Estate agent feels right at home in hi-tech future
TRADITIONAL businesses are being transformed by the emergence - and immense potential - of new technology.
Just a few years ago, many firms - particularly those offering professional services - were reluctant to change the way they did business.
As far as they were concerned, glossy marketing brochures and a paperbased filing and storage system were fundamental to their company’s stability and success.
Fast forward a few years and the situation couldn’t be more different.
There’s now universal consensus that those businesses that ‘wait and see’ when it comes to tech will resolutely be left behind.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the real estate profession.
Estate agents are increasingly aware that customers want to identify their next home in a totally different way than they did a few years ago when high street shops were pivotal to their operations.
What’s more, the way they market properties has also changed dramatically with the arrival of drones.
Face2Face Estate Agents began life in Littleborough, although it now has other offices in Rochdale and Todmorden.
Managing director Jonathan Swire established the business after realising it was the natural extension of his existing mortgage and IFA business.
He explained: “It was a natural extension of the business because we could help customers end-to-end - find them a mortgage and then find them their dream home. We incorporated in 2004 and opened new branches in Rochdale in 2007 and Todmorden in 2014.
“We now have 11 employees with two more due to be recruited shortly.
“I subsequently fell in love with this business and gave up the mortgage and IFA side to focus on the estate agency side of things.
“We’ll be opening a fourth high street branch in the next 12 months and have three or four places across Greater Manchester in mind for that.
“The ultimate aim is to have branches across the north of England over the next decade.”
Swire is unequivocal when asked how technology has transformed the potential for his business to operate more efficiently and ultimately grow - over the past decade. He explained: “Technology is nothing less than crucial to our continued growth.
“In the past six weeks we’ve introduced a specialist IT system for our landlords and tenants where all of our files - from gas safety certificates to inventories are kept and are available to them 24/7.
“This technology allows us to be transparent with customers so they can get up to the minute information about their property.
“Our new website will also allow vendors to use the same technology to access information like surveys, marketing activity and appointments for viewings.
“Buyers will also be able to book viewings online.”
Swire added that he’s very much aware of the great level of expertise that exists in Greater Manchester’s tech sector and he’s actively looking to work with companies based on the patch in the future.
He explained: “As an entrepreneur operating in the North West I’m aware from the business organisations that I work with what a wealth of talent exists in the tech sector.
“I’m determined to utilise this to ensure my next phase of growth.
“At the moment I’m talking to companies about the next stage in my business and how to reach even more customers.
“At Face2Face, we’re always looking for opportunities to make our business more efficient, customerfocused and transparent.
“Technology allows us to do that and that’s why we’re investing in it. We’re researching drones to allow us to take aerial photos of properties and the use of tablets and smartphones for property inspections which would allow us to instantly update our files.”
Comment: Lawrence Jones, UKFastWe often hear that traditional businesses, like professional services firms, are lagging behind when it comes to embracing the true potential of business technology.
While in some cases that’s true, we’re certainly seeing an increasing number of firms that are truly embracing cloud, automation and learning through data.
When you have these tools at your fingertips, it makes perfect sense to harness their potential.
While for traditional firms embracing this level of constantly evolving technology can seem like a daunting task, with the right partners and suppliers, it can actually make running the business significantly easier.
Estate agents are a prime example of how embracing technology brings a new facet to a business and ultimately gives it a competitive edge. These days, consumers crave convenience. The more they can do from their own homes, at pace, the better.
Consider this - if you had the choice between an agency that offered only physical property visits, and one that offered this alongside a 360 degree video or image of the property, with a virtual walk through, which would you choose? A relatively small add-on like this can make all the difference.