Tag: Real Estate Industry
The implementation and development of immersive digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Machine Learning, and 3D Configurators have drastically changed the way the world works. These technologies have proven their importance in innumerable fields and applications such as the communication and IT Service industry, Real Estate Industry, Manufacturing Industry, and many more.
In this article, we will discuss about three of these world-changing technologies and their application in the field of real estate, so buckle up and let’s get started!
AR In Real Estate
When you own a real estate business you already know that it is an ever-changing business. One day its ways of marketing are traditional and the next to take a 180 degrees turn to a completely modern approach. In this fast-paced industry, the use of Augmented Reality tilts more odds in your favor. Before we move any further let us first reiterate the meaning of Augmented Reality.
Augmented Reality (AR) is the real-time integration of digital information with the user’s environment in the form of text, graphics, audio, and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects.
Although the conventional way to purchase property may be exciting, it can also be extremely tedious and time-consuming. The implementation of Augmented Reality has made this daunting process easier and less time-consuming. AR has successfully instigated realtors, builders, and real estate agents to take the leap of faith toward the digital front. With the help of this technology, they can offer better customer experience, faster purchase process, exciting tours, and boost their overall conversion rate.
Through AR clients can explore several properties and tour these properties virtually with just a few clicks in the comfort of their homes. This magical AR teleportation significantly saves valuable resources of time, energy, and money. If none of these are reasons enough, it also makes the entire process more exciting and fun.
Read more: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality detailed with Real-Life Examples!
Top Benefits Of Augmented Reality In Real Estate
1. Time-Saving
Augmented reality real estate applications show customers information about the building infrastructure, their effective energy rating, panes of glass used, materials used for construction, and even information about the vicinity of schools, hospitals, and community centers around the property. Although the initial installation of AR applications for real estate may cost a lot, in the bigger picture, it saves you money. MagicPlan is one such app that focuses on generating floor plans from photos helping buyers and tenants get a better sense of how to use the space and meet their needs without wasting much time and money on multiple site visits.
2. Visualization
Details about building construction can be boring to have to screen through but when you add the element of augmented reality, clients get to emerge themselves into the dimension of the property. This keeps them engaged and interested. Augmented reality applications let the customer view the property from different angles not just the bits that are captured from a camera. Vera is an apt example. The application can transform buildings into digitally reconstructed buildings from the inside out through highly accurate three-dimensional visualizations
3. Enhance Customer Experience
With all the above-mentioned benefits, customer experience is already bound to be boosted due to AR. Virtual staging enables customers to customize the interior décor and view finished goods and furniture before putting them in place. The entire experience is guaranteed to boost the client’s level of satisfaction. RealAR, an app transforming 2D floor plans and 3D models into full-blown life-size walkthroughs, gained maximum fame during the pandemic, enabling time-saving and cost-effective floor planning.
VR In Real Estate
Just like AR even Virtual Reality has set its claws deep into the real estate industry. These two technologies generally go hand-in-hand making them a dynamic power couple.
Virtual Reality is a computer-generated simulation of any 3D image or environment that is made to be interactive in a seemingly real or physical way by an individual using special electronic equipment, such as a VR helmet.
VR meets real estate at the intersection called 3D walkthroughs. These walkthroughs are a brilliantly immersive experience that enables customers to interact with the virtual environment and tour the property as if they were actually on the plot. It is no doubt that VR real estate is the next big thing in this industry and almost every VR app development company offers a specific spectrum of services in the virtual reality that cater to real estate segments. VR walkthroughs became famous during the COVID pandemic and have continued to thrive ever since.
Benefits Of VR In Real Estate
1. Immersive Property Showing
After visualizing the property most customers want to interact with it and try to cop a feel of the surrounding, VR comes in handy here. VR’s biggest strength is seen here with its ability to showcase property with a realistic and immersive experience, giving the client a chance to thoroughly explore the property. This sense of realism, familiar physics, and interactive nature unite together to create a truly immersive property showing. Virtual 360-degree walkthrough tours of the interior and exterior of the house without visiting the property in person is one major example of VR utilized for property visits.
2. Virtual Staging And Interior Design
Virtual staging is essentially being able to adjust the elements in your surrounding and furnish rooms however they like while viewing the property through virtual reality. By letting the customer customize the interior décor and design of the property, VR creates a more enhanced customer experience. VR developers can create enticing features like allowing the user to change the materials in space, try different furniture settings, modify the floor plans, or check the view from innumerable angles.
3. Collaborative Virtual Meetings And Presentations
Collaborative Virtual meetings are a method of communication that is technologically mediated and can facilitate engagement in remote and hybrid places. This simply means that customers from all over the world can view the property and interact with the real estate agency to make a purchase through these meetings and presentations. With the assistance of VR, you don’t even have to be in the same country in order to browse for property there.
Here’s an example of how Virtual Reality has eased campus visits for students, especially for those geographically challenged to explore the various educational options offered by universities.
