Index
Nowadays, knowing digital is also essential in the real estate sector. Let's find out how an online real estate agency works and its differences from a traditional agency in terms of the services offered, the overall customer experience and prices.
Index
- The new real estate brokerage services online
- How does an online real estate agency work?
- The online real estate agency from the customer's point of view
- Pros and cons for customers
- The online real estate agency from the real estate agent's point of view
- The user’s experience
- Costs of the service
- Advantages and disadvantages of intermediation virtual
New online real estate brokerage services
As we were saying, the digital revolution has introduced several innovations to the real estate world as well. In just a few years, the web has become the main point of reference for those looking for a new home or for those trying to sell a property. Precisely to respond to this growing demand, an ever-increasing number of online real estate agencies continues to appear. The activity of these businesses takes place directly on the internet, with video call appointments, email exchanges, and remote assistance.
The main difference compared to a traditional shop is that: that virtual agencies don't need a physical location. This important change in approach means that users no longer come to your office to ask for help, but you go looking for them in their homes and on their smartphones through a digital presence that is meticulously curated.
How does an online real estate agency work?
Choosing between a physical agency and a 100% online business completely changes the organization of work, as well as the customer experience. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanisms of an online real estate agency to evaluate whether you want to work with it - or open one - but also whether you want to rely on a similar reality for your purchase and sale.
On a practical level, all brokerage activities are carried out online. In addition to having all the apartments for sale or rent on the website, as happens with all agencies nowadays, a virtual agency manages the entire sales or purchase process without the need for a physical presence. of the physical presence of employees or clients in an office.
The online real estate agency from the client's point of view
If you want to buy or sell a house, you may have come across different types of agencies, including some virtual ones. Many are still wary, worried about the lack of direct human contact. However, these new realities offer numerous advantages for those who need to buy or sell a house.
Pros and cons for clients
The advantages are mainly related to speed and convenience.
- Making appointments and organizing viewings remotely is more convenient and saves time, avoiding having to travel within your city or even outside it;
- The process is faster thanks to the digital management of information that speeds up the buying and selling phases;
- Commissions are often lower: since online agencies have lower operating costs, this is reflected in more convenient rates;
- Online agencies often use innovative tools, such as 3D virtual tours to visit properties or AI-based support chats;
- Frequently, it is personalized assistance is guaranteed via chat, video calls, or in the reserved area on the site;
- Many online agencies allow you to compare offers, both for buying and selling, more quickly and effectively.
On the other hand, however, it is essential to ensure that the company you are relying on is serious and certified, as the risk of fraud is higher when the entire process is managed online, without in-person interaction with an individual. If you want to sell or buy a house online safely, quickly and effectively, try Casavo's purchase services and sales services!
The online real estate agency from the real estate agent's point of view
As we have mentioned, the choice to open or work with an online agency has its advantages and its costs even for a real estate agent. Let's look together at some of the key elements of this modality. of working in real estate.
The user experience
To make an online business work, it is crucial first of all to have an effective website, easy to navigate from smartphones and with all the relevant information such as contact details and terms of service clearly visible.
If it is While it's true that many users are now comfortable with a fully digital service experience, don't forget that a large portion of the public still prefers to talk on the phone. Your number should therefore be clearly visible, with explicit and polite invitations to contact you for any information.
Depending on the level of innovation of your business, you can also offer many different solutions through the site, such as remote virtual tours to visit properties directly from your computer.
Service costs
In general, the decision to establish the work office online allows virtual agencies to save significant costs on physical branches in terms of maintenance and utilities, as well as on the staff required. These lower costs are reflected in many cases in the commissions requested, which are on average significantly lower than traditional brokerage commissions.
As we have already mentioned, virtual brokers often offer a range of services born from careful research into technological innovations. Innovative offers that have management costs borne by users, which are however often absorbed within promotional packages that lower the price.
Advantages and disadvantages of virtual brokerage
Now that you know how an online real estate agency works, you need to understand the pros and cons of this choice.
We can summarize the advantages into two groups: internal ones for the agency and external ones for the public. At the branch level, the advantages include:
- the elimination of maintenance costs for the physical office; a significant saving, which however is worth investing in other resources, especially to strengthen your digital presence;
- organizing your working hours the way you prefer, without worrying about traffic and travel;
- defining procedures to speed up the times of gathering and disseminating information, through forms to fill out and with the help of algorithms that improve the distribution of ads on the web.
Among the disadvantages, it is worth pointing out once again the risk of resistance from some categories of customers accustomed to traditional negotiation methods. In addition to this, it is also worth considering that the lack of a direct relationship based on a series of in-person meetings requires an extra effort on your part to gain the public's trust.
Digital intermediation, in fact, sometimes risks appearing distant and impersonal compared to a face-to-face meeting. The informal ritual that accompanies an in-person meeting—the offered coffee, the small talk, the body language—is missing, and the way you build a relationship changes. It's your job to be able to present yourself with courtesy and professionalism even on webcam and through constant communication on social media.
If your goal is To offer your customers an ever-innovative experience, discover the Casavo partner program and access all the tools we have designed to simplify real estate negotiations.
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