Technology-driven real estate? To many, that is an oxymoron. The Internet was supposed to make real estate salespeople obsolete. The Internet was supposed to put most everyone out of business, wasn’t it?

The Internet has had an unbelievable impact on our industry. It has changed real estate forever. But I am glad to report I think it has been a great marriage and has improved real estate services for the consumer.

According to the California Association of Realtors’ 2005 Internet Versus Traditional Buyers Survey, “Nearly two-thirds of all first-time homebuyers used the Internet as a significant part of the homebuying process.”

These figures for all homebuyers are increasing every day.

Why would this be helpful to Realtors? Because now the buyers coming in our doors are probably ready to buy a home. Many of our buyers are now informed about financing, home prices in our area and the features that they can expect in a given price range.

Why does a buyer still need a Realtor? Because a home is probably the biggest investment a buyer will make in their lifetime, and it is still good to have someone in your corner making sure that you receive all the information you need to make a good decision.

And after the initial home selection, there are still many steps for a successful transaction, including the negotiation of the offer, the completion of the contract for the buyer’s protection and documentation requesting full disclosure by the seller.

How does a seller benefit from the Internet? A few weeks ago Zillow.com announced a new Web site that supposedly would eliminate a need for a Realtor. Sellers can use this Web site to determine value and then sell it themselves.

Many people who have tried this site are finding a lot of values are extremely low. Why would that be? For one thing Zillow.com doesn’t add value for a lakefront lot. One of my agents tried a lakefront home in Spring Valley Lake and it showed $470,000. Our value adjusted for location was about $720,000.

Just think about your own home. These values are based on the reported sales data. Did you call the County Assessor’s Office the last time you remodeled your kitchen?

Again, the Internet is a wonderful starting place for sellers to gather information about homes for sale in the area. Checking out Zillow. com may give a seller a feel for a probable selling price. But luckily for my profession, it still takes real eyes to see the view from your deck, the new granite counters and the weeping willow tree that transforms your yard in the summer.

Sellers will benefit from having their listings on national search engines with lots of pictures and virtual tours. Even print publications such as the Daily Press offer the placement of our print ads on the Internet.

Technology, like all tools, can be a help or a curse depending on the user. But it’s important for consumers to inform themselves.

by Caroll Yule