Why You Still Need a Realtor

Gone are the days when you had to use a realtor. It’s true, those days are gone. They don’t need us for MLS access or to get the square footage. They can find most of the information they need online. 

In fact there’s quite a lot you don’t need a professional for anymore. AI can teach you how to make your own shoes. You can watch a few videos, order the supplies on Amazon and get to work. While you are at it, you can repair your own car, fix your dishwasher and file your own taxes.

But how many of you are doing your taxes entirely by AI this year? And if you are, would you fully trust the result? More importantly, could you interpret the answer correctly? AI can generate tax calculations. There is a significant amount of judgment required to interpret results properly.

I grade papers written with AI regularly. It often gets the general structure right. It also routinely gets the finer details wrong. And in real estate, the finer details are exactly what determine whether something works — or doesn’t.

AI can summarize zoning bylaws. It can draft contracts. But it can’t see the property; it doesn’t walk the land. It doesn’t know if the creek across the street is known to flood or if a recent flood in Abbotsford might change policy in Surrey. It doesn’t know if the wood trim looks rotten. AI doesn’t know if the neighbouring house looks run-down or if the sellers are difficult to negotiate with. It can help with the bigger items, but the nuance, the negotiations, the interpretation of information, that’s all us.

Buying or selling a home is one of the largest financial and emotional decisions most people will ever make. Our role is to ensure that a decision is made with full knowledge, proper protection, and the strongest possible long-term outcome.

Our role is to help home buyers and sellers make sound decisions. This means understanding zoning updates, redevelopment legislation, subdivision feasibility, environmental setbacks, and the highest and best use of the land.