3D Configuration In Real Estate
Real estate prices across the world are skyrocketing, and people can’t afford to spend extra money on renovations after a building is raised. If purchasing the right property is challenging, constructing a building that meets all your needs is a bigger headache, but with the help of 3D Collaborative tools, this process becomes seamlessly easy.
3D visualization tools can assist users in designing digital buildings while displaying and configuring them in real time with photorealistic detail.
Benefits of 3D Configurations In Real Estate
1. Customization And Personalization Of Properties
3D Configurators help clients personalize their environment to meet their specific needs and keep the agency more customer-centric. It allows customers to select from a range of customizable options such as flooring, furniture, colors, lighting, and exterior views. 3D configurations are essentially a way to let customers personalize property to their specifications. Enabling 3D views of construction sites and updated reports even before construction starts saves time and money.
2. Real-time Pricing And Cost Estimates
Detailed 3D configuring can make justifying prices, placing quotes, and ultimately selling property much easier. The 3D configuration also provides clients with a detailed view of a property, enabling them to understand the features and aspects that drive its true value. It gives an overall understanding of special features such as underground parking, nearby schools, fancy landscapes, and more.
3. Designing And Visualizing Floor Plans
When you use 3D Configurators your project can be displayed in astonishing detail at any stage of construction. Customers can learn and see everything involved in the project and even take virtual tours around the property. They can visualize the floor plans, project specifications, materials, and much more. 3D visualization allows users to witness photorealistic imagery and enhance the elegance of the property on sale, including its interior and exterior views. Enabling 3D visualization models of real-estate designs helps get a clear idea of what the comp[leted project will look like.
Integration And Synergy Of AR, VR, And 3D Configuration
Integration is the combination of various elements to form an efficient system and synergy is formed when multiple systems work together towards a shared goal. When it comes to the above-discussed technologies, the synergy they form together is powerful and has left a strong indentation on the real estate industry.
1. Combined Applications And Benefits Of AR, VR, And 3D Configuration:
There are innumerable benefits of AR, VR, and 3D configurations in the real estate industry, such as – familiarity with the property, objective evaluation of the plot, high level of attention to detail, widening global opportunities, and a great marketing tool.
2. Enhanced Customer Experience And Engagement Through Integration:
As seen above, all three of these technologies have several strengths on their own, and when integrated, they form a mighty force. This powerful experience is the path to great customer experience and interactions, ultimately leading to increased profits.
3. Common Challenges Faced In Implementing AR, VR, And 3D Configuration For Real Estate Businesses:
Just as any new development would, even this integrated solution has its fair share of challenges: Cost of implementation, tossing agents out of employment, and the need to educate employees about the management of new technologies.
How Fingent Can Help
Today’s tech-savvy customers demand prompt responses, service efficiency, and enhanced experiences. To match up with the rising customer demands, Real Estate companies have no option but to adopt modern technology. AR, VR, and 3D Web Configurators are a few modern technologies enabling the Real Estate industry to create new paths of success opportunities. Fingent’s expertise in the domain has enabled many companies in real estate to innovate for better operations. Our experts use the latest technology to develop custom software solutions that cater specifically to unique property management challenges. Connect with our experts today to learn more about how we can help transform your property management business with custom-built technology solutions.
According to a 2020 report, 58% of real estate brokers have a clearly defined digital strategy, a figure that represents a 6% increase from the two previous years and thus indicates that an increasingly large percentage of the real estate industry is buying into the concept of digital transformation.
While the real estate industry is — and always will be — centered around interpersonal interactions between buyers, sellers, and agents, technology plays a more significant role in these transactions than ever before. Innovative real estate firms worldwide are leveraging futuristic technology far more frequently, and those that fail to adapt will find it hard to keep up.
Technology such as machine learning (ML) software, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile apps, drones, and augmented reality (AR) solutions are no longer just “nice to have” in the real estate industry. Digital transformation is an inevitability that real estate professionals must embrace if they want to thrive in such a rapidly evolving business space.
Why Digital Transformation Is Inevitable for the Real Estate Industry
While many factors fuel digital transformation in the real estate industry, the most potent catalyst is consumers. Home buyers and sellers have grown accustomed to being able to perform a variety of essential life tasks online thanks to the ever-evolving nature of smartphones and other sophisticated internet-connected devices.
According to a 2022 report, 51% of all home buyers found the properties they purchased via the internet. Another 29% found their dream home with the assistance of a real estate agent, whereas just 4% located the home they eventually purchased via traditional signage.
These statistics indicate that the vast majority of prospective buyers are taking charge in their search for their next home. Real estate agents who want to keep pace must incorporate futuristic technology into their sales models or risk finding it increasingly difficult to provide consumers with the efficient and primarily digital experience they prefer.
Still, the industry is about more than buying and selling homes and real estate technology means more than improving sales. Many property management firms want to leverage technology for payment platforms, leasing and facility management, back office processes, and more. Most important to these management teams is having all those processes in one place.
Read more: Reshaping Real Estate Operations with Fully Integrated End-to-End Software.
