The real estate industry is rapidly evolving, and the market sometimes follows unusual trends. But it can be challenging to discern which real estate trends will stick around for the long haul, leaving buyers, sellers, and realtors to wonder how the industry will change in the years to come.
Of course, you may also be wondering, “Why do trends matter for my real estate business?” Taking advantage of current trends gives you the opportunity to connect with qualified leads from all walks of life and remain at the forefront of the industry. And by prioritizing real estate trends with the potential for longevity, you can get the most return on your investment.
If you’re looking for such long-lived trends to capitalize on in your sales strategy, here are four promising real estate trends you can leverage to stay competitive.
1. Virtual Tours
Although virtual tours first grew in popularity out of necessity, homebuyers have grown fond of the convenience that virtual tours offer. Virtual tours make it simple for homebuyers to view many properties in a short period of time, while sellers benefit from reaching a wide range of potential buyers without having to organize an open house.
Homes that include a virtual touring option within their online listing typically experience increased engagement. In fact, virtual tours are becoming so commonplace that 63% of buyers surveyed by Redfin made an offer on a home they hadn’t even seen in person. Ultimately, buyers have increased trust in technology and see its ability to create a more convenient home buying process. So by implementing virtual tours in your real estate portfolio, your properties can reach a larger audience of potential clients and demand a more competitive asking price.
2. Virtual Home Staging
If sellers are interested in selling a home for the best possible price, staging is the simplest way to ensure it happens. Staging a home allows potential buyers to see a property with the best lighting and decor, which illustrates the home’s value without any significant renovations. And it makes a real difference — surveys from the National Association of Realtors Research Group show that 47% of real estate agents stated that home staging impacts the buyer’s perception of the property.
With the help of modern technology, sellers can now stage their homes virtually. Virtual home staging allows sellers to use their time more efficiently and doesn’t require any props. Instead, technology allows decor to be digitally placed inside the blank slate of an empty home, showcasing what it would look like fully furnished and with a professional eye for design. Given that virtually staged properties sell 73% faster than unstaged homes, this is incredibly useful for real estate professionals, and we predict that the trend of virtual staging is here to stay.
3. Energy Efficient Smart Homes
The way that buyers live and work has drastically changed, and so have their preferences. More people are working from home than ever before, while millennial homebuyers are interested in properties that support an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. As a result, 60% of homebuyers are looking for newly built homes that meet their needs. In addition, since many homebuyers are working remotely, they’re open to purchasing a home further away from big cities.
Potential buyers in the current market are supremely interested in homes with the following features:
- EnergyStar-rated windows are a great way to manage the temperature within a home. Without energy-efficient windows, up to 50% of the home’s warming and cooling can escape through the panes. Energy-efficient windows reduce electricity expenses and energy usage for residents.
- Alternative Energy Sources are extremely attractive to the modern homebuyer because they allow homeowners to decrease their energy consumption and shrink their carbon footprint. Popular options include solar panels, ground-source geothermal heat pumps, and wind turbines.
- Smart Appliances are all the rage, and the possibilities are endless. Homebuyers are interested in smart appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and even coffee makers. All of these smart appliances are easy to control using a smartphone and Wi-Fi.
- LED Lightbulbs use less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs. Furthermore, homebuyers are interested in the convenience that smart LED lights have to offer. With modern technology, homeowners can automatically program their lights to turn on and off at a specific time and change the lighting remotely through a central control panel within the home or from their smartphone.
4. Multi-Channel Lead Generation
The best real estate agents understand the importance of leveraging multiple marketing tools to generate leads across several integrated channels. With multi-channel lead generation efforts trending in the industry, real estate agents can jump on this bandwagon to connect with various buyers and sellers in a personal manner.
Since different clients prefer different means of communication, it’s in a realtor’s best interest to connect using several channels, including the following:
- Cold Calling is a tried-and-true lead generation tactic that expands your sphere of influence with minimal effort on your part. In this case, you will work with a team of professional cold callers who will create a script tailored to match your ideal client while explaining the benefits of your services. From there, cold callers will send qualified leads your way so that you can seal the deal.
- Social Media allows real estate agents to cultivate their image and connect with clients. Currently, 77% of real estate agents use social media to promote their business, such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Realtors can share listings and speak to potential clients in real-time.
- Email is a great way to maintain contact with leads that have expressed interest in your real estate business. Email campaigns help you stay in touch with leads, whether you’re sending them an introductory email or a newsletter.
- In-Person Networking is an integral part of establishing your professional image as a real estate professional. When you’re connecting with prospects and like-minded professionals face-to-face, you can let your personality shine through and build the foundation for a long-lasting relationship. Consider going to open houses and local real estate conventions to build your clientele.
Lead Generation with Call Motivated Sellers
Keeping up with real estate industry trends keeps you at the top of your game. It’s important to understand what buyers and sellers are looking for and give them exactly what they want. While you find suitable properties for your existing clients, allow professional cold callers to enhance your multi-channel lead generation efforts, so that you can direct your energy towards closing deals.
If you’re ready to leverage the power of cold calling, Call Motivated Sellers is here to help. We have years of experience cold calling in the real estate industry, along with access to the best information for buyers, sellers, and agents to help you close more leads. To learn more about the services we offer, contact our team today, and let’s talk!
Marketing by Joseph Studios