What Tools and Technologies Can Improve Efficiency?
We asked CEOs and realtors for their insights on innovative tools and technologies that have significantly improved their efficiency in the real estate industry. From using a mail tracking app to keeping follow-up simple, here are ten tools real estate professionals are using to enhance their workflow.
- Use a Mail Tracking App
- Utilize AI Virtual Assistants
- Develop Automated Campaigns
- Employ Blockchain Technology
- Provide Branded Collateral
- Utilize Virtual Staging
- Integrate Virtual Reality
- Use ChatGPT as an Assistant
- Answer Questions With AI
- Keep Follow-Up Simple
Use a Mail Tracking App
One of the tools recommended by our franchise is a mail-tracking app. In this day and age of information overload, it is quite common for all of us to take cursory glances at our inboxes and reply only to urgent or relevant matters. The rest quickly falls into an abyss of unanswered inbox clutter.
The mail-tracker not only confirms delivery to the recipient (not necessarily that they have read it), but also sends reminders when a response hasn't been received. The onus is then upon the user to follow-up. The user can personalize the settings to their workflow structure and tweak the settings to make it more efficient to their needs.
Utilize AI Virtual Assistants
Frankly, there is a lot of back-and-forth that comes with having a career as a real estate professional, especially when you make customer satisfaction top of the list of your priorities as a service provider. The fact is, it can be hard to ensure efficiency and stay productive when there are so many necessary routine tasks taking up time on your schedule, plus other tasks that require not just your expert insights and experience, but also demand that clients' needs and preferences are considered and accounted for.
As a real estate professional, one innovative and very effective tool I have integrated into my workflow that has significantly improved my efficiency is an AI-powered real estate virtual assistant (more specifically, Realty Juggler). This tool has been mostly effective not just in handling routine tasks but also in analyzing clients' behavior and providing predictions and more efficient suggestions for how to better ensure that clients' expectations are met and that satisfaction is guaranteed. This tool also makes my work easier and more thorough by enhancing the quality of my communications with clients through automated emails, customized communication plans, and regular transaction updates. Altogether, this strengthens my business's relationship with our clients and helps us always stay ahead of the competition.
Develop Automated Campaigns
One innovative tool we've integrated into our workflow is the development and implementation of custom automated text and email campaigns within our CRM. It is backed by AI for basic replies and conversations. This automation has significantly improved our efficiency by allowing us to place the lead within our automated system based on certain parameters in order to receive specific texts, emails, and phone calls at predetermined dates and times to nurture relationships throughout the entirety of the lead life-cycle. It has saved an immeasurable amount of time by ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks, which ultimately increases the number of leads closed as well as maintaining a higher level of service than most competitors.
Employ Blockchain Technology
Blockchain technology has been gaining a lot of traction in the real-estate industry recently. This technology is typically associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, but it has many potential applications beyond just financial transactions.
One innovative tool that we've integrated into our workflow as real-estate professionals is blockchain-based smart contracts. These digital contracts use blockchain technology to ensure secure and efficient execution of agreements between parties without the need for intermediaries such as lawyers or banks.
Smart contracts allow for faster and more-accurate transactions by automating processes and removing the possibility of human error or manipulation. They also offer increased transparency and security as all transaction data is recorded on an immutable ledger, making it nearly impossible to tamper with.
Provide Branded Collateral
One innovative tool we've integrated into the loan officer's workflow that has significantly improved efficiency is the Novus Design Studio, which is essentially like "Canva on steroids" for real estate professionals. This platform provides loan officers with on-demand, ready-to-use marketing materials, allowing them to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.
The beauty of the Novus Design Studio lies in its ability to offer customized, branded collateral that can be easily tailored for specific needs. Whether it's flyers, social media posts, or email templates, loan officers can quickly create and distribute relevant content to their Realtor partners and clients. This not only saves time, but ensures that the materials are consistent and professional, reinforcing the credibility of both the loan officer and their Realtor connections.
Additionally, the tool helps keep loan officers and real estate professionals up to date with the latest loan programs and market updates, which is crucial in today's competitive environment. Realtors are constantly looking for partners who can provide them with the most current information to help guide their clients, and Novus Design Studio enables us to deliver that. By staying informed and equipped with the right marketing assets, loan officers can enhance their collaboration with Realtors, providing them with the timely resources they need to better serve their clients and close deals faster.
In short, this tool has transformed the way we operate, allowing us to streamline processes while staying relevant and efficient in an ever-evolving market.
Utilize Virtual Staging
The truth is, selling a property without props can be difficult, and part of the reason for this is because it is hard for buyers to envision what the property would look like as a home, or even get an idea of what they could do with the space until they have actually seen the property in its fully-furnished glory. In my experience, I have learned that the major reason buyers take almost forever trying to find the perfect house when on the market isn't necessarily because none of the houses they see is good enough, but sometimes, the reason for this is because most of the houses they have been shown were not properly staged with enough props.
In my professional experience, virtual staging is one innovative technology that has made my job far more effective since I incorporated it into my workflow. Apart from the fact that the Internet is usually most intending home buyers' first stop when searching for the perfect home to buy, another reason this technology has been quite efficient in the real estate industry is the fact that it helps reach more audience than just those within my immediate environment. Here is what I mean: The fact is that we live in a world where practically anything and everything can be bought and sold on the Internet, and with electronic signatures plus virtual staging, real estate transactions easily become one of the transactions that can easily begin and be completed online with the same ease of ordering something on the Internet. The truth is, not only has virtual staging improved my efficiency as a real estate professional, it has also improved the quality of my services.
Integrate Virtual Reality
I have integrated virtual reality technology into my workflow as an innovative tool. This cutting-edge advancement has greatly enhanced our efficiency and has become an invaluable asset to our business. Virtual reality technology allows potential buyers to view properties from the comfort of their own homes.
We had a client, Amanda, who was interested in purchasing a property from out of state. With the use of virtual reality technology, we were able to give her an in-depth tour of the property without her having to travel. This not only saved our client time and money but also allowed us to close the deal faster.
Hence, I advise integrating virtual reality technology into your workflow, as it not only improves efficiency but also provides a seamless experience for clients. This tool has helped us stand out in the market and attract more potential buyers, ultimately leading to increased sales and revenue.
Use ChatGPT as an Assistant
Hands down, 100% ChatGPT. It’s my new personal assistant, and I absolutely love it! Whether I’m brainstorming marketing strategies, drafting emails, or creating engaging content for YouTube and social media, ChatGPT helps me work smarter, not harder. It saves me so much time, allowing me to focus on connecting with clients and growing my business. With this tool, I’m able to streamline my workflow and get creative with how I communicate, which has made a huge difference in my day-to-day efficiency.
Answer Questions With AI
The biggest innovation that I have integrated into my workflow is the use of AI with chatbots. Being able to answer so many of the clients' questions in advance has led me to become a go-to for first-time home buyers as questions come up. They know it's so quick and easy to ask the bot and get quality information when they want it.
Keep Follow-Up Simple
Taking advantage of the tools and systems the brokerage provides is a great start. However, because every agent is different, what works for one may not be the best system for you. The key is in the follow-up. Whether you are paying for leads or not, the best practice is to find a way to either automate that part. It could be as simple as setting reminders on your calendar or using a CRM to send it. As good as automation is, though, I find it best to keep it simple: Just pick up the phone and either call or send a personalized text. Too many agents try to overcomplicate it.
