What can technology look like inside of a real estate transaction?
If you’ve even thought of moving in the last few years, it’s likely your first step was in the same direction as most other people: the internet.
In 2012, Google and the National Association of Realtors® collaborated to do a study on the changing face of real estate and what they called the “digital house hunt.” Not surprisingly, they found that 90% of homebuyers use the internet to search for their homes, with Google searches regarding real estate going up a whopping 253% since 2008.
But are you familiar with what technology is used within a real estate transaction?Â
Zillow is only the beginning! In 2015 Zillow acquired the internet startup Dot Loop. Dot Loop is a service much like DocuSign or Adobe’s Document Cloud, which are programs designed to capture “e-signatures” online. Dot Loop, however, is designed specifically for the real estate market. Organization and access to forms is simplified, moving the process along at a steadier rate. What does this mean for you as a client? This means each transaction is now streamlined and less intrusive on your time and personal schedule. A contract sent via Dot Loop is highlighted right where your signature is needed, and with each click you are walked through the process of signing. A final click and your document is automatically shared with your agent.
Another behind-the-scenes tool is Showing Time. Showing Time is a service that uses both the internet and a live-person call center for the sole purpose of scheduling showings. As a seller, you receive a customized plan that includes your schedule and preference of communication. For example, if you have small children, you can mark out nap time as unavailable for showings. Prefer text over email? When a showing is scheduled, you’ll receive a text request. Everything can be tailored to your specific preferences. The result? Ease of scheduling equals more showings. More showings usually means a faster sell.
What does this all mean for the real estate business? It means our roles as agents have changed. No longer working as document runners and schedulers, we can now put our focus back where we want it, which is local market expertise and providing top-notch service for our clients.
The Gardner Group chooses a state-of-the-art approach in order to best serve and prioritize the needs of our clients!
Explore more at LivingVermont.com.
Questions? Contact us!