COVID-19 has taken the world by storm, hitting the US economy extremely hard as a record number of workers file for unemployment. But as businesses struggle to keep afloat during these unprecedented times, the real estate industry is booming as quarantine forces people to reevaluate their living situations. Realtors who are hoping to take advantage of the buying and selling frenzy need to bring their “A Game” to stand out from the competition – and a digital pre-listing presentation is one of the best ways to do that.
Before we dig into the multitude of reasons why a digital pre-listing presentation is a no-brainer, let’s first understand what’s going on in the world of real estate right now.
Although COVID-19 restrictions have loosened up across the country, life still isn’t back to normal. Many people are still working from home, and some have been given the option to work remotely even after the pandemic has ended. Students are learning from home. People have traded restaurants for takeout and crowded bars for beers on the sofa.
This has left people asking questions. Do they really need to live in a big, expensive city if their work can be done from anywhere with an internet connection? Do they want to spend all this at-home time in a tiny apartment, when they could get a bigger place in the suburbs for a smaller price tag? Not to mention a large backyard, a home office, a homeschooling area, and close proximity to nature.
It’s a trend that’s happening across the country, including in New York City. Suburban counties in the area saw a 44 percent increase in home sales in July, as compared to last year, according to Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. Meanwhile, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin told CNBC in May that searches on the Compass website for homes with pools were up threefold, and searches for single-family homes were up 40 percent. Searches for condos and co-ops had decreased.
So what does the COVID-19 real estate boom mean for agents?
As buyers face their own competition (complete with bidding wars), agents are also competing to represent buyers and sellers who know they need to act fast. In order to succeed, agents must convince potential clients that they’re the best choice out there. They have to demonstrate a proven track record, share what they can uniquely bring to the table, and connect with buyers and sellers on a personal level. With everything moving so fast, the best and quickest way to do this is by sending out a digital pre-listing presentation through HighNote.
A digital pre-listing presentation is one simple link, sent directly to a seller’s inbox through HighNote. It’s a pretty package full of everything a seller needs to know about an agent and their brokerage. It’s a way to show potential clients that an agent is professional, driven, and ready to get the job done. It can demonstrate their experience in the local market and recent sales. It can reveal who the agent is as a person, and showcase what they’re capable of. It can show glowing testimonials from past clients. It can include all the logistics of selling a house, from the agent’s marketing plan to examples of how the seller’s home would be staged and photographed.
As HighNote founder Mark Choey says, “it’s all about impressing the seller before you meet them.”
Digital Highnote presentations are also great if you’re looking to represent a buyer. For example, a presentation aimed at a buyer might include details about making an offer, getting approved for a loan, or information about the escrow process. It might also include a pre-approval checklist or information on how to hold title.
The beauty of a HighNote presentation is that each agent can have it prepared and ready to send off immediately, right after that initial lead – whether it’s through an online platform like Zillow or a phone call to their office. Having HighNote in your arsenal means reaching buyers and sellers before other agents, and reaching them in a beautiful, meaningful way.
Take it from Sandy Sicsko, a hugely successful real estate agent in San Francisco, who says that HighNote gives her team a “huge advantage” because “buyers and sellers are only talking to other Realtors on the phone; they’re actually seeing who we are as people.” Think of it as a resume. The ones that stand out and get an interview are the ones that best show off the applicant’s qualities and are perhaps a little different from the others.
As if you don’t already have enough reasons to jump on the digital pre-listing presentation bandwagon, here’s one more: With open houses banned in many parts of the country due to COVID-19, face-to-face meetings aren’t happening as often as they used to. So if you can “meet” a buyer or seller through a digital pre-listing presentation which includes information about you, as well as your professional accolades, then that’s a great way to provide a personal touch at a time when a traditional handshake and a “nice to meet you” simply can’t happen.
Are you a Realtor looking to improve your game during the real estate boom?
If you’re a real estate agent looking to win as many listings as possible during the COVID-19 real estate boom and beyond, then check out HighNote. Creating a visually pleasing, informative digital pre-listing presentation has never been easier. Make HighNote part of your real estate routine and watch potential clients turn into actual clients!
Now that you know why digital pre-listing presentations are so important, learn how to prepare for your next listing appointment with Highnote’s checklist.
Take your business to the next level with HighNote by clicking here.
