The real estate industry is undergoing rapid change like never before. The pandemic has significantly reshaped how agents, third-party providers and clients transact. Clearly, the need for digital real estate tools has quickly escalated from a “nice to haveâ€� to a critical “must-have.â€� 

From the West Coast to the East Coast, agents and brokers are reporting more buyers looking to flee the cities and move to the suburbs. But with inventory as tight as ever, multiple bids are increasing while days on market linger in the single digits. 

Today’s buyers and sellers don’t only expect a frictionless, digital transaction experience — they demand it. With nearly every product and service available digitally on demand, consumers are used to clicking to transact, from reserving travel and buying a car to ordering coffee.

Recently, we polled top agents and brokers nationwide and asked them how they’re delivering that ultimate customer experience in today’s fast-changing environment. Here are their top tips:

1. Expedite the Offer

In California, Daryl Rogers, President ofÌıBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Reliance Partners, Roseville, CA, finds well-priced, quality homes are listing for an average four days on market.Ìı

In Tulsa, OK, licensed agent and dot-Certified Technology Trainer and Consultant Carolyn Thompson is working a market “unlike anything I’ve seen over the last 20 years in Oklahoma.�

In Atlanta’s metro area, good properties priced well are going into contract â€œwithin minutes,â€� says McClelland whose brokerage has written more contracts than any other month since June 2006 and, this past July, surpassed July 2019 by about 25%.

And to the northeast, Candace Adams, President and CEO,ÌıBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices, New England Properties, New York Properties and Westchester Properties, reports record demand as New Yorkers make a mass exodus from their urban dwellings in search of more isolated, private pastures throughout Connecticut.

“In many of our markets, properties are selling so quickly, we’re barely able to get them listed on the market. Homes that are priced well or entry level are easily selling within a week or two,â€� Adams says.

This deluge of buyer demand coupled with tight inventory nationwide makes submitting a fast offer absolutely critical in today’s market. For Adams,  has been an essential resource to not only keep her agents operational during the pandemic but also competitive in today’s tight sellers market. 

2. Focus on Building Relationships

With inventory down 24% YoY and less than three months’ supply across the board, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices broker Ann King coaches her agents to continually build relationships. 

“People want to work with who they know and trust,â€� says King. â€œIf you build that relationship, they will come back to you.â€�

Thompson finds agents need to establish that relationship and rapport with the customer first before adding too much of the tech piece. She’ll typically spend an hour with a new client, explaining what the entire transaction process will look like, from the contract to the financials.Ìı“They have questions they don’t even know they have and they look to you as an expert,â€�Ìıshe says.Ìı

Then, Thompson asks her new clients to fill out the entry paperwork on dotloop. â€œI tell them, ‘I want you to try out the platform because when you find that house we have to move quickly.’ Because they’ve already experienced what it’s like to sign something in dotloop, it gives them the confidence to follow through with the offer. Some of these offers we have to execute in 30 minutes and, with dotloop, you can do it.â€�

3. Create the Ultimate Virtual Video Experience

Imagine a real estate hub where a client and her agent enter a slick video conference space, slip on a pair of virtual reality goggles to experience a listing in “6Dâ€� before viewing additional listings on a large, four-quadrant HD screen. If the client should decide to pursue a property, she has access to a suite of third-party providers, including title, escrow, mortgage, financial and insurance officers. 

Down the hall, an adjacent 30- x 30-foot media studio offers real estate professionals a space to run a podcast, shoot a video, take a headshot and create 3D renderings of new construction. 

The best part? No one has to step foot outside their home because everything that can be done in the physical realm is enabled from a mobile device.

Cohn, who recently invested in the 3D virtual reality imagery company , which offers digital marketing services including Matterport, now offers customers a 3D and “6Dâ€� virtual reality experience that enables customers to see things otherwise missed, like a peek inside the refrigerator, under cabinets and interiors of closets.

Even if building an all-in-one, high-tech real estate center isn’t in your future plans, there are virtual video features that any agent can use to deliver the ultimate customer experience, including 3D and virtual video,Ìı, and digital transaction features, like pre-filledÌı ²¹²Ô»åÌıÌıfor faster transacting.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the industry has been promoting use of virtual tools to show homes and, most agree, the trend is here to stay. 

First, the ability for a buyer to narrow their home search from their phone or laptop is more than convenient and saves both the agent and client hours of driving time. Two, today’s video and imaging technology is so advanced, clients are more likely to click on a  and see details they may not have noticed during an in-person tour. 

4. Offer a One-Stop Transaction Experience

Customers want quick, convenient and seamless transactions, so having everything, from a safe digital escrow transfer with  to instant referrals for a home warranty or lender, on one digital platform avoids the customer having to look outside to complete the deal.

