Without a doubt, online home searches are more popular than ever. Statistics show that now over 70% of the people doing a home search begin their home search online. Because of that boom, many companies and real estate brokerages have been throwing up low quality home searches online to try to attract those potential buyers. Unfortunately many times that data is outdated, poor quality, and can cause more harm than good to the buyers. The buyer thinks that they are saving money by doing the search themselves and when they find a home they like, they just contact the listing agent. Unfortunately that line of thinking is misinformed, and can actually cost the buyer more money instead of saving. The way real estate works today, a buyer can be represented by a Buyer's Agent and that Buyer's Agent puts the interested of the buyer ahead of that of the seller. So that Buyer's Agent will help with the home search, negotiate terms that are best for the buyer, and complete all of the necessary paperwork for a smooth transaction. That much is usually known by the buyer.

What most buyers don't understand is that being represented buy the Buyer's Agent wont cost them anything, their services are paid buy the Seller's Agent of the home that the buyer ultimately buys. Now that doesn't mean that if the buyer uses the Seller's Agent, that they will save the Buyer's Agent's commission. What actually happens is the Seller's Agent gets both sides of the commission, so the price stays the same, but you lose your negotiating power because instead of having a Buyer's Agent negotiating on your behalf, you are now using the Seller's Agent to negotiate with the seller. Unfortunately the Seller's Agent tends to be more loyal to the seller, not the buyer, so by trying to save a few bucks you are actually probably going to pay a few more.

Your best is to find a Buyer's Agent right away and have them provide an automated home search for you that can email all homes on the market meeting your search criteria and then as any new homes hit the market that meet your search criteria, they will automatically be emailed to you. The reason this is superior to the online home searches is that these homes will be sent to you directly from the MLS, which has all of the updated data. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use online home searches at all, those are good in the early stages of the home buying process when you are feeling out the market. However, when you are serious about buying a home, you need to get the most updated and accurate data possible, and the only way to do that is through a Real Estate Agent. If you are going to use a Real Estate Agent then you may as well be represented by one who will put your needs in front of the seller, and can ultimately save you money, not cost you more.

All of these services can be provided in the Columbus Ohio Real Estate market can be provided by any agent that is a member of the Columbus Board of Realtors.