Real Estate Technology
Article | July 25, 2022
Real estate technology has revolutionized the real estate business. Most real estate developers today use technology to meet the needs of customers who are becoming more knowledgeable, give them the best service possible, and remain competitive.
Real estate agents are turning to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to manage all communication and interactions with customers and prospects and improve operational efficiencies.
What is a real estate CRM? A quick glance
A CRM system for real estate is a system that helps manage all communications with leads and clients. It functions as an online database, allowing you to manage your contacts while saving time and effort on manual data entry. Email and text messaging, lead tracking tools, and click-to-call capabilities are some of the key features you will find in the top real estate CRM.
A productive realtor must multitask, including keeping the database of clients, locating properties, communicating with clients, using websites and social media platforms to advertise and communicate with new clients, etc. This is where a CRM software plays a critical role because time is money and CRM software allows saving a considerable amount of time, minimizes effort and resources by sales automation, inventory management, automating contacts, managing customer interactions, and performing other data operations.
Before selecting a comprehensive CRM solution for your real estate business, you should consider a few key aspects and features
Sales process automation
Manage your sales pipeline with end-to-end sales automation features that let your sales team focus on tasks that bring in more money while routine tasks are automated.
Inventory Management Platform
A cloud-based dedicated digital inventory management can let you remotely manage vast quantities of inventory across various projects, buildings, floors, and units. You can use the automation feature to organize and sort a large amount of real estate inventory, as well as to ensure that inventory is selected based on the buyer persona and criteria.
List management
Your CRM should allow you to personalize your data in order to generate lists based on transactions, dates, offers, events, and incentives
Automate tasks and workflow
Realtors must be able to quickly respond to property queries without having to browse through their inboxes. Once a client interacts with an agent, the system initiates real-time push alerts, sends follow-up emails or texts, manages calendars, and enables the customer to select other preferred contact channels
Post sales automation
Using CRM, the sales team could maintain customized payment schedules based on projects, send automated payment reminders, handle inventory payments, create and share documents online relating to bookings.
Seamless cross-platform accessibility
The CRM software must provide cloud access in addition to phone, desktop, and any smart device. Compatibility with other platforms — compatibility with products like as Microsoft Office and Google Docs is of tremendous assistance, so include it to your list of must-haves. In addition, ensure that the system is user-friendly for individuals who may lack technological expertise.
Feedback and reporting
The core of your company's success is gathering client feedback. A software that provides insights into your data through centralized reporting and real-time client feedback is ideal for making quick decisions that help you improve sales and boost customer engagement and retention
Scalability
Scalability is another factor to consider; will you have the flexibility to simply add users as your business grows? You need a CRM platform that is versatile and reliable, able to handle ever-growing business operational efficiencies and not suffer from regular system downtimes, lags and data losses.
Conclusion
Whether you are a seasoned realtor or a newcomer, investing in CRM software that provides you with a variety of options for time-and cost-efficient customer data management has become critical. Despite the wide variety of CRM options available on the market, the most important thing is to find the one that is best suited to your specific real estate needs. Once you know what you want, you'll be able to make better decisions about your real estate business.
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Real Estate Investment, Asset Management
Article | May 25, 2023
Explore the latest trends, tools, and strategies for optimizing data-driven real estate asset management services and achieving long-term success with a comprehensive guide to improving business ROIs.
Contents
1 Importance of Data-driven Model for Real Estate Asset Management
2 Seven Steps to Measure Data-driven Asset Management
2.1 Defining the Purpose and Scope
2.2 Identifying the KPI
2.3 Determining the Sources
2.4 Collecting and Cleaning Data
2.5 Data Analysis
2.6 Performance Evaluation
2.7 Continuous Monitoring
3 Effectiveness Metrics for Data-Driven Asset Management
3.1 Occupancy Rate
3.2 Operating Expense Ratio
3.3 Tenant Retention Rate
4 Conclusion
1. Importance of Data-driven Model for Real Estate Asset Management
As real estate technology continues to develop and become more cost-effective for both new and existing business structures, and as collaboration platforms, sensors, and smart devices continue to advance, the amount of data produced by commercial real estate assets is growing exponentially. This data can give real estate market participants like investors, asset managers, property managers, and tenants a competitive advantage and help them avoid disruption if they develop data-driven services and new business models centered on the specific needs of users, owners, or the property itself. However, only a concerted effort by all real estate stakeholders including builders, investors, owners, tenants, and service providers towards data-driven real estate asset management can optimize data to generate insights that improve performance and profitability.
