As an expert in the real estate industry, it’s hard not to notice how the progression of the Internet has changed the way we buy, sell and lease property forever.

1.) The web has become a primary source for information—

In the not too distant past, it was customary for a first time home buyer, etc. to find a realtor by flipping through the phone book, being referred by a friend or by driving past a billboard/advertisement on the way to work. Now, the average buyer can download one of multiple property searching apps like Zillow or Realtor.com, fill in the necessary information and have a list of available properties in seconds.

2.) We are losing touch with the customer—

Real estate used to be a face- to-face business, but has become less personable due to the home buying apps mentioned above.

3.) Everything the buyer needs to know and more is at their fingertips—

Blue prints, deeds, property value, title records, wills/trusts and bankruptcy filings are all a click away. This publicness can be helpful if you’re the one doing the research, but it may not be so helpful if you’re on the other end. Just as Newton’s Third Law states “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”.

In conclusion, real estate agencies no longer reach their target audience through face-to-face interaction. The buyer would rather consult the impersonal buying app first because it provides the exact information the buyer is looking for and nothing more. While it can be alarming how much information, some of which used to be considered private, these apps can provide, there are perks for serious home buyers. The Internet is constantly growing and changing, real estate agents must work harder to merge the online trends with a more traditional, personable approach. Apps like Skype may be the answer to bringing back the “face-to-face” approach while still having the convenience and flexibility of being online.