By Stephen McCarthy
When you find something you like on Zillow or on any real estate web site you can very easily click the link and wait for a reply. The success rate here can be poor however. You might be connected to the actual listing agent who will respond quickly and professionally.
However it is more likely you will be connected to a random agent and the response might be lacking or non-existent. Keep in mind sites like Zillow sell real estate leads to real estate agents, So when you click that link your inquiry will most likely go to someone that has nothing to do with that particular property. This is not ideal for a serious buyer. And if you click on multiple properties you will get multiple random agents calling.
If you find a good property online the best thing to do is call your agent. Find an agent you trust and respect and make them your primary point of contact. They can save you a lot of time because they will know what you are looking for and quickly find the best source of information about any particular property.
Consider there are often postings that are outdated or suspect. A good agent can identify this quickly or maybe the property is “no pets” and your agent knows you have a dog. You might find out you do not need to visit it at all.
A good real estate agent is going to save you time and help you sort through any of the options you find online. Serious buyers work with serious agents. Find one to work with and send them the links of the properties that catch your attention.