The significance of data-driven models in real estate asset management is growing as the models enable more informed decision-making and more efficient operations by collecting and analyzing data from various sources. Real estate asset managers can gain a greater understanding of the performance of their assets and make more informed management decisions. This can result in increased efficiency, profitability, and tenant satisfaction.
2. Seven Steps to Measure Data-driven Asset Management
Measuring the effectiveness of data-driven real estate asset management services enables businesses to evaluate their current strategies and identify areas for improvement in the services they offer By following these steps to measure asset performance, processes, and activities, businesses can gain insights and make data-driven decisions to optimize performance and maximize returns.
2.1 Defining the Purpose and Scope
The process of measuring data-driven real estate asset management services begins with a clear definition of the purpose and scope of the measurement. It involves conducting a comprehensive review of the business goals as well as identifying specific objectives and purposes for the strategies to develop a well-defined purpose and scope for measuring the effectiveness of asset management services. It helps to ensure that the real estate asset management services are aligned with the broader business strategy.
2.2 Identifying the KPIs
Defining the purpose and scope of data-driven asset management is followed by identifying KPIs to measure success. It requires a clear understanding of critical areas of asset management and selecting quantifiable measures to define success factors and track progress. Choosing the right KPIs provides valuable insights into asset performance, enabling real estate executives and managers to make informed, data-driven decisions to optimize performance and maximize returns.
2.3 Determining the Sources
Identifying the data type, including financial, property, market, and tenant, is essential to determine the sources for evaluating data-driven asset management services. After establishing the data requirements, the sources, such as internal systems and databases, third-party data providers, and publicly accessible data sources, are determined with data compliance and security as the determining factor. Determining sources ensures that the asset management data is trustworthy, current, and accurate, which impacts subsequent decision-making. This step provides the groundwork for data-driven decision-making.
2.4 Collecting and Cleaning Data
Data collection and cleansing are essential for measuring data-driven asset management services. The collected data must be precise, exhaustive, and dependable for subsequent analysis and decision-making. The step involves validating the data for completeness and accuracy, eliminating errors, inconsistencies, and duplicates, and standardizing the data across all sources. The process identifies improvement opportunities, optimizing real estate asset management services for maximum efficiency and profitability.
2.5 Data Analysis
Data analysis plays a critical role in measuring data-driven asset management services. After finalizing the data collection and cleaning step, the data is analyzed using various techniques such as statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization. These techniques help to identify trends, patterns, and relationships that provide insights into asset performance. Data analysis provides a more profound understanding of the performance of real estate assets, leading to improved efficiency, increased profitability, and enhanced tenant satisfaction.
2.6 Performance Evaluation
Evaluation of data performance to comprehend improvements in the data-driven asset management services starts once the data is analyzed. The performance evaluation step involves comparing actual results to the established KPIs to determine whether the goals are being met or whether there are areas for improvement. It aids in identifying deviations from predetermined objectives and prompts and taking required corrective actions to realign with the business strategy. In addition, this step facilitates identifying improvement opportunities and ensures that real estate asset management services are optimized for maximum efficiency and profitability.
2.7 Continuous Monitoring
Measurement of data-driven real estate asset management services ends with continuous monitoring. To ensure asset management strategies are working, continuously tracking and evaluating KPIs from earlier steps while identifying underperformance and improvement opportunities is involved in the last stage. Operation managers can make data-driven choices, identify risks and opportunities, and optimize asset management strategies for efficiency and profitability by monitoring real estate asset performance. In addition, it ensures that real estate asset management services remain effective over time and can adapt to market changes to maintain a competitive edge.
3. Effectiveness Metrics for Data-Driven Asset Management
Effectiveness metrics for data-driven asset management services are the KPIs used to measure the success of data-driven strategies. These metrics help real estate executives and managers evaluate the performance of their assets and make data-driven decisions for maximum efficiency and profitability.
3.1 Occupancy Rate
The occupancy rate is an essential metric in data-driven real estate asset management. This metric indicates the proportion of a property's rental units that are occupied at present. A higher occupancy rate suggests the property performs well, as more tenants occupy the units. Therefore, this metric can be used by real estate businesses to gauge the efficacy of their digital asset management strategies.
3.2 Operating Expense Ratio
The operating expense ratio is used to evaluate a property's operational efficiency for data-driven asset management. It is calculated by dividing the operating expenses incurred by the property by the total rental income generated. It helps measure the proportion of income consumed by the expenses, such as maintenance costs, utilities, and commercial property management fees. A lower operating expense ratio indicates better cost control and efficient use of resources, resulting in increased profitability for the real estate asset.
