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How can agents achieve smooth transactions as we ease out of lockdown?

15 April 2021 6419 Views
How can agents achieve smooth transactions as we ease out of lockdown?

We’re officially transitioning to summer – marked by the clocks going forward and warmer weather – just as restrictions start to lift as part of the government’s four-step roadmap out of lockdown.

Traditionally, the property market picks up in the springtime, when light floods the home and the outdoors looks its absolute best. The year has been anything but traditional, however, as buyers remain hot on the market to save on stamp duty costs.

This has led to the need for more transparency during the sales process, with a majority of the public wanting an easier way to buy and sell property.

A survey of 672 existing homeowners by PropTech firm iamproperty revealed an overwhelming 82% of people would like to be able to access all information on a transaction in one place, while 72% generally want a faster service.

Although just under half (43%) of respondents had a positive experience of buying or selling a property, large majorities wanted a clear outline of timescales and to see regular updates on progress without having to request them.

Additionally, 53% of owners said they would have liked more communication around delays and timelines, while 23% called for more regular updates on progress.

With this in mind, it stands to reason that your agency must provide a transparent, streamlined service that will keep your clients in the loop at all times.

A reliable, 24/7 service

As an agency in a fast-paced industry, it pays to offer a 24/7 service that is accessible to customers at all times, particularly with the pandemic limiting contact.

In the past, many buyers have had to wait to book a valuation, arrange a viewing or make an offer – simply because the agency is closed or operating in a rigid 9-5 structure. Now, they should be able to organise viewings, make offers and agree to purchase at any time of day, using portals for instant alerts on available properties.

Without the necessary processes in place to handle enquiries at any time, you could lose potential instructions. Therefore, incorporating a live chat on your website will enable you to connect with consumers at any time – whether it’s outside office hours or on weekends.

This, coupled with real-time portal updates, can give your clients peace of mind and set your agency a cut above the rest.

A modern, easy-to-use website

Buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords are online more than ever before, and their first port of call will be an agency’s website. Because of this, your site needs to be modern, smart, user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

For starters, you’ll need to provide things that customers will expect to see from an agent’s website, such as listed properties, contact forms, an About Us section and a Contact Us tab.

At a more advanced level, your website should offer unique features like tailored log-in areas for consumers, a property search function with localised mapping, social media integration and vendor calls to action such as instant online valuations, a live chat, or an online mortgage calculator.

By including customer-friendly features, you can offer an interactive service and encourage consumers to return to your website.

An automated, cloud-based system

In a time of increasing legislation, with the purchasing process made more complicated by Covid, agents are feeling the strain to meet the needs of consumers.

That’s why it’s important that your software is not only cloud-based – allowing your team to manage transactions from any device at any spot in the world at any time – but also automated to save time on a range of tasks.

Cloud-based systems can provide you with better storage options and increased security – an ideal solution for estate and letting agents working remotely.

Meanwhile, automating portal uploads, social media posts, rent reminders and email nurturing campaigns can save your business time and money, helping to increase productivity.

Providing a fully integrated platform with the latest tech can help agents to speed up transactions and get sales over the line in a smooth, seamless manner, and for the best possible asking price.

Here at Gnomen, we provide the best all-in-one, cloud-based software system and can provide you with a user-friendly website and an efficient 24/7 client portal to bring out the best of your business. For more information, please get in contact with us today.

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