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Part Two
Going with the flow Software
Lawrence Higgins discusses how the latest software can improve efficiencies and, therefore, save on costs, as well as helping agents with legislative compliance.
F
or estate agents selling houses is a bit like the swimming swan: it is fairly straightforward on the surface but dive down and there is a whole rush
of activity ensuring that the deal stays afloat. The good thing is that technological advances in estate agency software means that much of the burden of that below the surface work has been relieved and the process of the above the surface selling work has been enhanced. Simon Whale, Director, Reapit says,
“Ultimately transactions aren’t bouncing back anytime soon to 2007 levels – so the only way to grow is by taking market share off the competition; we give our clients tools to help them do this.” The software that is now available helps on
all sides of selling houses; everything from marketing a property and the agency, preparing the details, sorting out the legals, to keeping a diary up to date or attributing bonuses. Efficient use of technology can make the difference between profit and loss at a branch whilst innovative use can make the agent a super performer. New software products help agents to save time and money on all the back-end office costs and bread and butter jobs that have to be performed for a deal to go through or for an agency to operate legally. Trevor Youens of Aspasia says, “In taking on board an efficient software product the agent saves on staff overheads and the product effectively pays for itself. This is just one aspect however, as software develops more we are starting to see areas such as the signing of agreements and the compilation property details become digitised, therefore cutting down on the degree of human touch required.”
PRIORITIES AND BENEFITS The fear of extra expenditure often dissuades agents from investing in modern software packages. Whilst this is understandable in the
Feature
austere market conditions that we all have to operate in, getting the right product can more than pay for itself. Mark Goddard, Group MD, GMG Property
Services says, “New software packages can often be at the bottom of an agents list of investment priorities, particularly during an economic downturn. However there are a number of tangible benefits that a new software package can deliver that can make a huge difference to the bottom line. A key tangible benefit is legislative compliance.
“Taking onboard an efficient software product saves on staff overheads and effectively
pays for itself.” Trevor Youens, Aspasia
www.thenegotiator.co.uk
EPC legislation is a recent example where outdated software would mean that compliance would be virtually impossible. Software providers have to ensure their products assist agents in meeting criteria as efficiently as possible with an electronic audit trail to prove compliance.” The bread and butter side of the work is all
well and good, but it needs fee income to pay for it and on the selling side huge advances have been made. Just ten years ago the estate agency window and the local papers were be-all and end-all of luring viewers. Over time software has altered the entire marketing concept of a property and is advanced enough to impress even an X-Box playing techy teenager. Mark Goddard says, “The latest products
provide functionality or integration with the latest technology; video tours, 3D floor plans and low-cost marketing activities such as
TheNegotiator l September 2012 l 29
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