Looking to buy or sell a home? AI could help
Expert says AI is a great tool, but should not be relied on completely
If you're interested in learning more about Windsor's real estate market, you might consider asking a realtor — or artificial intelligence.
That's what Mohammad Al Mohammad did as he searched for a family home on a budget.
As a newcomer to Windsor, Ont. who moved his family from Qatar two years ago, he was eager to find a permanent home for him and his wife and their seven children.
"We are so eager to see the first moment that we step in the house after the closing date," he said with a huge smile, describing his perfect home in the downtown core for his family, that checked off a lot of boxes.
And he credits artificial intelligence applications like Google Gemini, Bing AI Chap and ChatGPT — with support from a realtor — for helping him find the right one.
Al Mohammad explained that he asked AI to help him identify where in the city he could find homes within his family's budget.
"I tried to find the best deals," he said.
He also sought advice on which areas met his family's needs, how to maximize his mortgage and how to negotiate for a better price point.
How can AI help?
CBC asked ChatGPT for advice on how to get the lowest price point on a home.
Here are a few things the application suggested:
- Have a pre-approval letter ready
- Start by making a lower offer
- Highlight any issues with the house after a home inspection
- Be ready to walk away
Windsor realtor Tarun Rawat says about 25 per cent of his clients use AI to learn more about the Windsor market.
"It's just an extra help for a buyer to become [an] educated buyer," he said.
And buyers are aren't the only ones turning to AI for assistance. Rawat uses AI as well, for marketing tips and advice in the midst of negotiations.
For example, he said he has used ChatGPT to help him during back and forths with another agent to try to bring down a home sale price for his client.
'Take it with a grain of salt'
University of Windsor assistant professor Pushpinder Gill says AI is a great tool, but that "you have to take it with a grain of salt."
"It's not a 100 per cent reliable source, but that does not mean it is zero per cent reliable," he said.
He said that realtors not already using artificial intelligence will be at a disadvantage.
He said agents should be using the technology to help them analyze data, figure our pricing strategies and improve communication with clients.
He added that the technology can also be used to digitally stage homes as well.
For buyers, he said it's a good way to get more informed about the real estate market, so that when you speak with a realtor you can have higher-quality conversations.
As for whether or not AI could potentially replace realtors one day, Gill said that it would in theory, but that "there is a very, very long way to go." He added that you still need humans to make important decisions.
Rawat agrees.
"There is always a need of human touch," he said.