RealDirect Launches RealDirect for Buyers

NEW YORK, July 21, 2010--Next generation real estate technology company and brokerage RealDirect is now giving potential home buyers a unique double benefit through their new service RealDirect for Buyers: providing access to new tools and guidance to manage their apartment search, and offering the opportunity to earn a 1% rebate check on the sale price of a home at closing.

This rebate amounts to a savings of $8,990 for a home at the median sale price for a Manhattan apartment (according to a Q2 2010 Miller Samuel report).

Using its proprietary buyer survey and structured sales information database, RealDirect can create a list of homes that a buyer is more likely to purchase. In order to participate, home buyers will fill out a free, online survey which RealDirect analyzes to understand all of the buyers needs and sensitivities. Taking the survey does not obligate the buyer to work with RealDirect in any way.

At the completion of the survey, the buyer will receive a synopsis of what’s important to them, broken down into three categories: "Must Haves," "Wish List" and "Deal Breakers.” RealDirect then provides a list of the 5-10 properties that best fit the buyers’ needs. The list will also periodically flag a listing as a "RealBargain" if the data shows the property to be a particularly good deal.

“By analyzing approximately 70 data points gathered from our buyers survey and hundreds of property criteria culled from listing data and closed transactions, we have a strong sense of the properties they are most likely to buy – and can get buyers in front of the right properties quickly and painlessly,” said Doug Perlson, co-founder and CEO of RealDirect.

Through its partnership with Buyfolio, RealDirect will provide an online account in which users can review the listings and provide feedback – what they like and don’t like about the potential homes. RealDirect continues to update the account with new listings and gather client feedback. Rejected listings will never be suggested again.

RealDirect for Buyers kicks into high gear when the buyers find something they like. A RealDirect agent can set up home showing appointments, but buyers have the choice of seeing the homes with or without a RealDirect agent. If a match is found, and the buyer is ready to make an offer, RealDirect offers a professional consultation to determine the right offer price and negotiation strategy – and a licensed agent negotiates on the buyer’s behalf should they want this assistance. RealDirect also provides vetted contractors and architects to give professional opinions on questions of feasibility and cost of renovations.

When the offer is accepted, RealDirect coordinates the closing and assists with any closing needs, including board packages. On close, the buyer receives a rebate check in the amount of 1% of the sale price.

“In the end, our goal is to bring sellers and buyers together in a more efficient way, and pass the savings onto our clients,” said Mr. Perlson.

RealDirect is a real estate technology company that makes selling and buying a home easier, and more efficient. Whether you want to handle the transaction yourself, or have an agent work with you, RealDirect provides clients with all the tools and assistance they need to get from listing to close. RealDirect is located in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan.