Connecting with Realtors on social media is an engaging part of our daily routine at Yahoo! Homes. Many agents Tweet to promote new listings, share articles, or pass along good advice to burnish their expertise with prospective customers. And there are tens of thousands of them on Twitter.
Clearly, some potential buyers adept at social media will evaluate and engage with agents on Twitter, Facebook or other networks. But we also know that many agents are discovered as a result of an association with a property that's of interest to the potential buyer.
Then again, sometimes it's simply a familiar name that grabs someone's attention.
We read this passage in a recent Chicago Tribune story with interest:
When Tom McNicholas, 25, began searching for a one-bedroom condo in the city, his first step was to boot up his computer. While browsing listings on Yahoo! Real Estate, he found Dympna Fay-Hart, a real estate professional whose name was already familiar through a family connection. He decided to enlist her help with his search, which ended in the recent purchase of a property in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood.
Yet, the article also explored Fay-Hart's perspective about engaging with prospective buyers on social media - it isn't always easy to share - and what you can learn about Realtors as people, too:
Fay-Hart's Twitter updates often revolve around food — a new sushi restaurant she's tried or a favorite wine.
"Sharing personal information has been the biggest transition for me," she said. "To let people into my personal life was a welcome change for me. People thought I was more serious than I am."
We followed @DympnaFayHart and look forward to connecting with real estate agents, buyers, sellers, renters and homeowners each day.