Futuristic Technology is Poised to Reshape Real Estate
The real estate industry can solve many existing challenges by embracing digital technologies. From complex workflows brought on by the multitude of activities required of a real estate firm to communication shortfalls, there are many leading technologies that property services can embrace as part of a digital transformation. While there is no single answer, some forms of futuristic technology that are already making a big splash in the real estate industry include:
1. ML and AI
Machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies are true game changers for the real estate industry. They enable real estate agents and brokers to automate redundant tasks, like creating timesheets, filling out paperwork, generating offer documents, or scheduling meetings. Within property management, automation can lead to higher sales volumes, efficient back-office solutions, and a more valuable experience for clients and management teams.
2. Mobile Applications
Real estate agents and property managers are always on the go, and while smartphones help them stay connected to clients and co-workers while in the field, these devices are only as good as the applications installed on them.
With that in mind, many real estate firms are turning to robust mobile applications that are purpose-built for the real estate industry. These applications can enable the performance of a wide array of tasks remotely, including approving documents, sending forms to clients, and much more.
3. All-in-One Property Management Platforms
Traditionally, real estate firms that manage rental properties have done so by using a cobbled-together network of disparate applications. Though that kind of approach works, it is hardly ever efficient or cost-effective. Fortunately, dynamic, all-in-one property management platforms like Rentmoji exist.
Created by Fingent, Rentmoji empowers property managers to govern every facet of property management from a single, user-friendly platform that includes a mobile application. The platform includes a suite of interconnected apps, each of which addresses specific property management challenges and pain points.
With separate sub-portals for tenants, owners, and vendors, the Rentmoji suite provides complete transparency for all parties and makes process automation a breeze. Rentmoji is the reality of futuristic technology for the present.
4. Drones
Drones enable real estate agents to capture aerial pictures of a home and property to provide a more comprehensive overview of each listing. Unique and captivating aerial drone photos on an online listing will help real estate agents make the properties they are selling stand out. In addition, multiple listing service (MLS) reports that properties with drone images in the United States are 68% more likely to sell.
Agents can also use drones to help assess property lines, landscapes, and potential maintenance concerns. Real estate agents and property managers can then use this information to help clients make informed purchasing decisions or evaluate upkeep issues.
5. AR/VR Technologies
Virtual reality (VR) and AR technologies benefit firms that sell yet-to-be-completed homes. Agents can use these technologies to give buyers a sneak peek of a home before it is built, and these digital images can help agents close more deals and bring customers’ vision of their dream home to life much more quickly as a result.
AR and VR technologies can also be used to digitally stage properties, an approach that is much more cost-effective than bringing furniture in just to stage a vacant home. Staging properties with AR/VR tech makes vacant homes more appealing and can thus speed up the selling process.
Read more: Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality: Transforming The Real Estate Industry!
How Fingent Can Help Real Estate Firms Embrace Digital Technologies
If you operate within the real estate industry and want to gain a definitive edge by investing in digital transformation, Fingent is here to help. We create customized, futuristic technology that is tailor-made for the needs of your business.
We understand the challenges that affect the real estate industry. You’re seeking solutions to marketing challenges that help you stand out against the growing competition, and your business wants to adapt to evolving tech trends. We have a track record of solutions that are here to help.
Our custom software development professionals have created numerous real estate software solutions for clients that engage in every facet of the industry, from single-family residential sales to commercial property management.
To learn more about how Fingent can help you step into the future, contact our team today to schedule a consultation.
The property sector in the United States came to a crashing halt in March 2020, when the first wave of COVID-19 hit the nation. Mortgage rates dropped by 34%, affecting home buying and selling plans. Retail vacancy rates spiked up to 20% and commercial property loan delinquency rates soared up to 11.49% in Q2 of 2020. Months of shutdowns, social distancing regulations, traveling curbs, stay-at-home mandates, remote working, online shopping, and home delivery led to a drastic decline in occupancy rates and rents. People shifted their working spaces from office to home which slashed the demand for commercial rental spaces. The liberty to “work from anywhere” triggered a mass exodus from expensive urban areas to affordable suburbs and rural areas, lowering home value growth in metros.
All these challenges forced the property sector into urgent changes. Along with reconciling fiscal and monetary policies, real estate leaders must capitalize on property management technologies – specifically automation – to recover and rake in profits. Bitwise Industries observes that “the immediate need for innovation and automation is now a necessity to not only survive but to truly thrive in the real estate industry.”
Read more: What’s in Store for Real Estate This 2022
How does automation help a highly fragmented industry like real estate to manage multiple operations in one place and sync a horde of activities?
Automation in Real Estate: Fostering “All in One Place – All in Sync”
McKinsey’s survey identifies that automation and remodeling of work processes enable businesses to control costs and mitigate uncertainty during recessions. A real estate firm needs to efficiently coordinate multiple business functions such as managing buyers, sellers, and properties, contracting and leasing functions, property listing and tracking, finance and accounting, and so on. Automation helps sync and manage all these activities in one place. Here’re the top five real estate processes that can benefit from automation:
1. Optimize internal workflows
Automating internal workflows improves your team’s productivity. Having a well-synced project management system with up-to-date dashboards, real-time analytics, and reports, automated document flow, task reminders, deadline notifications, meeting schedulers, etc. can save your workforce’s time and improve their focus on value-adding functions.