Thompson, who trains agents across the U.S. on dotloop’s platform, finds dotloop’s Templates, a huge help in moving the transaction forward. â€œIt’s great when you’ve already built out those Templates and they’re established. So when you need to make an offer fast, you can grab the Template, insert the property address, load the people and just fill in the blanks in the contract,â€� she says. 

Wire fraud and managing paper checks are not a worry with dotloop’s latest integrations partner, Earnnest, a digital way for buyers to send their deposits via a bank-level encrypted digital transfer directly from the platform. The agent simply clicks in their dotloop account to send a request to the buyer, who can then transfer the funds in a matter of minutes.

5. Provide True Concierge Service

True concierge service may mean tending to the details or doing the “heavy lifting� for the client.

As Jim D’Amico, President/CEO,ÌıCentury 21 North East, reminds,Ìı“The home buying and home selling processes are the most stressful purchases and sales in a person’s life. It’s a major life investment and should be treated as such.â€�ÌıAdd the uncertainty and stress of the pandemic and it becomes clear that “information is paramountâ€� as the customer experience draws more into focus.

For Rogers, who serves California’s Gold Country about three hours east of the Bay Area, that extra level of information is critical to serving his many Bay Area customers looking for a simpler, non-urban lifestyle in an unfamiliar region. In this case, his agents need to educate the client about the neighborhood and not just sell the home. 

“Our lifestyle brand is not only about looking for a house,â€� Rogers says, â€œso our questions may be, ‘Do you like to paddleboard?’ ‘What activities are there for kids?’ and ‘What type of community are you looking for?’ Most of these customers know nothing about the local area, so our agents have to educate them on how far the schools are and where the rivers and lakes are.â€�

6. Meet the Customers Where They Are

Some customers prefer email. Others prefer texting, while some still feel more comfortable conversing on the phone. However your customers prefer to communicate, you’re likely to get a faster response when you communicate with them in their preferred style. 

“Great agents meet consumers where they are,â€� says McClelland. â€œIf they call you, call them. If they email you, email them back. If they don’t want to leave their house, meet them on Zoom. It’s all about meeting the consumer where they are.â€�

As consumers increasingly choose texting as their preferred form of communication, dotloop’sÌıÌıon theÌıÌıhas played a key role in expediting offers and moving the transaction forward by enabling agents and clients to share and eSign contracts, get instant notifications and, as McClelland notes,Ìı“give the agent the flexibility to write an offer in minutes and send it to the listing agent before the customer has even left the house.â€�

7. Recruit for the Long Term

More team leads and brokers are finding the type of tech tools they offer their agents, the better results they have with recruitment and retention. And the happier the agent, the happier the client.

“When we sit down with an agent who’s interviewing three or four companies before they make a decision and they choose us, I know that’s a direct reflection on the tools we’re offering,â€� says Rogers. 

McClelland also finds new recruits respond favorably when they’re extended a package of digital tools and resources, like dotloop, which they’ve used since 2014, and Zoom, which they now use for training, to hold meetings, conduct listing presentations and host open houses.

In the end, great customer service is really â€œnot about making money off the customer, but rather,â€�Cohn says, â€œabout treating your customers with the goal of getting them to talk to their friends about you. Become the value conversation.â€�

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But rather than sit idle, there’s much you and your clients can do now to prepare for the day when the wheels of commerce start rolling again. Buyers can improve their buying position, and sellers can get their homes list-ready with a few proactive steps.

While it can typically take two to three weeks to get a property on the market, some brokers are telling their agents to use this time to get homes list-ready now.

That way, once the shelter in place and stay at home orders are lifted, you and your clients can hit the ground running. 

Be the first to market with these helpful agent tips and downloadable checklists for buyers and sellers. 

1. Enlist sellers to take video tours

Ask your sellers to take a video of their homes now. For helpful video-taping tips, see downloadable  (downloads as zip file). There are many easy-to-use digital platforms for creating virtual walkthroughs and 3D scans in addition to simple videos recorded on a smartphone. 

2. Match buyers with sellers

Now is also the time to consult with active home shoppers to find out what they’re looking for in a house. Send them digital recordings of 3-5 listings, get their feedback to help pinpoint the search and work both sides.

3. Conduct virtual listing presentations

Using a polished presentation that demonstrates you took the time to research and customize your presentation to the seller’s house puts you in prime position to win the listing.

4. Focus on those who need housing immediately

Some sellers were caught between homes when shelter in place orders prevented them from buying or moving into a new home. Further, many medical doctors and other first responders have concerns about going home after their shifts for fear of cross-contaminating their families.Ìı

You may see demand building from people whose delivery services, technology products or telemedicine services are thriving in this economy. Many of these buyers will look to you for guidance and solutions now rather than wait 3-4 months down the line.

5. Strengthen home profiles

Many of the larger real estate portals allow the agent or the seller to update a home’s information. If you don’t yet have professional photos, consider adding the details of any updates or renovations. In some cases, real estate portals will factor this into their AVM (Automated Valuation Model), raising the estimated value of your listing.

