The real estate market is dynamic, competitive, and challenging. But, that’s what makes it so fun to be a real estate agent, right?
Of course, there are other reasons to take this career path (such as the commission that comes with a successful transaction), but it’s definitely not easy. As a real estate agent, you bear a huge responsibility on your shoulders and you are constantly exposed to a stressful and stimulating work environment.
So, to make sure everything goes as planned and no one misses any important details, real estate agencies need to work with specialized tools designed to make their work easier. Due to technological advancements and the fast development of the online world, real estate agents and agencies now have a wide range of software tools to choose from (which can be confusing).
Therefore, today, we will discuss the most important types of software tools an agency should consider for its activity.
1: Lead Generation & Nurturing Platforms
Real estate agents are always looking for new leads. Additionally, they also have to find new and ingenious ways to promote their assigned listings and get buyers interested in their offer.
Before the internet took off and became the most important source of information, real estate agents didn’t have such a wide reach. However, nowadays, all you need is the right software tool to promote your listings and find buyers from all over the world.
For instance, you can’t ignore a platform like Zillow or RealScout, where agents and buyers can meet and discuss offers and preferences. Moreover, these platforms provide useful insight into the market as they use accurate MLS (multiple listing service) data and provide real estate agents with user analytics (among other useful features).
Lastly, these types of platforms allow agencies to promote their offers to target audiences in order to increase lead generation. Even more, they provide the tools and features for lead nurturing, making it easier for agents to seal deals and start the purchase process.
2: CRMs
Client Relationship Management tools are great for real estate agencies because they allow managers to keep track of their agents and their actions. Even more, the software can easily be integrated with other platforms (such as sales or bookkeeping), which broadens the view of decision-makers.
CRMs are also a method to improve business flow and identify bottlenecks. However, it’s important to select the right solution for your business. In the case of a real estate agency, the current size and growth plans are important elements, but you should also think about the main features.
To make it easier to choose, check out the lists of CRM software tools. Simply search on Google and you’ll find some of the CRM solutions most used by real estate agencies.
3: Open House & Showing Tools
Scheduling showing and open house tours can be a nightmare if you don’t have the help of a smart tool! Even more, todays’ tools help make the entire process paperless, which is good for the environment and helps reduce the clutter in your office.
Platforms such as Rently, ShowingTime, Spacio, and others allow real estate agents to organize their time in an efficient manner, while also taking their customers into consideration. Moreover, because these apps are easily accessible regardless of location, users can get notifications to make sure they don’t forget important details.
Quick tip: Since there are buyers who don’t want to risk encountering other people at an open house (in order to respect social distancing regulations), agents now can organize virtual tours and open house events. This is possible with tools such as Zoom or Skype, where the agent organizes a video conference with interested buyers and presents the house using a portable camera.
You can also use drone footage (to present the entire property) and take pictures or videos of the interiors. This type of content can be made available on the agency’s website, in exchange for interested viewers’ email and contact information (in an attempt to build a database of possible leads for future use).
4: Communication & Collaboration Tools
Due to smartphones and smart communication apps (like Slack, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger), everyone can stay in touch with everyone nowadays.
This is a fantastic thing for real estate agencies, where speedy communication is crucial. Using this type of communication tools agents can talk to each other, prospect the market, and stay in touch with buyers. Even more, tools like Google Drive or OneDrive (from Microsoft), agents can now collaborate remotely without worrying about security breaches or data leaks.
So, whether you want to make sure your team(s) get to communicate in a secure space, that’s easily accessible, or you want to provide them remote access to important files and data, you now have the right tools at your disposal.
Key Takeaways
Real estate agencies and agents who like to think outside of the box can easily understand just how beneficial it is to integrate modern technologies into their everyday life. With tools that help organize your schedule, keep track of sales and transactions, and help you reach more people it gets easier to enjoy the crazy market of real estate.
And, while it certainly is not easy to run a small business, the reward and satisfaction of a job well done are definitely worth it. So, why not invest a bit in tech platforms and tools that will provide long-term support and improvements? This is an investment that brings plenty of return and benefits if it’s done according to your agency’s needs and future growth plans.