2. Enhancing customer journey
Custom real estate software and integrated PropTech solutions allow customers to create, view and modify personalized wish lists, look up and find property information, and filter details based on different criteria. Realtors can leverage Virtual Reality techniques to improve customer experience by offering virtual tours, 360-degree property views, and 3D site plans. Integrating mortgage calculators, neighborhood descriptions, and an easy ordering process enables customers to buy, sell, or rent properties easily.
Read more: How Virtual Reality Can Transform Real Estate Operations
3. Improve sales and marketing processes
Real estate marketers and salespersons can leverage automation to sync all their leads in one place, access lead information anytime on their phone, create custom client lists, save time with lead routing, automate drip email campaigns, set up activity-based email workflows, keep track of previous interactions, and send out reminders and updates to clients on time. All these lead to higher conversion rates.
4. Manage invoices and finances
Manual invoicing and payment processes consume your team’s valuable time and affect your organization’s scalability. Automated, all-in-one property management software allows you to centralize, oversee, and streamline the payment process without any paperwork. Automating financial management improves your processes with customers, partners, and suppliers. You can easily track orders, gain approvals, send notifications, and obtain real-time visibility into each transaction using the real estate management software.
5. Carryout field and property inspections
Leading property inspection software offers customizable templates and checklists for property managers, field inspectors, site auditors, and clients to schedule inspections, record on-site data, and auto-generate reports. Automating the whole inspection process reduces both manual errors and report submission time. This helps find out the quality and condition of a property (home), secure governmental approvals quickly, and fix the best price for the listed property.
Benefits of Real Estate Automation: A Quick Recap
- Streamline workflows and back-office tasks
- Reduce tedious paper works and manual jobs
- Improve focus on value-adding functions
- Monitor property managers and personnel dispersed across various locations
- Implement innovative ways to showcase and market properties
- Process invoices and payments on time
- Improve customer service and attract more buyers
- Eliminate supplier management hurdles
How Fingent Enables Real Estate Companies to Leverage Automation and Digital Technologies
We help real estate companies and property managers to prepare for a digital, data-driven, and sustainable future. Our projects demonstrate the value we deliver to the real estate industry.
#1. Rentmoji, The All-in-one Property Management Platform
Inefficient communication systems, disconnected business segments, and poor customer experience failed to deliver the expected ROI to our customers. They needed a single platform that centralizes all the aspects of the property management life cycle. This resulted in the development of Rentmoji, an all-in-one property management suite that helps streamline and manage diverse operations in the industry.
Analyzing the challenges faced by different stakeholders in the real estate business, we automated key processes and implemented top-notch security solutions. Rentmoji now serves as a robust single-source property management solution for residential rental properties (Single-Family Rentals and Multi-Family Rentals), CAM, and HOA management.
- The company grew from 2 to 160 employees within two years of implementing the software
- Customized portals and integrations for tenants, owners, and vendors
- Structured lead management process and extensive syndication
- Enhanced speed-to-market with cloud capabilities and automation
#2. End-to-end CRE Transaction Platform
An investment brokerage firm in the United States was struggling to adapt to the changing Commercial Real Estate (CRE) market demands. They required an integrated solution that will offer them real-time visibility into the performance of property listings and visualize data insights for brokers and investors to make better decisions. To help them realize the benefits of data-backed decision-making, we created a modern net lease trading platform. It improved their CRE transactions and sales. The customer can now manage 10,000+ listings via the trading platform and track 1031 exchanges effectively. They also have access to reliable ROI metrics based on current and future trends.
- Predictive analytics matches properties to investors’ preferences and expectations
- Projected revenue charts and financial summaries help business analysts
- Place and manage offers on multiple listings and update them on the fly
- Brokers can use the application to easily demonstrate listings to prospective buyers
Fingent has also helped develop custom real estate software and PropTech solutions for leading real estate brands like SimpleRent, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group LLC, and WRI Property Management.
Leveraging the Latest in PropTech to Navigate the New Normal
The global pandemic emphasized the need for all aspects of real estate to embrace technology. Buying software to merely run your operations remotely isn’t enough. Technology capabilities should allow you to generate value and respond swiftly in a pandemic-afflicted economy. 58% of real estate organizations struggle to integrate their legacy applications with innovative tech solutions. It exposes these businesses to major financial and operational impediments. Fingent custom software development experts aims to help such businesses by bridging their technology talent gaps and developing all-in-one, integrated, custom PropTech solutions.
Across the globe, the real estate industry took a hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, which left millions jobless. The huge migration of construction workers affected thousands of construction projects. The once-booming realty market experienced a shattering impact.
Not for long! The resilience of the industry paid off. Here is a look at how the real estate industry met the challenges head-on and what is in store for it in 2024.