6. Get financials in order

Agents should strongly encourage their motivated buyers to start gathering (digitally) their tax returns, 401(k) statements, pay stubs and other financial documents needed for prequalification. Refer lenders to get the process in motion and to take advantage of today’s low rates. 

While on the subject of money, caution clients to mind their cash flow and expenses. While they might not feel the hit right now, they don’t want to be doing lots of online shopping now if it’s going to cut into their down payment funds later.

7. Line up contractors, lenders and other providers

In this unconventional market, it may be that the first who calls wins. Don’t wait until the shelter in place order is lifted to book your service providers. Photographers, stagers and home repair teams will likely be inundated with calls from other sellers hoping to be first to market. Create an action plan that kicks off as soon as a date is announced as to when the shelter in place order lifts, then be first to pick up the phone following that announcement.

8. Schedule a video inspection now

Depending on your state laws, you may be able to arrange a home inspector to videotape a property now. This will help cut the wait time once a buyer expresses interest in the property.

9. Update your transactions

Transaction management platforms can help engage buyers and sellers with transactions set up in advance of the actual transaction. With , for instance, you can load your action plan/task list to each listing loop and add any necessary documents as needed as you adjust the listing date, extend the listing or pre-market the home in a “Coming Soonâ€� status.

10. Send earnest money to secure deposits

Some agents are reporting offers made “sight unseenâ€� in today’s market. If you have a hot prospect who’s sure they’ve found “the one,â€� an earnest money offer sent digitally can help hold the property until the doors reopen. 

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These are rare times, when you’re forced to work from home and no commute! How could you spend your time? You could read Hemingway, tend that garden or binge-watch Netflix.

Or, you could use the time to polish your sales and tech skills, set up a lead nurture campaign or record a video email. Maybe find a new perspective on your business approach.Ìı

If you can’t show or sell houses right now, why not use the time wisely in other ways? Here are eight ideas.

1. Sync your CRM

Tag your As, Bs and Cs and note their sources of lead origination. By  with your  system, you can leverage synced contacts to reach out to past and future clients in new, personal ways while better tracking your ROI. 

2. Work on Lead Gen

Now’s the time to segment that database and draft specific messaging for contacts in different phases of the lead funnel. Try customized video emails to send prospects video walkthroughs or check in with past customers who may be contemplating listing.

3. Get CE Credits & Tech Training

If that license is coming up for renewal, use this time to get CE credits online. , for instance, has partnered with  to offer online CE credits in a growing number of states across the U.S. In addition:

Weekly Webinars:ÌıAgents, admins and teams can also sign up for free, weekly basic and advancedÌı. Recently, dotloop added a second advanced course through the end of May.

Customized Webinars:ÌıAnyone interested in a customized webinar for individuals, teams or brokerage can visitÌı

Certified Training:ÌıThis comprehensiveÌıÌıwill help you streamline transactions by mastering basic and advanced skills.Ìı

4. Start a Nurture Campaign

Keep the lines of communication open with a regular cadence of new email content, offering support, advice and insight. Maybe send a video email, then call a variety of people everyday as followup to make a human connection. Dotloop integration partner BombBomb lets you sync contacts from your loops (transactions) into  to connect easily with clients using face-to-face pre-recorded video and then track and measure results. This can be especially helpful for team leads who want to take advantage of the app’s team inbox stats dashboard. 

5. Give Back

A crisis like coronavirus helps the community come together. Real estate agents are in a unique position to organize and lead by example as ambassadors to the community. To reach the most vulnerable, you might organize a network of volunteers to run basic errands for the elderly or feed first responders. Leverage your network to reach a wider audience with no sales talk, just goodwill.

6. Host a Webinar

Teach homeowners how to  so they’ll be first to market when the shelter in place orders lifts. You can guide them on how to record their own video tour, line up contractors, improve their curb appeal or offer tips to prep the interior of their home for future showings.

7. Offer a Fun Break

Cincinnati agentÌıAmy BroghamerÌıattracted a great deal of attention for her “Dinner on Amyâ€� Facebook campaign, an effort to benefit local restaurants while rewarding five lucky winners for taking selfies and posting them on her page. Campaigns like these offer a fun break from the stress and help further an agent’s reputation long into the future.Ìı

8. Check In

A well-placed line of communication can go far in reaching past and future clients in powerful ways. Simply check in and let contacts know you’re here for them. Maybe offer tips to keep the kids busy or creative ways to make their home a more comfortable place to live. Staying connected not only helps business in the long run but will also help everyone keep their mental health in check as we ride out the storm together.

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As agents and brokers try to make sense of the new normal with social distancing regulation in place, customers will increasingly look to you for solutions and support as they navigate the possibilities of buying and selling a home.Ìı

3D scans and video walkthroughs, virtual staging and video emails, social content and, most of all, lots of clear communication are just a few of the ways you can help your clients find home as we ride out these turbulent times together. 

