Real Estate During COVID-19: Tech Tips for Realtors

COVID-19 has turned all sorts of industries on their head. From social distancing, outdoor seating, and masks at restaurants to the relocation of the NBA to Disney World, it seems like no matter how big or small your business is you’ve been affected in some way by the coronavirus.

Realtors, especially, have had to adapt. Although it at first looked like housing sales were going to diminish thanks to the staggering unemployment rate, realtors have managed to keep up with demand and supply, even as they adapt in new ways. If you’re a realtor looking to close on a property but aren’t sure how to best navigate the real estate process, here are a few technologies that can make your life easier.

Create virtual tours for interested buyers.

One major hurdle for anyone looking to buy a home, business, or condo during an era of social distancing and self-quarantining is the fact that in-person home tours aren’t always possible, or safe. As a result, more and more buyers are having to shop for homes without ever setting foot in them. However, with the right technology, you can create virtual tours that at least approximate this experience.

Finding a business to help you create a Google virtual tour is an ideal way to capture the character and charm of a property using digital video and photography. Being able to let interested buyers take a virtual tour through any property listing with 360 degrees of coverage can make them feel as if they’re right there inside the home, judging whether or not it’s the right fit for them. Especially if you work in corporate real estate, Google virtual tours are an excellent way to accurately represent the listing you’re working to sell.

Invest in a photo management platform.

As you communicate with more buyers via email and text, the chances are high that you’re going to be sending photos and videos as well as a link to your virtual tour. With so many properties in your real estate portfolio and whatever other media you have on your phone, you might feel like it’s hard to keep things separate across your devices. That being said, with the right picture management solution it’s easier than ever to organize the media on your devices.

One such platform is ibi, which is a personal cloud for your photos and videos, complete with a terabyte of storage able to store hundreds of thousands of photos or more than a hundred hours of high-definition video. You can use different folders and privacy settings in order to separate your personal photos from social media and your smartphone from your business-related photos. You can even easily share photos with buyers while keeping things properly delineated from property to property or buyer to buyer.

Sign documents online with ease.

Perhaps the most tedious aspect of any real estate deal is signing the necessary paperwork. These sessions may take a lot of time, but in order to properly close a deal of any kind, the fact remains that you need to be able to have the buyer sign the appropriate documents. Thankfully, the internet has digital solutions ready for this moment, offering you the ability to sign documents online that are still legally valid.

A popular way to sign documents is via websites like DocuSign. DocuSign has been used in a wide range of industries in response to COVID-19, from government use to education, healthcare, and business. Their platform makes it easier than ever to prepare, sign, and manage contracts digitally. Best of all, DocuSign is an affordable option, enabling you to lower your costs as a realtor who executes contracts.