Meeting the Challenge Head-On
The arrival of the Coronavirus vaccine geared up the real estate segment for yet another phase in early 2021. It realigned itself with buyers’ new expectations. Though the real estate sector has not remained immune to recalibration, it has shown remarkable resilience in the face of the pandemic.
Early 2021 saw a growing thrust toward digitization and technology adoption, beginning a new era in this sector. There has been a significant rise in virtual property events, cloud-based services, digital launches, and much more.
The real estate market is always in flux. It is highly localized with different conditions in different cities, states, and metro areas. Understanding the fundamentals of this segment can help you stay on top of all these changes and challenges that come with the economic downturn. As we gear up for a new year ahead, let’s begin by understanding what factors change the real estate market.
Read more:How Technology Can Solve The Challenges Of The Real Estate
Factors That Will Impact The Real Estate Market In 2024
Though it may be tough to estimate the exact sales volume and value growth, there seem to be enough catalysts to give rise to optimism.
- Real estate prices: Real estate prices are influenced by local buyer demand and the amount of housing supply that is available for buying. Lower rates attract more buyers and vice versa.
- Shifting property needs: The pandemic forced people to spend more time indoors. Hence, there has been a shift in property needs.
- Consumer house-buying power: Affordability is affected by incomes, inflation, and interest rates. When incomes increase, homebuyers might be able to afford higher-priced homes than they could have previously afforded.
- Mortgage rates: Interest rates impact demand, home prices, and affordability. It also fluctuates on factors such as Federal Reserve policy, bond market, inflation, and so on.
- Housing inventory: When housing supply is low, demand is high. This increases sellers’ market. If the supply is high, on the other hand, there will be more buyers to purchase them. This will slow down price growth and the real estate market will remain less competitive.
- Cycles and crashes: Along with the overall economy, the real estate market tends to be cyclical. There will be booms and busts. Fortunately, homeowners today are more financially equipped to handle the loans they have taken.
A Peek Into The Future Of The Real Estate
Among all the sectors, the real estate segment is showing tremendous growth. Here is what we can expect in 2024:
1. Effect of work-from-home on real estate
As the pandemic grinds on, tenant preferences will drive changes in real estate. Many homeowners will gravitate to newer buildings with better ventilation systems and modern amenities like touchless systems.
2. The rise of PropTech and digital transformation
The no-touch scenario has catapulted the innovations of PropTech to center stage. A 3D self-guided tour of the home can be a unique experience. Some real estate firms have put their entire leasing and renewal processes online.
3. Last-mile funding by the government
Governments help for delayed construction projects, along with incentives and attractive payment schemes are attracting homeowners. A fall in interest rates has been an additional incentive. So, developers will continue to witness a surge in inquiries across key real estate segments.
Technologies To Invest In To Remain Resilient
Property technology is booming and changing the way we look at property investments. This digital landscape is allowing both the buyers and investors to view multiple properties without ever having to move out of the comfort of their homes. Here are some examples:
1. Rise of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can accelerate the decision-making process as it aids in asset identification and selection. AI algorithms constantly test the feasibility and effect of different parameters. AI can also help predict any safety hazards or construction defects. This can save a large amount of time and money.
AI’s predictive analytic algorithms can find variations in the demographic pattern of the micro-market. Among many others, it can also detect the income distribution of individuals in the vicinity. This aids in identifying the true intrinsic value of the property.
2. Cloud-based technology
Cloud-based technology assists in the storage of large data. Information regarding properties can be stored and retrieved by stakeholders to answer any customer queries. This lowers manual work and saves time spent in looking for papers.
Read more: A Comprehensive Guide To Modern Cloud Application Development
3. Virtual tour
The spread of Coronavirus restricted movement making it difficult to visit a property in person. However, virtual visits can now be arranged to help buyers make an informed decision.
This allows stakeholders to set up a virtual meeting with the buyer and answer all their questions related to the property. Thus, instead of depending on imagination buyers can now ‘see’ for themselves.
4. Robotic process automation
Robotic process automation (RPA) can be used to automate regular clerical jobs at the site. These jobs may include regulating contracts and approvals between multiple vendors.
RPA enhances the likelihood of more deals being closed. It is more dependable as it significantly reduces human error.
5. Mobile apps
Rental and purchasing mobile platforms have gained popularity in recent times. The real estate industry constantly faces high-level competition. Hence, it demands a digital solution that can aid agents in their work and allow buyers to discover what they are looking for.
These digital solutions can include mobile applications for both agents and buyers. Developing a mobile app can distinguish you from the competition. They increase your chance of being found by your customer before your competition.
Mobile apps are more engaging and can provide a more rewarding customer experience. Customized solutions in the mobile app enable your agents to quicken the sales process.
Proptech Expertise Of Fingent Can Enable Your Business To Remain Resilient
Fingent is well-versed with the complexities that come with the development and implementation of real estate technologies. We are here to understand your idea and turn it into reality. With our expertise, we can create products that are driven by AI, Video conferencing, and more.
Take a look at: How Fingent created an all-in-one property management solution for Rentmoji, a leading Real Estate management firm in the US.