If you’re a real estate agent suddenly tasked with the challenge of transforming a high-touch business into a fully remote, digital operation, here are six ways to make it work.

Objection: “I’m too nervous to buy a house right now.”

Solution:

Communication is king now. When people are sheltering in place, sending a genuine, personable message of support can reach people in powerful ways. It tells your customers that you’re thinking about them and that you care. When done well, communication can build rapport for the lifetime of a relationship. 

While it’s not a good practice to try and predict the real estate market’s future with clients, you can gently remind prospects that buying real estate in a bear market has historically been a wise long-term investment.

Here are some other ways to connect with clients and the community and keep the communication lines open:

• Create a webinar on virtual staging and “3D live housesâ€� then video-market it.
• Share advice on inventory, interest rates and market conditions via email and social posts.
• Connect past clients with lenders to help with refinancing.
• Organize a community call-to-action to check in safely on elderly neighbors.
• Schedule a remote food donation drop-off for the elderly and less fortunate.
• Let buyers know that you have the tech to complete their transaction.

Objection: “Should I still close? The market is unpredictable.”

Solution:

Regular communication is even more key for homebuyers who are in pending transactions. Check in regularly and often to let them know when the transaction is progressing smoothly. No news can be bad news in these times to the nervous homebuyer. 

Conversely, be transparent when you hit a glitch. Throughout the process, step up your communication format with free teleconference tools that let you relate in real time.ÌıÌı²¹²Ô»åÌıFaceTimeÌıare a few platforms that let you talk and see all parties on screen.

Objection: “I don’t feel comfortable with people walking through my house.�

Solution:

By being an advisor, an advocate and a source of information, you can educate prospects on your ability to turn a high-contact open house into a virtual “live houseâ€� with 3D scans, video tours and digital staging. 

Because still shots make it hard to grasp the layout of a home, she can offer her listing clients a full photo shoot package with 3D and virtual tours, drone and around 50 still shots for about $500. When possible virtual staging is also used, but it’s easiest when the home is vacant or the rooms have minimal furniture. 

So many real estate apps can offer home shoppers peace of mind by allowing them to tour and view a house without having to step foot inside. 

Here are a few virtual and digital platforms to check out for your “live house�:

-Zillow 3D Home, Matterport, iStaging, EyeSpy360, Cubi.Casa

DIY Video Tours- Sellers can take their own video tours using a smartphone and maybe a gimbal mount or a mini tripod to help stabilize the video. You or the seller can then host the video tour via FaceTime or Skype.Ìı

Objection: “What if my state orders “shelter in place?� I need to find a house, but will I be able to view homes?�

Solution:

Change and government action is moving at a fast clip right now. What might seem like a benign situation in your community today may be different next week. While some West Coast cities were still reporting multiple bids at open houses last week, new shelter-in-place orders changed those selling landscapes in a matter of days. 

Don’t get caught unprepared. Prepare today by adding 3D scans to listings now and forge partner alliances with lenders, mobile notaries and other professionals who can help solve problems together.

Objection: “How are we going to close the transaction? I don’t feel comfortable coming into a brokerage or title office to sign documents.�

Solution:

All-in-one  allow agents to share, edit and eSign documents with their clients within a fully mobile-first, digital system. An end-to-end platform will further let you refer third-party providers, like lenders and home warranty companies, while agents and admins can submit for review on their phones. 

Many agents are closing deals with mobile notaries who watch as the homebuyer signs papers then notarizes them remotely.ÌıÌılets you legally sign and notarize documents 100% online, whileÌıÌıprovides a remote notary platform to all 50 states with the help of a video call. Many title companies are using mobile notaries and a video teleconference platform, like Zoom or Google Hangouts, to watch and supervise the signing.

In addition to remote bank wiring, there’sÌı, which touts banking-level security and encryption to fully and securely transfer funds for real estate transactions.

Objection: “I’ve heard housing has come to a halt. Shouldn’t I wait until the economy rebounds?�

Solution:

Letting customers know when you’re busy goes far to ease their worries and head off consumer panic. Updating posts with the current interest rates can also help create a sense of urgency. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to reach out to investors. The dip in the market and low-interest rates sends a cue to investors who may be interested in purchasing single-family homes as sources of extra income.

Also, remind your home buying customers that the action they take today on today’s low-interest rates will spell big savings for 10, 20 or even 30 years down the road. For instance, a 30-year mortgage at 3.5% versus a 4.5% rate might save the customer $20,000 over a 30-year period. Under that scenario, buying now makes more sense than waiting until rates rise.

When done well, digital technology can reward with silver linings in new leads and ways to stand out from the competition. How are you helping to allay your customers’ fears and concerns? Please share it in the comments section below.

