A prosperous new year starts with the right preparation. So, if you haven’t figured out how to make the most of your property marketing in 2018, our handy checklist will help you get up to speed!
1. Know your audience
Most estate agents appeal to a particular customer type, whether that’s wealthy couples over 50 with an eye for quality, or first-time buyers seeking that all-important first step on the property ladder. By knowing what your buyers and vendors want from you, agents can appeal directly to their target audience; in the right way. However, customer personas are not static, and without being evaluated and updated, agents risk falling out of sync with those they need to attract.
Regardless of whether we’re making a personal or a business purchase, modern customers expect a price that matches our expectations, and they’re not afraid to shop around to find it. But it’s about more than bottom line cost; it’s also about value. So, over the next year and beyond, the agents that succeed will be the ones that offer the best fee AND the best range of innovative services to help sell homes.
2. Capitalise on the latest technology
360 VR property tours are the next Big Thing in property marketing, with the potential to provide enormous benefits. So it’s no wonder that intelligent agents are capitalising on the trend. We all know that a picture paints a thousand words so think what an online, 3D experience could say to those all-important buyers!
Operating much like the virtual tours you find on Google Street View, 3D virtual walkthroughs let buyers view properties without actually being there. In an unprecedented level of detail. And, by providing a complete picture, these immersive property tours help to manage buyer expectations and qualify sales leads. According to Property Week, virtual tours reduce the number of wasted viewings by 40%.
But, as the pace of technological developments shows no sign of slowing down, appointing an outsourcing partner could be the only way for smaller estate agencies to keep up with the latest marketing tools and trends. For example, with an affordable pricing model that pays for itself, Houseviz is helping estate agents to remain competitive with access to Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology.
3. Focus on what’s important
Rather than wasting time, in 2018 savvy agents will be looking to contract out unproductive tasks such as viewings, while they focus on lucrative aspects of estate agency life. It just doesn’t make sense for you to waste your time showing a plethora of viewers around every property.
Property marketing is a multidimensional process which involves a whole plethora of tasks, from online listings to floor plans and virtual tours. And it can be almost impossible to find the time to do it all. The best outsourcing partners will look after everything for you. So you can get on with the critical business of closing and winning instructions.
4. Save costs
If you want senior employees to focus on generating business and earning money, you could hire a junior to look after more routine jobs. But, while the hourly rate of a permanent member of staff might seem less expensive, when you take training, sick pay, holiday cover, pension contributions, and National Insurance into consideration, outsourcing is more cost-effective.
An established property marketing partner won’t just save you time; they’ll also bring a plethora of talent and experience to the table. So your hard earned name is in safe hands. In a world driven by evolving customer expectations, the value of a good reputation can’t be underestimated.
At Houseviz, we’re helping agents of all sizes to boost sales in 2018. Start the new year on the right foot and contact us to arrange a no-obligation meeting to present HouseViz to you. We’d love to show you what we can do.