The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives, but despite social distancing, public use of face masks, and new routines for doing business,, one thing continues to remain the same: buying and selling real estate.
There will always be a time when people buy and sell homes and property. The market may fluctuate, but that’s nothing new to brokers and agents.
Real estate professionals are nothing if not creative at finding ways to meet their customers’ needs. Amid the tragic impacts of the disease, we continue to be impressed with how many of our clients have adapted their business practices in the age of COVID-19.
- The team at john greene Realtor in Chicago’s western suburbs launched a real estate resource hotline to provide advice and insights about the current market.
- The agents at Barker Realty in Santa Fe are personalizing virtual tours with their own video walk-throughs and overviews of the neighborhood.
- The luxury real estate specialists at Mott & Chace in Rhode Island went virtual with a search page for exclusive properties with virtual tours and videos.
1. Customer Outreach Remains Essential
The overall theme of these success stories is outreach. Has there ever been a time in your brokerage where customer outreach hasn’t been a top priority? Nope. Nada. Not ever. Real estate is built on relationships. You and your team may be working from home. Open houses may be paused in your area. Successful brokers and agents (we’re looking at you!) are developing strategies to strengthen customer relationships—and make their companies stronger and more successful. Now is the time to up your customer outreach game and keep it going. Propertybase gives you the power to stay connected with your clients and keep them engaged. There’s never been a better time to use them. Does your brokerage have a plan to show properties safely for all parties? Let your customers know in an email marketing campaign. Are your sellers wondering how to sell virtually? Make sure your brokerage has a digital game plan and an online marketing strategy—and tell your customers about it via a dedicated webpage or email campaign.2. The Right Technology Is More Important Than Ever
A recent Realtor.com® survey concluded that virtual tours, listing descriptions, and neighborhood information are crucial for buying homes during COVID-19. While a majority of respondents wanted to see a home in person before making a purchase, 24 percent said they would be willing to buy a home without seeing it in person. When asked what technology features would be most helpful when buying a new home, here’s what today’s buyers said, in order of preference:- A virtual tour (61 percent)
- Accurate and detailed listing information (58 percent)
- Accurate and detailed neighborhood information (53 percent)
- High-quality photos (51 percent)
- An agent-led walkthrough via video chat (39 percent)