Our dedicated team can offer a wide variety of real estate software services. We strictly adhere to local data privacy and protection policies. We ensure to keep up-to-date with legislation so that apps remain secure and ready to use anytime, anywhere.
Fingent ensures that you are market-ready, armed with competitive technologies. Our experts can help you discover the PropTech potential in your real estate business. We have hands-on expertise and skills in the industry. We can collaborate with you and tailor software to your specific needs.
Fingent is equipped to create the most sophisticated and stable applications that meet your requirements. By partnering with us will enable you to use real estate software that is a perfect fit for your business values and expand your market scope. Drop us a line and let’s discuss your needs.
Why Implement Virtual Reality in your Real Estate Business
Virtual Reality is rapidly becoming a part of every modern business, and the real estate industry is not excluded from the list. In fact, VR technology opens up many innovative opportunities for real estate businesses to market their listings in a better way.
Generally, a real estate deal involves checking the listings, price negotiations, and an in-person visit to the property. This workflow is very robust and has always brought forth good results. However, it is very time-consuming for both the client and the realtor. Sometimes, visiting the property can be inconvenient for the homebuyers as well. This is where Virtual Reality tools can be a game-changer.
Related Reading: Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality: Transforming The Real Estate Industry
Virtual Tours
VR technology allows realtors to showcase the property to their clients as if they were there in the flesh. The client just has to put on a VR headset and experience an immersive three-dimensional tour of the property. Potential homebuyers can virtually visit multiple properties this way, even without having to leave their home once. This allows them to make an informed decision when buying or renting the property.
As for the real estate companies, employing VR tools allows them to expand their reach to more clients. As the internet is not confined to any physical boundaries or borders, realtors can offer their listings to global clients as well. This can be of great help to long-distance buyers as well as to those who are looking to migrate to a different country.
Realtors can also offer a 360-degree virtual tour of the property for clients who do not have access to a VR headset. Alternatively, they can create an interactive virtual tour, wherein the user can move from one place to another within the property by clicking on various hotspots. Both of the guided and interactive virtual tours can be easily included along with the property listing on the website.
Virtual Staging
Virtual Reality also allows realtors to add furniture and other essential items in the property so that it looks more appealing and cozy to the clients. Staging has been an integral part of the real estate business for years and is widely used when uploading photos of the property on the website. VR technology can make this more realistic.
Virtual staging is one of the best ways to market a newly built home or apartment. This can be done by creating 3D tours of the property with furniture and fixtures. That makes it very simple for the client to visualize how their future personal space will be. As this connects potential buyers to the property emotionally, it motivates them to make a quick decision.
Real estate businesses can also employ VR technology to boost the sales of under-construction properties using virtual staging. Realtors find it very difficult to market such properties because empty buildings and unfinished structures do not attract buyers at all. This gap can be efficiently filled using architectural 3D visualization and virtual staging tools.
Virtual Commerce
Virtual staging of the property has another benefit too. Apart from creating a premium and lasting impression on the potential buyers, it can also promote virtual commerce. Realtors can easily add a purchase option with any element when staging the property and creating the 3D tour. This allows the clients to customize the space as per their personal preferences.
For instance, real estate businesses can integrate an online store with the staged elements. This will give the clients the options to, say, change the style of the furniture or choose a different light fixture. This not only makes the virtual tour of the property more interactive but also allows customers to imagine how it will be when they move in.
Even if a client does not make any changes to the interior staging during the virtual tour of the property, there are still chances that they may find the items included in the 3D tour interesting and may buy them eventually when they buy or rent the property. This is always an added advantage for the realtor.
Related Reading: Tech Disruptors in the Real Estate Space
The Key Benefits of Employing VR Tools in Real Estate Business
The most striking advantage of incorporating Virtual Reality in real estate business is that it saves time for both the realtor and the client. It is much cost-effective than taking the client to check out multiple properties.
Besides, an immersive 3D virtual tour of all the properties listed on the website will be available round-the-clock to the clients, which means that they can virtually visit any property at any time. This allows realtors to work with more clients, which means more opportunities to sell a property.
Another great thing about VR technology is that it gives clients an instant sense of ownership. As they get the options to customize the space as per their liking during the virtual tour, checking out the different areas of the property quickly establishes a personal connection with the clients.
This can be very helpful in inspiring them to make a purchase or sign a rental agreement. It is also possible to add to the customer experience by including interactive tools in the virtual tour, such as mortgage calculators and neighborhood descriptions.
There is no arguing that Virtual Reality has already made an impact in the real estate industry. Most of the big names have adopted the technology for improving their reach, and soon, every real estate business will incorporate VR technology for better productivity.
If you would like to work with an expert to build your VR strategy, we custom software development experts can help you. Contact us.
Did cell phones really help real estate agents? Yes, without any doubt. Cell phones did transform the industry by taking away all the limitations concerning mobility. Real estate agents were able to keep in touch with their clients irrespective of geographical barriers. Besides, agents can get in touch with their prospective clients while on the go and vice versa.
