44°
“We used to spend a lot of time bringing clients to each community and showing them around,” explains Joe Houlihan, managing partner of Houlihan & O’Malley. “Often we showed them a sampling of homes in each community. Now, clients call us and already know which town or village they want to live in.”
Homebuyers can find much of the information they need on the newly revamped Houlihan & O’Malley Web site, houlihanomalley.com.“We have a brand-new site and are adding helpful content on a regular basis,” Houlihan notes. Visitors to the Web site can download a homebuyer’s guide, which include worksheets on budgeting, financing, and organizing one’s search for a home. Additionally, they can set up a customized alert that meets each client’s search criteria. The alert goes out either in real time or daily, and includes new listings, price changes, contract status, and information on which properties sold.
Homebuyers appreciate the help. A recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, shows that 89 percent of homebuyers say they used some form of technology in the home buying process, and 92 percent of homebuyers say technology helped save them time. “Clients today are very tech-savvy, and nearly all report that they are not only searching for properties online, but also researching commutes, schools, and communities prior to reaching out to a broker,” Houlihan says.
One of the most frequently used tools by clients is the Houlihan & O’Malley “Neighborhood Navigator.” Houlihan explains that by using the Navigator, you can drill down to data that define a neighborhood. You can see how many households have children, how many residences are owned or rented, how much the population is growing, and the median age of residents. “The data sets are truly comprehensive and more revealing than anything that had been available to homebuyers before,” Houlihan says.
“The information available to buyers and sellers is only going to improve over time, and using technology in the process is going to be a universal experience for homebuyers,” Houlihan states. “Technology will never be a substitute for a Realtor, but it can enhance and streamline the process for all parties involved, and make the experience better overall.”
About Houlihan & O’Malley
The Residential Sales Group at Houlihan & O’Malley is a boutique agency dedicated to offering clients inspired service, unwavering focus, and a commitment to real estate excellence. At Houlihan & O’Malley, agents who are knowledgeable, involved, and dedicated treat clients to an exceptional level of service. The Residential Sales Group appreciates the needs and time constraints of its clients and constantly strives to embody the company’s motto of “Excellence on Your Side.”
There are currently nine agents working in the Residential Real Estate Sales Group. Together they represent the best combination of dedicated service and real estate skill. Individually, the agents have received numerous awards from the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) for outstanding sales, which, when combined, total over $300 million. All Houlihan & O’Malley salespersons are members HGAR, the New York State Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. Managing Partner Joe Houlihan is proud to have been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service.