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As a real estate broker/owner, you have a lot on your plate… from recruiting and retaining agents, to fielding countless vendor calls a day, to attending board and MLS meetings and more. It’s overwhelming. On top of all of that, technology advancements are creating new threats you may not even know exist.

1. Innovation is Outpacing Compliance Regulations

Your documents, data, and even private agent/client conversations live online now in a way they didn’t five years ago. With this new reality comes a variety of new compliance issues to keep on your radar.

Ada Compliant Website

Make your website easier to use for visually or hearing impaired visitors by implementing small tweaks, like adding alternative text for listing photos and transcripts for audiovisual content. 

Do Not Call List

To avoid potential legal issues, ask your agents to scrub their prospect list monthly, removing people who are on the Do Not Call List .

Smart Home Surveillance

Educate your agents and consumers on what types of conversations should and shouldn’t be happening at homes to avoid situations where sellers may be using nanny and door bell cameras to easdrop on potential buyer conversations.

2. Integration Between Real Estate Apps Makes Agents Happy

The more you can  with other apps your agents use, the easier it will be to recruit and retain agents.

Sticky Tool Retention

As a Broker/Owner, the more you can integrate your tools with your agents’ tools, the more the integrations become a sticky tool for retention. 

Competitive Advantage

According to a recent dotloop customer survey, 79 percent of respondents said integrations were important, yet only 18 percent use them — meaning there’s a low-hanging fruit opportunity for you to tout integrations as a competitive advantage to agents.

Evaluating Integration Vendors

When evaluating integrations, some questions to ask vendors include: Is it a one way or two way? How frequently does it update? What security do you have to protect the data?

3. Good Online Reputations Earn Client and Agent Trust

Your brand used to live only where you put it: In a newspaper ad, on a billboard or bus bench, etc. Now it lives everywhere. Anybody who interacts with your brand can now leave a review online whether you know it or not.

Google Reviews

Ask your happy agents and clients for Google reviews. More positive reviews should net you more leads because your brand will appear higher in search results, and people trust reviews from strangers. 

Realistic Reviews are Powerful

People trust 4.5 and 4 star reviews more than 5 star reviews, because they seem more believable. So don’t stress yourself out trying to get all perfect reviews. 

Review Strategies

As you implement a reviews strategy, aim for: accuracy, consistency, a complete Google My Business Profile, persistence, and quickly respond to negative reviews.

4. Generate Leads from Your Website and Facebook Ads

Your website and Facebook Ads can form a powerful duo to drive awareness and leads — if you implement a smart strategy for both.

Drive Traffic to Your Website

When it comes to your website, if you have an advertising budget, and there are no advertising portals in your area with availability, you could put that money towards Search Engine Optimization, and drive traffic to your own website. But make sure your website is up to date and usable — otherwise visitors will leave and never return.

Capture Leads on Facebook

Far too often, brokers and agents just use Facebook Ads to get their names and logos in front of as many people as possible, but there’s no strong call to action. You should also use Facebook’s lead specific campaigns / objectives to let prospects submit leads without leaving the platform.

5. Use ROI as an Agent and Client Retention Tool

Offering tools that show your agents and clients the Return on Investment metrics that matter most to them, can lead to higher retention rates and repeat business.

Show Agents How They’re Doing

Give your agents access to tools that show them how they’re doing at any point throughout the month. They’ll appreciate seeing where they are and where they need to go to reach their financial goals. To take it a step further, consider implementing technology that makes it easy to launch selling contests between agents, thus “gamifyingâ€� challenges and creating friendly competition that drives up sales. 

Increase Repeat Business

Help show buyers what the ROI is on the homes they purchased, and you’ll remain top of mind post sale, increasing the odds they’ll do business with you again in the future.

originally published on Dotloop.com.

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Hosting a client appreciation party is a great way to show your appreciation for your clients’ business while encouraging future referrals.

“There’s a concept that says, ‘Business goes where it’s invited and stays where it’s appreciated,’â€� says author of the best-selling book Giftology John Ruhlin.

Client appreciation events show existing clients how much you appreciate them while drawing new clients to your business. Here are a few tips to help make your client appreciation events and gift-giving a success:

1. Cater to Your Clientele

The type of event you sponsor will largely depend on the demographics and culture ofÌı. Families, for example, might enjoy a holiday photo-themed event.

Portland, OR-based agent Mike Beirwagen attracted more than 400 people when he hosted a movie night and treated attendees to view a favorite flick in a local theater, complete with popcorn, a drink and a raffle ticket for a door prize.

If you decide to host a cocktail party or dinner at a local bar or restaurant, consider hiring a band as a great way to do your “talking� for you. The singer can act as an emcee, promote your stellar client service and even ask for referrals between songs without you having to self-promote at the party.

Barbecues, painting and cooking classes, and sporting events offer additional options for activities that clients will want to attend and bring their friends.

If you’re worried about low attendance, real estate coach and the creator of  Travis Robertson suggests focusing on a core group of clients and hosting an intimate dinner. Even if only 20 people attend, the event will still feel full and intentional.

