John Williams and his team at Missouri Online Real Estate, based in Chesterfield, have given up their physical offices in favor of a virtual office, and walk-ins for “click-ins.” Almost 70 percent of the company’s business is generated through the Internet, Williams said, and agents use online document sharing, video messaging and BlackBerrys to communicate with each other and with clients.
Technology also has made consumers more demanding. According to the National Association of Realtors, more than 70 percent of consumers do online research before contacting an agent.
Today’s house buyers — people like Michael Breer, one of Williams’ clients — want instant and constant access to information and their real estate agents. Two years ago, when Breer and his wife moved to Columbus, Ohio, they looked at almost 50 houses — visiting 15 to 20 on each trip
By Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
