Charlotte-based Realtor Ellen Kelly, our go-to at Peachy for all luxury listings, shares the real reason you need a realtor.
WRITTEN BY Bek Mitchell-Kidd
We love a list at Peachy, but when it comes to home buying and selling, there is a frontrunner: MLS (Multiple Listing Service). We love Zillow too; it’s a great resource to search properties and view listings, and to get a sense of an area.
Who knew? Well, your real estate agent for one.
Charlotte-based Realtor® Ellen Kelly, our go-to at Peachy for all luxury listings, recently supported her son in finding a property on the other side of the country. She says, “Zillow is a great guide for buyers to explore neighborhoods and get an idea for pricing. Not all properties are on Zillow, as I recently discovered when I helped my son look for rental properties in San Francisco. I was looking on Zillow in Charlotte, and he was checking Zillow in San Francisco. We rarely overlapped in what we sent each other, which was confusing to us both.”
What’s the difference?
MLS is the primary database used by real estate agents nationwide, containing comprehensive and accurate property information. Real estate professionals maintain the MLS listing, which helps ensure the accuracy of MLS listings.
Zillow sources its listing information from MLS and other sources, including public records and user-submitted info.
Using a Realtor and accessing MLS through them offers the most accurate and up-to-date information, along with the expertise of a professional to guide you through the process.
“I receive off-market intel every week, and I am fortunate enough that if I have a buyer who is ready to pull the trigger, we take advantage of off-market sales. Zillow does not have access to off-market properties.” —Ellen Kelly
The other thing to consider is that sometimes the best properties simply are not listed. Ellen explains, “I get to know my clients’ needs so thoroughly that if I know something is coming on the market, I jump on it for my clients. Similarly, if I have a seller who doesn’t want their listing publicized, my network allows me to search for off-market interest.”
While Zillow can be a helpful starting point for browsing and gathering general information, “it should not be relied upon as the sole source of information for buying or selling a home,” says Ellen.
Ellen and her son searched for more than a month to find the right spot in the San Francisco Bay area. Ellen says, “Outdoor light is so important, almost as important as the location. We happened to find both for him.”
But Ellen reveals that what sealed the deal was that the apartment owner was working with an experienced agent. “I knew immediately the agent knew her business. She explained exactly what would be repaired, repainted and cleaned before his move-in date. She also advised that if he went ahead and submitted his application, he would be at the top of the list to be accepted,” since the market in San Francisco and Oakland is competitive.
If you’re thinking of making a move or have kids who are still trying to secure that perfect off-campus spot or a closer-to-their-first-job location, Ellen concludes, “When I have younge clients, I am very honest with them about what not to buy and why. I want them to find one or two great locations as well as get pre qualified with a lender, and we will work from there. I treat my younger clients like I would treat my kids because they have typically never purchased a home before and need someone who will be there through the process, not just to buy a house, but to educate them.”
Ellen Kelly is Peachy’s go-to Realtor on all things real estate.