Halstead Property

Richard Grossman
Executive Director of Sales, Downtown
rgrossman@halstead.com
(212) 381-4274

Streeteasy Lets Online Users Find Brokers

StreetEasy is a key real estate website that breaks down all the market data needed when buying, selling or renting a home. Now it is also launching a new service that will help with a different step in the process -- finding a broker.

"In the past, if you were looking for a broker, you had to take a leap of faith and go by their reputation," says StreetEasy Vice President of Research Sofia Song. "Now we are able to give our users access to data that will show a brokers performance."

The new “shopping for a broker” feature allows users to analyze data regarding brokers. Sellers can check out brokers' stats, such as who has had the most deals in a particular neighborhood or building. They can sort success rates by price point or type of property and see how accurate their pricing has been.

"This tool will allow you to see a broker's track record in terms of how long has it been on the market, how many price cuts it's had and whether they got over ask or how much below ask," says Song.

The feature can also let users find the best broker for one's individual needs, according to Song.

Meanwhile, Richard Grossman, the Executive Director of Sales Downtown for Halstead Property, says while the tool is very helpful, it should just be a starting point.

"You still have to meet and interview the broker. Make sure you work well with them, make sure their objectives are the same as your objectives," says Grossman. "Make sure that they have the services to provide you to give you the right marketing platform and the right marketing services."

He also points out that sometimes the reason a listing does not sell has nothing to do with the quality of the broker.

Grossman also adds it is still important to rely on recommendations and word of mouth, especially if users are looking for a buyer's broker, because that person’s information is not always as readily available.

The "shopping for a broker" feature is available to users who pay for a StreetEasy “insider account.”

Monday, August 08, 2011