Today’s Real Estate industry is changing at a very rapid pace.

A Realtor can no longer just put the listing in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) or a “For Sale” sign out on the front lawn of a house and expect it to sell. Placing a classified ad in the local newspaper just isn’t enough anymore. I have been a Realtor for over 14 years and during that time our industry greatly changed. Now to be at top Realtor you must change or you will become obsolete. I strongly believe in using the Internet, Feedback Sites and Social Networking Sites to market my clients property. I and can be found on Facebook , Linked-in , MySpace, U-Tube and Twitter .  Also I have a 3 Differant Full Virtual Office Websites and an Edmonton News Blog.

Years ago when I began in Real Estate, the only way to know what was going on in the market was to go through a Multiple Listing Blue Book to preview new, reduced, pending, sold and expired listings. Our Blue Book was published only twice a month so information was frequently a week or more old. An agent’s top priorities then were to read the MLS book daily, visit broker’s open houses and network with agents.

Fast forward to Today ! Realtors and clients in the 21st century get automated updates on homes for sale via emails as soon as the properties are listed. How is that for instant gratification? Of course we still go to broker’s open houses, network with agents and attend office meetings to get the scoop on what is happening in our local market; but the most exciting new component to real estate marketing is the internet. The internet has revolutionized our industry making it imperative for a real estate agent to jump on the technology bandwagon.

Let’s look at some statistics NAR published awhile back:
• 84% of Home Buyers turn to the Internet to search homes.

• 99% of consumers surveyed prefer listings with virtual tours and multiple photos.

• 69% of our home searchers are not yet working with an agent

• 81% of our home searchers plan to buy a home within the next 12 months

Anyone can have a web site but it must be linked in to Real Estate Portals to get Great Exposure. Syndicate your listing to dozens of real estate market-places, potentially hundreds of local sites, and exclusive spotlight destinations. My Listings are " Syndicated" to Hundreds of Web Sites thru the Portal Real Estate Sites Below & thru all the other of Hundreds of REALTOR Virtual Office Web Sites in Edmonton Instantly !!!

Buyers can Google key words like Edmonton Homes for sale, Edmonton Real Estate, & many more Google Adwords to find my Web Sites with the most current listings on the internet. Clients are now contacting me via email, phone, pager, flash technology and even texting to let me know they have their list of properties and are ready to view them.

But why is this important to you, the Home Seller? The simple answer is that there is a new dimension to the art of selling Real Estate. As I said earlier, selling real estate today is not just putting the listing in the MLS and an ad in the local newspaper anymore! Home sellers today are very tech savvy, and they understand the importance of the web. The more eyes you have looking at your home, the greater the possibility of selling at the best price.

So if you are thinking of selling your home here are some important questions you need to ask your Real Estate Agent:

1. Does your real estate agent have a website? Websites offer timely buyer information and MLS home search tools?  Is it a Virtual Office Site?

2. Does your Real Estate Agent have a Blog? A Real Estate blog is a type of website, usually maintained with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material about today’s market. This is an interactive website which also allows consumers to connect with a real estate agent when searching for homes. Blogs are the Web 2.0 version of a website.

3. What kind of traffic does your agent get on their website or real estate blog? Traffic equals exposure to your home for sale. This means it can create a faster sale.

4. Does your real estate agent create a personalized home website for every home they are listing? Where do they market this website? Do they provide weekly updates and statistics for the seller to review, such as how many home buyers have clicked on your site.

5. Which Social Networking sites does your Realtor belong to?  Using these sites has become a necessity to keep up with trends in real estate marketing. Twitter? Facebook? LinkedIn ?

Facts: Twitter For July 2009: # of local users: 6626 (an increase of 98% from June)
                                               # of tweets by local users: 238525
           FaceBook Stats    - It is now the 4th largest site in the world

6. Does your Realtor have Good a presence on the web? Google your real estate agent. See how often they are sited.

Though Do Not Forget the Basics!!

Real Estate is a very Personal Business; you hire the Individual, not just the company they work for. You should expect superior knowledge and skill from your Realtor in all facets of the business, including Communication, Marketing, Financing, Technology and Negotiating.

Keeping in Touch is Vital !! Promptly returning phone calls/emails, keeping clients informed at every step of the transaction and ensuring that I’m never unavailable are all things I consider to be crucial components of good service. I have a PDA which is an I-Phone. It receives everything on the go, Texts, Emails, GPS, Web Browsing, & Everything I need for Contact. I also carry a Full Laptop & all the tools needed with me!! I also have a Professional Full HomeFeedBack Site for Sellers.

Buyers Cheer!! On my Web Sites you can log in to a Private Area and Save Searches, get Addresses, Days on Market, INSTANT Listing Notification to Your Private Page, E-Mail, or Texted to Your Phone ! OH, you get access to Forclosure, Estate Sales, Low Money Down, Disstress properties & Exclusive Listings !!  

Also is my New Mobile Text Info System, which means they will not forget your home when they drive by !!   And if they have a PDA wth web access they can see a full Highlight Sheet, 10 Pictures, Map, & Full Contact Info to Buy !!

Most of my business has traditionally been from past clients or Referrals, but now having a presence on the web has become extremely important. I have been revamping my marketing for the last couple of years and when you Google Paul Jamieson, my name comes up First. I have a 3 Websites and a Blog that home buyers can access for all kinds of real estate and community information.
I am getting more leads from the internet than ever before. Thank goodness things have changed!

Please contact me to learn more about Real Estate Internet Marketing or what’s happening in today’s market!

 Buy, Sell, Invest or Relocate…

Remember, I am never too busy to help you, or your friends & family !

Paul Jamieson

780-919-5442

Main Web Site: www.JamiesonHome.com

2nd Main Site: www.JamiesonHomes.com

EREB Site: http://jamiesonhomes.abmls.mlxchange.com/

Point2 Agent Site: http://pauljamieson1.point2agent.com/

Google Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/jamiesonhomes

Office Site: http://www.challengesells.com/

My Office Web Page:

http://www.challengesells.com/about_me.php?MY_CURR_REALTOR_ID=22&src=ofc_realtor