I was recently introduced to a great website called www.sundaybell.com. Sundaybell is like just like a dating site, only difference being that it matches you as a home buyer or seller with the right Real Estate agent based on your needs. It's an interview... and I believe that the interview process is the most important thing to ensure that you are getting exactly what you need for the biggest sale or purchase of your life!
When you register for an account as a home buyer, it asks you your requirements and precisely what you are looking for, for example your budget, location & type of dwelling... It breaks it down to what you are looking for in your home as well, so there are no guessing games on either end, and the upfront communication and expectations have been set.
As a Seller, it asks you what your requirements are of the Realtor. It allows you to ask 3 questions of the Realtor before they are matched with you, so you can see their expertise upfront based on their responses to you.
Much like a dating service, you get matched with Realtors in your area and speak with them anonymously before they ever know who you are. Once you decide that the Realtor is right for you, you will be able to provide them with your contact information and open up your profile to them at the click of a button.
Sidebar: I will tell you that I'm pretty experienced in getting the WRONG Realtor, which is why I see value in this service.
To me, Sundaybell addresses three of the key issues that I felt were necessary the first time I was buying and selling...
#1 - It's a non-pressure environment.
The first time I ever bought property, I was introduced to a friend of a friend (who is a Realtor) at a party. He invited us to go to his office for a discussion. The moment we walked into his office, he pulled out a B.R.A. For those of you who don't know what this is, please refer to this video. Yes, signing a B.R.A. is important, but without any explanation of what it was, I was asked to sign this legal document in the first minute of our meeting! I said no. I didn't know what it was! #scared #highpressure #notrust #imouttahere
Again, taking away the pressure, especially from the first time homebuyer, is essential to building trust and a real relationship!
#2 - It ensures that you are getting the right property in the right location with the right neighbourhood expert.
When I was in search of my current condo, I had enlisted the help of my former co-worker and friend who had about a year of experience as a Realtor. While I hadn't looked at their real credentials, I did think it was a good idea to ask him to show me a few condos in the downtown area. The person told me that he was familiar with the downtown core and that it was no problem. I should have checked to see how many transactions they had in the downtown area. After showing me a few places which they had no knowledge of, and getting lost while driving, I decided to take a walk around the area on my own. #againscared #clueless
You need someone who is highly familiar with the area. The agent that helped me find my property even knew the concierge and other people in my building. #whatarelief
#3 - Sundaybell tells you specifically what questions you should be asking and gives you helpful hints along the way.
The buying & selling process is so complicated, especially the first time, so it is important to ask the right questions of your potential Realtor. This is where Sundaybell comes to the rescue... providing you with a detailed list of questions every step of the way to ensure you know exactly what you are getting and why. #veryimportant
You can register for an account by going to www.sundaybell.com and clicking on "create a profile" or connect with them on their Facebook Page or see their cool video:
I'm sure they would love your feedback, so please feel free to comment on this post!
Excellent points! I may be in the market in the next year, so I'll keep these suggestions in mind!
ReplyDeleteKellie.. This is a pretty cool idea. Being that I was in the mortgage industry for 19+ years, this could help so many. Without knowing more, I am going to assume though that this could hurt some though, because I would assume that as a realtor, you have to be signed up for this also? Meaning that there could be many great realtors not part of this or to help those buyers or sellers? Just looking at this from another angle. But again, this is a cool idea. Kind of like Angie's list.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and thanks for sharing it Kellie. Like you, real estate - buying or selling - isn't for the faint of heart. Any and all tools that make it safer and easier are great.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea. Thank you for sharing Kellie. Dealing with Real Estate is not my favorite thing to do, but this would be something to try to ease the process!
ReplyDeleteYes, being able to meet your client where they are VS where you think they should be is key to building and establishing trust.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments everyone! Agreed and yes, it's so important for the right agents to meet the right clients and vice-versa. Not everyone is ideal for everyone else. It's a two-way street and there is nothing better than working with individuals that are a good match from all angles.
ReplyDeleteKellie, I'm glad that I ran across this post, because I wouldn't otherwise have known about this service - and I am a Realtor. Of course, I did immediately go to their site and create a profile! I'm sorry you've had bad experiences in real estate - the examples you gave were simply inexcusable. Please don't think that this site will be the complete answer to any real estate client's concerns, because I'm sure there are many qualified real estate professionals who have NOT submitted a profile to this site. I can offer similar horror stories regarding wasted money on so-called social media gurus over the last few years - in the end, it's up to the consumer to learn as much as possible about who they're hiring and what their expectations may be. Best regards, Lori Cain, Tulsa Realtor
ReplyDeleteLori - those are just a few of the stories! I didn't tell you the one about the slaughter house in the area (I'm vegetarian) Me: "what's that horrible smell?' Him: "Oh don't worry, it only smells on Tuesdays and Thursdays" Me: "but it's Sunday!" :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway yes there those types in every profession, that is why the communication factor of social media is so great. You get to look at people's posts and see how they interact with others. I see many self-proclaimed gurus who have zero interaction with others on their sites. They teach communication but are still pushing their message out via 1 way communication.
It's good to have sites like Sundaybell that help out with the questions you should be asking and encouraging interaction and communication before any sort of transaction takes place. I'm glad you registered. Keep me posted on how it goes for you!