Technology is playing a growing role in how we live and how we do business, and the real estate industry is no exception. Nowadays, more than 44% of people looking for real estate services start by searching online, and the figure is only likely to increase once millennials start to settle down and buy property. The industry is rising to the challenge by fully embracing the changes technology brings to its established processes, whether it's through exclusively online real estate services, special apps for property listings, or augmented reality tools for virtual tours.
Here are five technology tools for realtors and brokers that are likely to further reshape the industry, according to leading members of Forbes Real Estate Council.
1. Streak CRM
Streak CRM is a Chrome app that integrates into Gmail. This makes it a seamless integration with your existing email, which eliminates all the data entry overhead that kills your flow when you're working your lead funnel. It can automatically track email opens and remind you when you need to reach out again. It takes less than five minutes to set up and try out for free. - Dave Zirnhelt, Snap Up Real Estate
2. RealTelligence
RealTelligence is launching a mobile app that scores all real estate agents based on their probability of success for home sellers and buyers in their area of town and price range. This is important because it allows the consumer to pick an agent based on true success data instead of who the consumer or consumer's friends may know. - Dan Eason, Clarity23 Real Estate Group
3. Instagram
Instagram is a new and emerging form of social media that we are utilizing not only to put pictures in the social media world, but also to get direct messages to and from our consumers and potential clients. This technology is amazing for real estate in many ways, one being that it gives you an online presence and that direct messages are very easy to manage. We've gotten 12 leads out of the past four months just from Instagram. - Kevin Taylor, Sand to City Real Estate Team
4. Wholesale Deals List
Wholesaledealslist.com is a brand new web and app platform where real estate investors can find and sell wholesale deals. Investors can collaborate and exchange properties directly at the highest rate of speed. - DC Fawcett, Virtual Real Estate Investing Club
5. Point
Keep an eye out for Point. They're trying to disrupt the home mortgage by offering to buy equity in a home. It could be massive. Don't believe for a second that in 10 or 20 years, home purchasing and financing will look the same as it does today. - Jason Freedman, 42Floors Inc.