2. Make it Inviting

For best results, make the invitation as fun as the event. Invite your guests at least six weeks in advance of the event date to provide time for thorough follow-up and holiday planning. Many agents who have held successful holiday events suggest inviting clients in more ways than one, by first emailing a “save-the-date� notice, followed by a printed invitation, Facebook ads and even personal calls.

Using dotloop to organize the event can help the agent ensure that everything happens on schedule and nothing is missed. If he or she is partnering with trusted vendors, it’s easy to bring them into the loop. If a team is putting on the event, then the leader can assignÌıand set deadlines, just like organizing a transaction.

3. Document with Photos & Videos

You’ll want to document your holiday client appreciation event with professional photography and video. Share the pictures on social media and offer high-resolution versions to attendees. Video of the event offers a great marketing tool that can be re-purposed as an introduction video for new leads and a testimonial video duringÌı.

4. Gift With Intention

In a former Inman survey of real estate agents, about half of the 229 respondents said they typically buy their clients a gift, with edibles, home items and gift cards to restaurants topping the list.

But before you run out and buy all your clients a Starbucks gift card or place your order for next year’s calendars, consider these factors.

Agent Jason Maynard and “gifting strategist� to the real estate industry suggests first evaluating why you’re giving a gift. “What is your goal for the relationship after the transaction has closed? If you simply want to say ‘thanks,’ any old gift will do,� he notes. “But, if you want to express gratitude, generate referrals and earn repeat business you have to be strategic in your gifting.�

5. Personalize When Possible

Giving a gift that reflects a particular client’s interests or hobbies can provide a meaningful, personalized touch. Of course, budget and time constraints preclude most agents from personalizing every client gift; however, you may want to extend this extra effort for clients who just went through a recent large closing or for clients who brought you several referrals over the last year.

New homeowners will particularly appreciate home gifts, such as custom doormats; a digital keypad; a food or beverage subscription (a great way to stay top of mind throughout the year); or, for smaller budgets, a personalized key-chain sporting a subtle placement of your logo and a set of spare keys to their new home.

For new homeowners who recently transplanted to an area, you might offer certificates to local activities, such as surf lessons, Southern cooking classes or a subscription to locally sourced fresh produce.

Lastly, don’t overlook the value of a genuine, personal, handwritten note. In today’s world of emails and social media, this thoughtful gesture will go far in providing the final touch to keep you top of mind throughout the year.

Client appreciation events and gifts are not just a nice-to-have. The word-of-mouth referrals you’ll receive in return will more than pay for the extra effort you extend during the year.

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Today’s consumer is mobile-first and more educated than ever about real estate. Likewise, they expect and demand that their real estate agents deliver personable, responsive and tech-savvy experiences with complete expertise in their market.

Here’s how to create compelling client experiences before, during and long after the deal has closed.

1. Cater to Your Clientele.

First impressions are mission critical for real estate agents trying to capture the hearts and minds of potential new clients.

Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report research shows that sellers use these initial impressions to shape and inform their decisions. Specifically, 86 percent say trustworthiness and 81 percent cite responsiveness as “extremely or very important� qualities they seek when selecting an agent. Also, 80 percent favor agents who can serve as experts within a local market.

For listing agents, there’s no better way to engender trust in the agent’s expertise within a market than with a customized listing presentation highlighting their strengths and the home’s specific features.

With more buyers and sellers using curated data to customize their internet experiences on their mobile apps and devices, more than half of U.S. digital device users say they’re more apt to make a purchase when marketing content speaks directly to their needs, according to the 2019 Adobe Brand Content Survey.

2. Offer Mobile Transaction Solutions.

Zillow’s 2019 Consumer Housing Trends Report found that nearly four out of five U.S. home buyers (79 percent) use an online resource at some point in their search. Also, more than half of first-time home buyers who look online use mobile to research their prospective properties.

Today’s client is online 24/7 and wants to know that they can connect with their real estate agent on their mobile devices to search properties, message questions and transact whenever and wherever they happen to be.

 gives customers and agents maximum mobility with on-the-spot eSignatures, on-screen document scanning and a convenient mobile “submit for reviewâ€� feature.

Dotloop’s in-app text Messenger also archives text conversations and offers real-time notifications, alerting the agent instantly when activity has occurred on a transaction.

All add up to quicker customer service and expedited deals that let clients and agents navigate outside the confines of a desk workspace.

3. Improve Response Rates.

As responsiveness ranks high among clients in their agent evaluation, consider the fact that consumers take an average 90 minutes to respond to an email versus 90 seconds to respond to a text.

Not only do texting and direct messaging improve response rates; they’re also a preferred means of communication among clients. A Facebook-commissioned survey of 8,156 people found that 65 percent of people feel more confident messaging a business than emailing, filling out a form on a website or calling. Also, 74 percent of those surveyed said they expect messaging to enable better customer experiences.

