Five 266 MHz Hewlett Packard Vectra Pentium II processor-based computers with 17 monitors are for use by customers in the Kiosks. Not only can they feed information to customers in the store, they can videoconference with UT Mortgage Services for the latest information on mortgage rates and pre-approvals on loans for prospective buyers. They can also feed HTML-based information to the Web. What s unique about the store is that the consumer sees no salesperson at the beginning. They can take virtual tours of homes and neighborhoods on-screen.
Information is available about market conditions.
Only when they are ready to actively seek a home do they select a Buyer s Agent and sign an Active Buyer s Agreement. Now they can arrange for pre-approved financing and visit the homes they want to see. If prospective buyers do not find homes they like on the first tour, SOMA Living keeps them in their database and constantly searches for homes that meet their criteria. Regular e-mails and other messages keep buyers up to date on the latest listings. When homebuyers locate the home they want, the Buyer s Agent brings in the Managing Broker who helps craft an offer, and negotiate the best deal possible.