Reviewing Realtor.com
Reviewing Realtor.com
Realtor.com was one of the first websites to list homes that are for sale and allow the buyers to independently browse through the selection. The company has been around since 1996 and got a head start gaining market share before its competitors debuted their platforms in the mid to late 2000s. According to Parserr, although Realtor.com was the original marketer in the online real estate business, it currently has much less traffic than its competitors. This website is for buyers, sellers, and renters, but this article will specifically focus on the features for the buyers.
User Friendly
Realtor.com is fairly user-friendly and listings are consistent in design and layout. The menus are easily accessible and various sections of the website are clearly labeled. The website is geared toward buyers, sellers, and renters who are looking to browse through or add listings, but it also provides piles of advice for both sellers and buyers. Once a location has been selected on the home page, the website will automatically adjust menu settings to show location-specific advice on the local market, local recent sales, and more! This feature is unique to Realtor.com and allows the buyer to glean more information on the area where they may consider living.
At first glance, Realtor.com does not include many filters to narrow the property search and the options that are clearly labeled are for location, price, and property type. Thankfully, there is a “more filters” button that holds a very long list of options that will help to narrow the search. Although this list method is less user-friendly and involves a lot of scrolling, the options are still included and can be selected. Similarly, Realtor.com listings provide an enormous amount of information on each property because they are very willing to share MLS information and keep it updated. However, the information is located under the listing “Property Details” and several selections must be made to view the list of details. The information is not marked by clear headings and can be overwhelming to the eye. Fortunately, the information is available, but it could be more organized.
According to Parserr, one huge perk about referencing Realtor.com is that they currently have the most accurate home estimate feature. Unlike other listing websites, they use three different methods of evaluating each home and then acquire a median value based on all three valuations. This allows them to gain more accuracy in their estimates which is extremely beneficial to both buyers and sellers.
Not Inclusive Listings
Realtor.com includes listings that are added to the local MLS service and, according to Parserr, the information refreshes every 15 minutes. Listings include existing properties, new builds, empty lots, and foreclosures. Realtor.com sorts listings by the representing Brokerage and Agent which is why the website does not accept homes that are for sale by the owner (FSBO). If you are selling your home by yourself or under the guidance of a real estate attorney, this website will not allow you to list a property. As the name states, Realtor.com was created not exclusively for the buyers and sellers, but also as a tool for the realtors who are assisting their clients. According to MyOutDesk, by selecting the “Contact Agent” button [which is dangerously close to the back button] the shopper will be connected with an agent that is contracted with Realtor.com. This agent could be anyone who has purchased a one-year contract for leads within that specific zip code and is not necessarily the best candidate to assist you.
Shortcomings
This is a great website for buyers and sellers, but only for those represented by a real estate agent. Unfortunately, the website does not provide FSBO listings which limits search results. Because agents are paying a fee to Realtor.com for leads, the website seems to trick shoppers into selecting the “Contact an Agent” button. This button is located extremely close to the back arrow which allows the shopper to leave a listing and return to the menu. It is not hard to imagine accidentally selecting the contact button while intending to select the back arrow. Although this website is a great resource for buyers and provides much more accurate home estimates than its competitors, the website is geared towards realtors and seems to prioritize the realtors over the other individuals involved in the sale.
Overview
Although the layout could use some simplifying, Realtor.com offers a lot to sellers, buyers, and realtors. This website is packed with real estate information, provides useful calculators to determine loan and financial figures, and includes up-to-date real estate listings. The listings are clearly labeled, are well-sorted, and the search can be narrowed by selecting filters. This is a fantastic resource that is available online and also as an app but be aware that agents are paying for leads as you review the listings.