The real estate market is a tough one. The people who are willing and able to buy a home nowadays are not many, especially with the pandemic giving rise to much uncertainty. As the number of clients actively looking and planning to buy a home fluctuate, the number of real estate agents trying to sell roughly remains the same. The real estate industry is naturally highly competitive and combined with the difficult economic situation, even the most experienced agents can find it extremely difficult to complete a sale.
Technology, however, plays a significant role in helping real estate agents cope with tough situations. Needless to say, technology has transformed the real estate industry and has made it easier for agents to gather information, reach clients, and communicate with them effectively. To stay on top of the market, here are 6 tools that every real estate agent should utilize.
Open House Technology
Hosting open houses has always been one of the most prominent sales techniques that allow realtors to market their listings. Though it’s timeless and simple, some technologies have been designed to modernize open houses. At every open house, there must be a sign-in sheet that allows realtors to gather and record information about potential buyers. One of the hardest things to do at the end of every open house is making a digital version of this sheet to send out individual follow-up emails. Many open house technology tools allow realtors to collect this information using an iPad. This makes it more convenient for attendees and makes them more interested in filling out the form. The best part is that these apps allow you to easily send out customizable and professional emails to follow-up with the attendees. Not only does it help make a realtor’s job much easier, but it also makes the listing much more memorable to potential clients.
Broker Reciprocity
Broker Reciprocity, or Internet Data Exchange (IDX), is a policy enclosed by the Multiple Listings Service, or MLS) that enables real estate agents who partake in their local MLS to share listing information online. The professionals behind https://showcaseidx.com explain that IDX allows realtors to make MLS listings accessible on their websites rather than having to refer potential clients to third-party sources. This makes active listings more accessible to consumers and makes them more likely to enter contact and budget information as they will be in control of the real estate agents who can access this data. Modern IDX tools make sure that each listing has an individual discoverable page. This boosts user experience as well as your website.
Camera Drones
Ever since camera drones have become available for public use, they became a revolutionary technology in the real estate industry. They allow realtors to take excellent aerial, high-definition footage of houses. They can also be used indoors to create a steady video experience for potential customers who are looking for a full house guide. This will give you a competitive edge and will make your listing stand out among hundreds of other average images of homes. Besides, if camera drones are out of your budget, you can attach your phone to a regular drone and take equally eye-catching footage.
Mobile Apps
Nowadays, there are mobile apps to help you out with literally everything. App developers work hard to provide tools and apps that can be helpful in many industries. For instance, there are apps that allow social media managers, strategists, and marketers to determine the best time to post to increase engagement.
Similarly, there are apps curated just for real estate agents. Head over to your application store and download a collection of local and international realtor apps that will make your job manageable, fun, and easier.
Social Media
Social media is one of the most important tools that a realtor must utilize. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms will allow you to reach clients. These platforms are probably where all your potential clients spend most of their time. If you are not using them, you are missing out on tons of selling opportunities.
Emails
Figure out ways to make your social media presence a tool to collect relevant emails. This will help you put together a strong mailing list and to connect with real-time potential buyers. For example, you can use pop-ups on your website to make visitors sign-up for your services using their emails. This way, you can send them newsletters, blog links, or other listing information.
Industries evolve with the use of technology. Since hundreds of new tools and technologies are developed every day, our lives have become much easier. There’s a wide array of tools that realtors can use so that they can make it through the tough times that the real estate industry faces.