What do today's homebuyers want?
It is undeniable that the Internet has brought a world of options within everyone's grasp and has forever changed consumer-buying habits. New Internet empowered buyers are now more savvy, more sophisticated and more demanding than ever before. They now require the best price, greater efficiency in their transactions, and in some cases instant gratification.
Retail has created a "24 x 7" mentality intertwined with a one-stop approach and enhanced customer service. In most major cities individual grocery and liquor stores, butcher shops and more recently even drugstores; have gradually been incorporated into the mega retail chains. Stores have more, they are open longer and prices are lower.
When we transfer that philosophy to real estate it becomes important to try and define what it is the consumer might expect us to offer as the "total home solution." Should it mean all off and online services that integrate sales and settlement services together, facilitate the entire home purchase transaction; manage the process before, during and after the closing, while offering a home and "lifestyle concierge" service for the entire home ownership period?
Many industry leaders acknowledge that the next three to five years will witness the demise of "stand-alone" residential real estate companies, as we know them today. There is, however, considerable debate as to details of how the transition will take place and the specifics of the timing. There is however, consensus that this new model will most likely see real estate brokerages offering a much broader base of services
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