Technology has ushered in new possibilities in the real estate industry. Mobile phones constitute just one facet, whereas there lies a diverse array of technology tools and solutions capable of disrupting the real estate market altogether. As real estate is a people-focused business, more leads for a broker meant more sales. And real estate technology does bring in new ways to improve sales.
Being a real estate agent, thinking that technology will leave you jobless is entirely baseless. The truth is, failing to utilize the latest technologies will certainly make you lag behind and miss out on some of the huge benefits that await you. In fact, a recent survey by the real estate brokerage Owners.com reveals that home buyers are increasingly seeking technology-based tools from real estate agents.
With real estate turning more fast-paced and competitive, buyers are on the lookout for agents armed with real estate software tools to streamline the home buying process and help them make informed decisions quickly. In fact, the Real Estate in a Digital Age report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) identifies several tech tools like social media, MLS site, brokerage’s site etc. apart from cell phones and email as catalysts to produce quality leads in a real estate business.
Related Read: How Realtors Are Winning Tenants With Innovative Mobile Apps
Real Estate Agents Still Holds Significance
We all know that nowadays a majority of buyers are doing most of their home search process themselves. Different mobile apps, websites, and digital platforms open up a wide range of potential properties based on the buyer’s interest. There are even alerts and notifications for new listings that exactly matches a buyer’s interest.
In a majority of the cases, we find that the buyers are doing most of the legwork when it comes to actually search for property listings. But that’s just an initial search and occupy only a small portion of the overall buying process. Once they find their listing, the buyer needs to call in an agent to physically get into the home and inspect it or even to draft a proper offer for submitting.
Even though it is clear that while buyers are increasingly adopting technology-based tools, they still require the guidance of a real estate agent to minimize delays and seamlessly guide the buyer to the closing process. Relying heavily on technology may present a risk, particularly in commercial property sales where the buyers are trading in millions. An agent’s expertise is highly sought after to effortlessly navigate the buyer and settle on the best listings that will guarantee high ROI.
Technology-based tools allow buyers to take some steps or responsibilities of the agents themselves. They can find the listings and close in the process without the assistance of an agent. However, it will never act as a full replacement for the expertise of a professional realtor.
Related Read: Real Estate Industry in the Digital Era
Technology is still inadequate to deal with several tasks that come under the work process undertaken by a real estate agent. From consolidating the list of documents to getting around the loopholes in placing offers and drafting contract term and policies, the role of a realtor gains the upper hand and stays relevant where technology fails.
According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, buyers still prefer working with a real estate agent for around 87 percent of the time to find properties worthy for sale or purchase. Many home buyers still rely on the advice from a trusted real estate agent when it comes to acquiring, selling or leasing properties.
However, technology tools clearly lack the ability to gauge specific information concerning a property such as its future value. Experienced realtors, on the other hand, can easily assess whether a highly rated property do carry any expected value and thus guide the home buyer to make an informed decision.
Technology will actually allow an agent to do an improved business. It enables an agent to better engage with their customers, optimize their business and zero in on deals that earn them the most profit. Besides, technology makes realtors more efficient, which helps them serve a larger client base with utmost satisfaction.
Digital transformation is now a key aspect of every sector. And it has been there with the real estate industry for years. The biggest trend now is probably the change in the mindset of agents by embracing technology to serve buyers who are increasingly tech-driven.
Technology Helps Realtors Serve in Many Ways Possible
As a real estate agent, what should you do?
As an agent, can you think of doing large volumes in a traditional way? You will find that it is really hard to extend services to your customers. However, technology can help agents serve a lot more people at the same time. Selecting the right technologies will allow agents to become more efficient – to serve more buyers in less time, resulting in more revenue generated.
Using a property management software can also help real estate agents make the buying process of their clients easier. With mobile apps making a big impact on the industry, agents are provided anywhere and anytime access to data and reports thereby extending more opportunities to share with their clients. The evolution of mobile apps has made it easier for both agents and buyers to communicate efficiently, schedule showings and meetings, and moreover make the entire process simpler. Besides, most of the apps available now are trying to organize things easier for agents.
Technology gave agents access to a huge amount of real estate data. These data can support the agents to take better decisions and will eventually provide them more opportunities. With the entire world shifting to data-driven practices, leveraging big data from real estate dealings and applying machine learning and AI helps make better recommendations and crunch out valuable insights that provide agents an overview to make clear and accurate decisions, which bring out more efficiency and revenue.
Related Read: How real estate technology helps predict property prices
If the buyers are performing their own searches, they get a better picture of the market, making things more realistic about what their budget will allow. On the other side, sellers will come to know what their properties are worth. But, they still need assistance to accomplish their goal of buying or selling, which means that technology will continue to revolutionize the market. However, when it comes to decision making, the customers will keep their trust with a real estate agent.
Down the line, agents who admit technology as a tool that can be adopted as a new way of conducting business and building successful relationships will ultimately lead the way. The key thing is to zero in on the right technology means that reaps true value. Teaming up with a sound technical partner having deep expertise in crafting successful technology solutions for the real estate industry will help identify and deploy the right one.
