5 Ways Property Managers Should Embrace Tech

If there’s one thing 2020 taught us, it’s that business as usual no longer exists. In order for real estate professionals to survive and thrive in a post-pandemic world, embracing technology is essential. