Advancements in technology are changing every aspect of our lives, from how we shop to how we communicate, and from how we work to how we socialize. So, it should come as no surprise to learn that technology is also changing the real estate industry and the home buying process as well.
Technology That Is Changing The Home Buying Process
Here are just a few of the latest technology trends that today’s real estate agents are using to help their clients navigate and enjoy the home buying process.
Smart Phones
Like almost everything else in today’s world, the home buying process has gone mobile. Anyone looking to buy a home has access to a massive amount of information right at their fingertips in the form of a smartphone. In fact, more than half of all searches take place on mobile devices. That means a realtor’s website must be optimized for smartphones. Potential homebuyers want the site to be easy to navigate and read on a small screen as well as a large monitor. Any web designer who’s kept pace with the current trends knows how to make this happen.
Smart Phone Apps
There’s a smart phone app for everything these days, and the home buying process is no exception. Real estate agents and potential homebuyers can connect in real-time using any number of popular marketplace apps, such as Zillow. Any realtor who wishes to grow their business should know how to use these apps to their advantage.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is a game-changer when it comes to how real estate professionals show properties to home buyers. People today are busier than ever, and getting them to commit to a day of house hunting can be hard. Agents who have virtual reality technology at their disposal can show potential buyers several homes in a short period of time. Then, clients can choose which homes they want to see in person, and which properties they are ready to scratch off their list. It makes the entire home buying process much more efficient, and fun, for agents and the homebuyer.
Big Data
In the past decade, the term “big data” has entered the collective consciousness. Big data is all about finding trends among huge swaths of information (i.e., data) to predict consumer behavior. It’s how Amazon can recommend products we might like, or how Netflix can suggest shows for our queue. Real estate agents can use data gathered about potential home buyers in their area to predict which homes and sales scenarios will be more favorable to their current clients.
Smart Home Technology
The real estate industry is abuzz about smart home technology and Wi-Fi-connected appliances, which are providing homeowners with an unprecedented level of convenience. Refrigerators can tell you when you’re out of milk or eggs. Ovens can respond to voice commands. You can control your washing machine and dryer from your phone. These technologies are quickly going from “cool innovation” to “what’s expected” in homebuyers’ eyes. Properties that come readily equipped with smart home technology are in high demand in today’s real estate climate. Real estate agents need to make sure they’re up to speed so they can satiate potential buyers’ desire for efficiency and convenience.
Automations With Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the real estate industry in a number of ways. Real estate agents can use AI technology to set up chatbots, email automation, social media updates, push notifications, and so much more. With AI taking care of these mundane, everyday tasks associated with the home buying process, agents can put more time into showing properties, serving clients, and closing deals.
With technology altering the landscape of the real estate industry so rapidly, it is more important than ever for real estate agents to understand what the home buying process is like for potential homeowners, and the role of technology in making it a more satisfying experience for all involved.
Learn More From A Virginia Beach Real Estate Agent
If you have questions about today’s home buying process, then talk to an experienced real estate agent like Katie Zarpas. Katie prides herself on her personal, hands-on approach, and the creative style and quality of her work reflects that. Katie’s marketing, sales, and transactional expertise make her an invaluable partner and resource for any real estate client.
Katie began her accomplished real estate career in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 2005. She has gained valuable sales and operations experience and has proven herself to be a top-ranked residential specialist who’s served the needs of home buyers and sellers throughout the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk markets. Katie consistently sells the highest priced homes in Hampton Roads. Every buyer she works with, and every listing she takes on, are serviced with the utmost level of attention and diligence. Transactions are her specialty, but relationships and her clients’ best interests are her top priorities. Give her a call at 757.685.4400 or schedule an appointment online.