Text Messenger also makes a great way to make first contact with buyers at an open house when you only have a phone number and want fast, efficient followup.

4. Streamline Referrals.

Clients trust and highly value agents who offer referrals to third-party vendors, including home warranties, title insurance, mortgage lenders, contractors and home inspectors. They rely on their agents to provide professional expertise and insight on trusted referrals who can help complete the transaction.

Dotloop can help by giving real estate agents and admins the ability to seamlessly connect clients with third-party referrals, using the  feature on the paperless transaction management platform. Business+ admin profiles can also create brokerage-level Trusted Service Providers that will appear in all agent loops.

5. Offer the Little Touches.

Long after the transaction closes, agents should continue creating memorable client experiences by sending clients thank-yous for their closings and check-ins for home anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions. Dotloop’s integrations with our app partners makes it easy to set up drip campaigns to auto-trigger a congratulations email post-closing or a check-in email at a one-year anniversary.

Video, too, is a great way to engage and keep an agent’s name top of mind long after the closing.

In the end, it’s those agents who add thoughtful touches to their client relationships who really make a great lasting impression and help prompt referrals.

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Order pizza on moving day for new homeowners.
• Throw a housewarming party so neighbors can meet new residents and bid farewell to sellers.
• Hire a cleaning crew for sellers to help prepare for showings.
• Create a housewarming basket full of move-in essentials, like paper towels and hand soap.
• Send a handwritten card thanking your clients for their business at close.
• Invite past, present and future clients to an appreciation event.

originally published by dotloop.com.

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As any real estate agent and broker will attest, response time is key to earning you a spot at the top of the buyer and seller pyramid. In today’s world of instant gratification, brokers and agents have to be quick on the draw if they’re going to earn their clients’ business.

Our partners at dotloop understand the importance of being first and efficient. Here are four simple ways to help you take those hang-ups off hold and hit go.

1. Text Messenger

ÌıOur latest mobile features help streamline transactions to improve client response times and help you get deals done faster when you’re at the office or on the move.

With dotloop’s new  feature, clients can send and receive text messages as well as open documents without having to create a dotloop account or download the app. Agents no longer have to tell their clients to be on the lookout for an email with a document to sign, and time-stamped read-receipts take the guesswork out of whether your client got your message. Even more, clients can respond to the text, open docs, sign and share back with their agents, without ever having to log in or download the app.

2. “My Loops� Responsive Technology

ÌıWith dotloop’s newÌı, users can navigate more efficiently regardless of screen size, browser type or resolution. All information is displayed visually so agents, admins and brokers can quickly scan multiple properties at once.

For instance, there’s now a visual progress bar that gives users the ability to glance at their cards to check the real-time status of a transaction, use new customized filters and upload pictures of a home from an MLS for easy scan display within a loop card. Users can also view in Card or List View, sort and tag loops to organize in the way that works best for them.

3. Real-Time Notifications

Did you know that the dotloop app can send real-time push notifications when a signature is required? We’ve made it easy for agents and admins to receive notifications when documents are signed, edited or shared

As a result, client follow-ups are much easier the moment a transaction starts. Like agents, clients also appreciate having one less email to send during the busy home buying and selling process.

4. CRM Integrations

At dotloop, we’re focused onÌıÌıwith the most tech-forward and like-minded partners to make the real estate process better for everyone involved. Several of our integrations sync customer relationship management software (CRMs), which provide state-of-the-art technology to get you in front of your clients fast.

For example, some CRMs can be directed to track important dates (a closing date or key transaction milestones), send out reminders, and provide marketing automation to communicate with contacts directly through email templates, auto responses and texts – all which can help you improve your response time.

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Run a Facebook Live Stream

Imagine a buyer across town sees your listing, loves the layout, the price and the location but can’t make it to your open house. She may flag it for later review or even email you, but, soon, she’s off to the next page view and your listing blurs in with the rest.

Now imagine that same buyer sees the same house on your Facebook Live video. She wants to know how big the master closets are, so you walk her through the master suite in real time on a virtual tour. She books an appointment to see the house in person. After the open house, you post your video on your site for additional engagement, and you get two more offers.

A virtual open house is a game-changer, especially when you factor in weather, compressed sale durations and picky sellers who may be averse to hosting a flood of strangers into their home.

Tease with Video Email

If you’re not comfortable with a live stream or you don’t have a big social following, you can still capture buyers’ attention with a video that you pre-record and directly embed into emails sent out prior to the open house. A video featuring a short tour of the house creates an inviting way to pre-sell your prospects on the best attributes of the house.

Capture Leads with a Digital Sign-In

Have you ever received a hot lead only to find out you missed the phone number or email due to a prospect’s sloppy handwriting on the open house sign-in sheet? Create a great first impression by using a digital sign-in sheet on a tablet or laptop. Inform your guests that they’ll receive email updates on the property when they sign into your event. Or team up with a local coffee shop and offer free coupons for those who sign-in.

