Can I google that?

(I'm curious - when did "google" become a verb?)

It's intriguing to get behind the Real Estate "veil". For example, my wife, my friends and I had all come to rely on websites like Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.

With over 30 years in IT, I should know better. The aforementioned sites don't validate information - they simply "fish". Another example of this fishing is another site many of us rely on - CarFax. Let's use CarFax as the example.

Why would you use CarFax? You are trying to determine whether or not to purchase a used vehicle, based on records from the DMV, dealerships, service stations, emissions inspections, etc. A CarFax report may contain dozens of records. Does it tell the whole story?

Well, here's the reality. If you get in a "fender bender", and don't file a police report or make a claim to your insurance agency, the incident likely will *not* show up in a CarFax report.

Let's extend that methodology to those better-known real estate focused websites. For example, today Trulia lists our downtown home as having a little over 2000 square feet. That's from a previous tax record before the second floor was finished - and not the current square footage of the home. The sites also don't reflect current real estate activity - houses with offers, inspections pending, etc.

Does that mean you should ignore the web as a source of real estate information? Of course not. It can help you determine the styles and price ranges of homes available, market trends, etc.

"So why should I engage a professional realtor?" Well first of all, find a realtor that is more focused on helping you - putting the concept of a commission second (you've seen the slogan "I am second"?) after giving you his or her *best effort*. Then recognize that the best realtors will give you their daily best effort, as well as engage all the resources at the fingertips of their real estate firm - ultimately negotiating the best price for your home, whether you are Selling or Buying.

Finally, the $64,000 question( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/quizshow/peopleevents/pande06.html ) - yes, $64,000 might be earned among 2 or more realtors to represent a transaction involving a million dollar home! Does my realtor really earn their commission? The truth is, the advice of a good realtor can at least 10-20% to the value of a home. If you choose a realtor that works as I do, whether Buying or Selling, your trained realtor will provide you frequent updates (a couple of times a week) with facts, help you make informed decisions, and be a shrewd, unbiased negotiator that can guide you through what is usually the most valuable purchase or sale you will make in your lifetime.

I'd be happy to show you over a dozen activities that I will happily and faithfully perform for you - daily and weekly - as your realtor and fiduciary ally. And for those who have read this far and know my work, I will earn your trust - every time. Even if you choose another realtor, you will better know what questions to ask.

(By the way, if you found *me* via a Google search - that's not a bad thing, right??? lol)