3.3 Tenant Retention Rate
In real estate asset management, the tenant retention rate is an essential metric that measures the proportion of tenants who choose to renew their lease agreements. It is an essential indicator of tenant satisfaction and the quality of property management services. A higher tenant retention rate indicates that tenants are satisfied with the property and management, resulting in a stable tenant base, lower vacancy rates, and decreased costs associated with tenant turnover.
4. Conclusion
The significance of utilizing data-driven models for real estate asset management is rising due to digital real estate asset management, technological advancements, and the expansion of collaboration platforms, sensors, and intelligent devices. To gain a competitive edge and avoid disruption, stakeholders in the real estate industry must prioritize the development of data-driven services and innovative business models that cater to the unique needs of users, owners, and the property itself. In addition, the use of data-driven models can also lead to more efficient and informed decision-making, reducing costs along with increasing profits and improving real estate portfolio management.
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Real Estate Technology
Article | July 21, 2022
You have a commercial property and you need to lease it as soon as possible. In an ideal world, you would find a client as soon as your property is vacant. But we do not live in an ideal world. As a property owner or manager, you need to list your property, get the right contacts, and find a buyer who is ready to occupy immediately at a price that's efficient to you.
It can be a tedious journey. That’s where a broker comes in. Filling your vacant properties is essential but navigating a labyrinth of procedures shouldn't keep you occupied, which is whyleveraging a brokernetwork is so important. Here are three ways you can connect with brokers to make the most of their services.
Updating Your Inventory List
If you've tried handing a PDF of your current available listings, you might want to reconsider your approach for better chances of success. Brokers must be aware of the properties you have available if you want them to consider yours. The issue with online CRE listings is that many of them are outdated. This may cause a broker to think they’ve found an ideal property for their client, only to discover it’s already leased out. This doesn’t make a good impression. In addition, static listings are not search-friendly. To cut to the chase, deploy a search-ready, updated portfolio. Simplifying things for brokers will keep them coming back and contribute towards building a positive association with them.
Sharing an Inventory List Right to Their Inbox
Simplifying property search isn’t all. What are you doing to make a broker’s life much easier? You don’t need to spend a ton on proptech to reach out to brokers on time. Set up a commercial real estate email list that directly emails your updated listings to the brokers, providing them with timely alerts on when a new property is on the market or reminding them that an existing listing is still available.
Providing Easy Access to the Property Information
Regular emails about your updated property portfolio is bound to keep brokers engaged and informed. Going a step further, you can create a mobile-friendly property information page for each of your CRE properties to ensure that brokers have all the information they need at their fingertips. This avoids any bottlenecks caused by having the wrong information or no information at all about the specifications of your properties.
A Final Word of Advice
One of the most effective things commercial property owners can do to guarantee their properties are continuously leased is to engage with brokers, keep them updated, and simplify ways for them to interact with your property.
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Real Estate Technology
Article | July 12, 2022
According to a recent Bankrate survey of prospective buyers, the down payment was unanimously considered the biggest hurdle to buying a home. Saving for a down payment has hampered the home-buying journey for approximately 36% of those polled, in addition to the economic slowdown.
The good news is that there are many down payment assistance programs that empower home buyers and mitigate the financial burdens they face on their way to becoming a home owner. Many home buyers are not aware of these programs. Those who do know, have several misconceptions. The key is to understand the options and how down payment assistance programs operate.
Who Qualifies for a Down Payment Assistance Program?
One of the misconceptions that many have is that down payment assistance is only offered to first-time home buyers. Although, modern first-time buyers have multiple options at their disposal, many programs also cater to repeat buyers. In fact, according to the Homeownership Program Index, about 38% of down payment assistance programs in the Q1 of 2022 weren’t availed by first-time home buyers. This implies that repeat buyers can access as many as one third of homebuyer assistance programs even if they have bought a home before.
In addition, repeat buyers can take advantage of first-time homebuyer assistance programs depending on the definition set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which states that an individual can qualify as a first time home buyer if they:
haven’t owned a primary residence in three years
are a single parent who has owned a home only with a former spouse
Location and Profession-based Eligibility for Down Payment Assistance Programs
Over and above the multiple options available to first-time and repeat home buyers, individuals in a specific location or profession could also be eligible for down payment assistance. The National Realtors Association says that a number of local and non-profits provide down payment grants and loans that are aimed at area borrowers or those with a specific borrower requirement.
Plus, individuals who work as teachers, doctors, nurses, and veterans can avail of the assistance programs offered by local, state, and federal lenders based on their profession.
To Summarize
Buying a home doesn’t have to be a financial burden. There are many down payment assistance solutions available today to empower prospective buyers fulfill their dream of becoming a home owner. Connecting with a local real estate, and using buyer proptech could help to find trusted lenders and a range of assistance programs.
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