All Eyes on iBuyers: What Does the Future Look Like?
“Addressing the audience of more than 300 brokerage executives and industry leaders, Bob Hale—President & CEO of the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR)—kicked things off by looking at the cold hard facts.
A recent consumer survey that dealt with iBuyer programs conducted by the Association found that:
– 33 percent of respondents are aware of the term, even though it’s only been on the market for less than seven years.
– 41 percent of current sellers would consider working with an iBuyer.
– 92 percent of consumers work with and want to work with a REALTOR®. Even if they did an iBuyer program, they want a REALTOR® to represent them.
“What we need to pay attention to though is the fact that 80 percent of respondents are interested in seeing how much an iBuyer would offer,” said Hale, who is committed to informing and educating HAR members as to how different iBuyer programs operate.”
The FUD around these iBuyers and their offers are similar to what we’ve seen with Zillow’s Zestimate. Bottom line is today no REALTOR should walk in to a listing presentation not knowing the Zestimate. Going forward I would think it wise the REALTOR also know what the top iBuyers’ are offering as well, and understand the fees associated.
Does anyone know if this survey is available publicly?