Related Case Study: Investing in PropTech solutions aids real estate firms streamline and digitize their existing processes. See how we came up with an innovative web-based application for a leading real estate brokerage to integrate their processes around a single platform here.
[Courtesy – Saïd Business School, University of Oxford]
The real estate industry has traditionally been a technology laggard, with antiquated systems, ad-hoc processes and manual documentation ruling the roost. However, things are changing, with innovation and tech disruption set to change the fundamental paradigms of the real estate sector.
Can real estate technology advances actually predict property prices?
Leveraging Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Real Estate Property Prices
Smart purchasers and investors look at the value of the property rather than the price. Just as the price of a stock denotes nothing about its inherent value, and one needs to delve into the PE and other ratios to estimate the value of the stock, the price of a property says little about its actual worth, and one has to dig into the underlying data to get to the true worth of a property.
The opacity and lack of access to underlying information surrounding property hitherto inhibited a proper and objective analysis of the true worth of property. Often, the only information available to the stakeholders is the prices at which previous properties of a similar nature, in the same locality were sold. As such, the asking price for properties has always been subjective, depending on what the seller thinks the property is worth, with a loose estimate of the prices other properties have sold in the locality and other subjective insights constituting the basis for asking price.
However, things are changing, and changing fast. Real estate data sets are growing larger and larger with every passing day, every single day, thanks to the ever-improving computing power and cloud storage capabilities. Smart retailers and other stakeholders have already deployed several new tools and services that leverage such data, and many more tools and services are in the offing.
The National Association of Realtors estimates about 42% of buyers looking at property online as the first step in their home buying process. Most of them now delve into further details, such as the crime rates in the neighborhood, availability of public transit, the profile of local businesses such as gyms, groceries, restaurants, and several other factors.
It gets better. Machine learning now infuses objectivity and transparency in property pricing, besides promising a scientific basis into price fixation of property.
Machine learning models, comprising of hundreds of explanatory variables, offer insights into almost every aspect of a specific property, to a very a high level of accuracy and objectivity. Such models scour through piles of data and are capable of not just identifying an accurate price for the property, but also identifying hidden gems among the swathes of properties available for sale. Buyers and may use such insights to quote a fair and accurate price for the property, Sellers may likewise quote a fair price and sell their property faster, without the risk of under-selling themselves. Banks and financial institutions may use the insights to offer loans based on the predicted future value.
Related Reading: How Top Real Estate Companies Leverage Technology to Soar New Heights.
Identifying Correlated Variables
Home buyers and investors often end up making unscientific comparison among two properties and are often deluded by a lesser price for a property, oblivious to the far inferior value on offer.
While the obvious variables such as the number of bedrooms and square foot area may be obvious and explicit, some variables remain hidden or not too obvious.
Some variables are also closely correlated with others. Some pairs, correlated by nature, such as “Basement finished area” and “Basement unfinished Area,” and other pairs, correlated by deduction, such as “Overall condition” and “Year built” help to identify the true worth of a property relative to the asking price.
Machine learning models not only factor in such variables but also give proper weight to each variable. For instance, two homes may seem similar while considering the obvious variables, but property A may offer far better value owing to the superior quality of plumbing materials used in construction and availability of groundwater compared to property B.
Related Reading: Find how Fingent developed a customized solution to streamline all the processes in a property management life cycle. Check out the case study – Rentmoji: All-In-One Property Management Platform.
Unearthing Seasonal factors
Seasonality has an impact on property prices, but the impact may be subtle or hidden. Crunching historical data makes explicit trends in sales prices associated with seasons. For instance, sales may be more surfing summer months, when the new school year starts, leading to a spike in prices. Such seasonal prices help property investors leverage their buys, property sellers price their property more accurately, or postpone their sell for a few months to get a better price, and more.
Related Infographic: Major Challenges of Big Data in The Real Estate Industry
Identifying the True Value of Extraneous Factors
Buyers always consider the neighborhood of the property, in terms of crime rates, the quality of grocery shops in the vicinity, the proximity of schools, and other factors. However, such analysis is often done ad-hoc, and on a generic basis. The “devil” in the detail may often be overlooked. Machine learning models factor in the extraneous factors at a much deeper level, correlating factors such as frequency of power cuts in the locality, unemployment in the locality, frequency of transportation links, school ratings and more, all of which not only offer an objective and scientific basis on the true worth of the property, but also have an immediate bearing on the property prices.
However, the true value of machine learning is the ability to derive valuable trends and insights from the data. For instance, analysis of police arrests and the chemical compounds in sewers indicate the use of crack cocaine, indicating that gentrification could soon arrive. When the crack is replaced by cocaine, it may indicate that gentrification may already be complete. Such insights may not be available at plain sight and may be impossible to decipher without the analysis of such underlying data.
While real estate technology now makes it easy to predict property prices with a high level of accuracy and objectivity, the challenge is creating the underlying data models in a robust way. The machine learning system is only as good as the algorithm which powers it. Success depends on creating linear models, co-opting all possible categorical variables and historical data associated with each variable.
Related Reading: Read through to find how trending technology is disrupting the real estate industry.