Types of Software You'll Need For Your Real Estate Agency
The life of a successful real estate agent is dynamic and always on the go. This can be exciting when you’re first starting, but as you get more clients and projects, things start piling up. You can usually make do with a skilled assistant, but more often than not, even an assistant will get overwhelmed.
Luckily, we live in amazing times (pandemic and socio-economic unrest aside) that offer us easy access to advanced tools and devices that reduce clutter in our lives. So let’s have a look at the software tools that can help a real estate agent reduce time spent with redundant, time-consuming tasks and focus more on creative, challenging tasks.
Transaction Management
Real estate agents don’t have the necessary authority to manage transactions, which is why they work with a broker. That’s why agencies collaborate with several agents, which means they have to process a lot of paperwork and documents pertaining to transactions.
However, since they work with different agents, if the registration system is manual or over-simplified, mistakes can happen. To avoid this, it’s best to use transaction management software that can keep track of each amount and can be used to check documents and other details.
If you take a look at this Skyslope vs Dotloop vs Paperless Pipeline comparison you’ll understand just how much this type of software can help in this sort of situation.
Project Management
When you manage several projects (in this case, properties), it gets difficult to keep track of deadlines, meetings, and tasks. While it’s true that an assistant can help by sending reminders and keeping a tight check on your schedule, errors can and do happen.
While our brain was not designed to keep track of such tedious things, we now have Field Service Management Software and tools that can do this extremely well. With a platform like OverIT, you just have to input your deadlines, set reminders, and allow the system to learn your flow. Once all these are done, you won’t miss a meeting or forget to stop by a customer any longer.
Remote Collaboration Tools
Agents are almost always on the road, looking for customers, presenting houses, offering advice and guidance on-site, and so on. This makes communication without any specialized tools quite difficult.
However, an app like Slack can be used to set up project teams and allow team members to chat with each other regardless of location. Plus, due to tools like Google Docs and Drive, agents can share files and even work together on the documentation without having to meet face-to-face.
Document Signing
Whether we’re talking about contracts, offers, proposals, or any other type of documentation, you will need the customer’s official approval (which is usually expressed through their signature). However, driving to their location for every signature or asking them to come by the office is a waste of time and resources for both parties.
That’s why every real estate agent needs to work with a reliable tool that allows remote users to sign various documents online. This technology uses encrypted communication channels and is recognized by the law so each signature is legally binding. Also, you don’t have to worry about confidential information being leaked.
Photo Editing & Web Design Tools
The fast development of the online environment and the wide range of promotion tools easily available for anyone interested came as a blessing for the real estate sector. Nowadays, agents can easily take professional photos to promote listings or boast on social media about the amazing open house events they organize.
Online marketing and the multitude of channels completely reformed the way real estate agents find customers. However, the competition is fierce and you need high-quality images and videos to stand out from the crowd.
Key Takeaways
In today’s day and age, a real estate agency that doesn’t use management tools to keep track of their tasks and transactions may not have a very long life. The same goes for remote collaboration tools and tools that help make online marketing more accessible. Overall, these tools are easy to use and they do make your work easier!