Time It to Drive Traffic

Veteran agents and brokers know that a crowded open house only stirs a sense of urgency among buyers. One great way to drive traffic is to make the listing active on a Thursday, block all showings Thursday and Friday, then host your open house on Saturday.

Virtually Stage Every Room

Several apps allow virtual staging of the home’s interior in a variety of décor styles. If a home buyer can visualize the space in a décor style more in line with their wants and needs, they’re more inclined to engage.

After the guests leave, email the images that resonated most. Even if you offer digital staging options, you might also print out old-school floor plans of each room with measurements to help buyers envision their furniture placement.

Get an Exclusive as a Premier Agent

By claiming a property listing on Zillow, you can include details about your real estate open house for free and engage with millions of home shoppers on the largest real estate network on the Internet. ZillowÌıÌıappear as the exclusive agent for the listing.

Create a Single Property Website

Remember, most open house attendees are visiting several houses, making the recall of each property’s features and location a bit of a memory game. To help your listing stand out from the crowd, create a single property website with multiple photos of the house. Then, hand each guest a flier with a short URL link or QR code linking to the site once they leave the house.

Open houses can be a great way to market yourself and the home you are showing so make sure to reach as many consumers as possible using these digital marketing tips!

originally published on .

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Fallacies about the buying process keep many renters from exploring the possibility of buying a home, but savvy real estate agents know a little education can go a long way in turning many of these would-be renters into lifelong homeowners. Many renters consider home ownership out of reach, have concerns about economic uncertainty and fear of a housing downturn as reasons to sit on the sidelines, with many preferring to watch the market before making a move to buy.

Millennials are one of the hardest hit consumers, as many have neither a home to sell nor years of savings to leverage for the down payment. Recent studies have shown that millennials, who form the largest cohort of first-time buyers, are significantly behind both baby boomers and Gen Xers in their rate of homeownership. According to aÌıÌıstudy published inÌıUSA Today,Ìıyounger adults are spending a stunning amount of money on rent — $93,000 by age 30. More importantly, rent sucks up about 45 percent of their income during this first, critical decade in the workforce, leaving little left over to save for a down payment and work toward home ownership.

As a real estate agent, you can help turn renters into home buyers by dispelling these five common myths:

1. Renting Makes More Sense Because I May Move in Five Years

Sure, while it may make more sense to rent than to buy over a short term of a few months, the equation can easily flip with buying being the best value for a homeowner planning to stay for at least five years and, in some cases, as few as two years, according to personal finance siteÌı.

The New York Times, Realtor.com ²¹²Ô»åÌıÌıall offer online calculators in which renters can calculate how long they need to live in a home before the purchase costs outweighs the merits of renting.

2. I Don’t Make Enough Money to Buy

Income is important but not as limiting as people may think. Just as there are high income earners who are “house poor� (spending more than 30 percent of their income on their mortgage), there are people with modest incomes who are able to live comfortably in their own home.

Also, renters must bear in mind that rent is almost always guaranteed to go up, while the payments on a fixed-rate mortgage will not, making ownership the more budget-friendly approach over the long term.

Of course, many first-time buyers will need to pay down their debt and get their monthly spending organized before they can begin house-hunting. Agents specializing in this segment of the housing market should be willing to work with these clients months before they’re ready to buy, helping them assess all factors that will help make a home’s monthly payments affordable.

3. I Can’t Save Enough for a Down Payment

Most consumers are aware that following the housing crash of 2008, banks tightened their lending requirements. The perception is now you need 20 percent down to purchase a house. That means, bringing $50,000 to a closing on a $250,000 house — a seemingly insurmountable task for most renters.

However, what many are not aware of are the various programs that allow first-time buyers to close on a house with almost nothing down.

4. There’s Nothing in my Price Range

Once a renter has been pre-approved for a mortgage, they have a good idea of their target price range. Then, when they start looking at the entry-level inventory, they find themselves up against a competitive market.

Here’s where agents can really demonstrate their value. An experienced agent will not only guide first-time buyers into areas where homes are more likely to be in their price range, but they can also help them find those rarer listings where a home that’s not necessarily move-in ready yet in a nicer neighborhood is selling for less.

5. The Perfect House is Waiting for Me

Renters who have watched many real estate TV episodes may have unrealistic expectations about buying a property.

First, they may not be aware that every property has pros and cons. It’s important to remind them that finding an affordable home is going to involve some trade-offs, but ultimately, will offer the security and accomplishment of ownership.

Second, good houses go fast, so first-time buyers must be financially, mentally and emotionally ready to act.

It may not be the best time for you to buy your first home, but don’t believe that it isn’t a possibility based on common myths. Start saving and look into what you could do to make those first steps towards home ownership.

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