to work with in order to accomplish their goal of buying a new home. From the percentages of the answers several assumptions were made. We were also able to learn more about the average real estate consumer and real estate professionals can serve them better and therefore maximize their efforts by understanding what most consumers are thinking and how to meet their expectations more often and thereby closing more transactions.

The question "What type of agent do you prefer working with?"

The following answers were provided as multiple choice and allowed consumers to select one answer.

1.  Aggressive Negotiator
2.  Highly Experienced
3.  Responsiveness 
4.  Local Resident
5.  Flexible Hours

The selections from the consumers broke down in the following percentages:

1.  Aggressive Negotiator 5%
2.  Highly Experienced 29%
3.  Responsiveness 34% 
4.  Local Resident 12%
5.  Flexible Hours 20%

As the homebuyers that took part in the survey were from multiple areas of the country there may exist some degree of local culture that can seep into the selections, but the overall consensus seems to be that the average home buyer wants to work with an agent that is experienced and responsive rather than one who is aggressive and is a local to the buyer. The respondents answers may be skewed as the nature of the buyers themselves differ, with more obliging buyers being more willing to take the time to reply to the survey and less obliging buyers desiring to work with more aggressive and more local real estate agents. "We do, however feel that the results indicate that more buyers prefer to do business with experienced and responsive real estate professionals when given a choice," concluded Mr. Urbanski.

Designed to improve the online experience for consumers and small businesses, Qazzoo is a consumer powered search engine that connects consumers with local merchants. Qazzoo.com was created by several of the key executives of Heavy Hammer, developers of the patented MIMIAN software for geographically-focused network advertising.

via:http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/homebuyer-survey-provides-insight-perfect-174300968.html