HomeFinder.com 2012 Consumer Survey Results

HomeFinder.com recently conducted a consumer survey of nearly 400 HomeFinder.com users to gauge their opinions on the home buying process, their current needs and goals as they search for homes online. Our findings were quite interesting and we want to share them with you!

Of the 15 of questions we asked, we chose the ten that we thought would be most useful in understanding the pulse of today's real estate shopper. In addition to providing insight into the mind of home buyers, and motivations for using (or not using) particular search tools, the survey findings highlighted new business opportunities for real estate agents and brokers. Nearly half of respondents cited that they are in the market for a home but do not yet have a real estate agent. This presents agents with the opportunity to be proactive with their marketing efforts.

How is the HomeFinder.com consumer using online home searching vs. a real estate agent?

1.) Why are consumers starting their searches on HomeFinder.com?

Help find the homes they are interested in seeing (67%)
Help find an area in which to look (63%)

2.) What do consumers feel that an agent provides them with in the homebuying process?

Educate them about buying process (63%)
Help them understand whether the homes they like are a good deal (47%)

3.) Do consumers currently have an agent?

Plan on using an agent but don't have one (47%)
Have one already (41%)

Who is the HomeFinder.com consumer?

4.) What motivates a consumer to do online home searching?

Searching for homes for sale (80%)
Just looking (7%)
In the rental market (6%)
Looking for a specific property (6%)

5.) What is the consumer's buying history? (of the 80% in the market for a new home)

Repeat buyers (52%)
First-time buyers (35%)

Where is the HomeFinder.com consumer is searching & what is most important to them during their search?

6.) What types of neighborhoods are consumers searching?

Looking in the suburbs (48%)
Haven't yet decided (21%)
Looking in urban areas (16%)
Looking in rural areas (15%)

7.) Do consumers know the location of where they want to buy a home?

Have an approximate idea (57%)
Know exactly (37%)
Have no idea (6%)

8.) What is the most important criteria of a consumer's neighborhood search?

Home property values, property tax rates and home sales activity (71%)
Advice from friends who know the area (49%)
To see others' pictures/comments about area (38%)

9.) What does a consumer do when they find a listing online that they are interested in?

Save it for later (69%)
Share with a partner/spouse/roommate (41%)
Forward to their agent (15%)

What does HomeFinder.com consumer want to see on a home listing:

10.) What are the most important listing details a consumer wants to see?

PHOTOS! (quantity, quality, exterior lot)
Property details (taxes, fees, home/lot size)
Property attributes (fireplace, garage, number of levels, size)
Labeling of listing status (active, pending, contract, contingent, sold)
Floor plans

If you would like additional information on the results of our consumer survey, please read our press release here.

To view the original article, visit the HomeFinder.com blog.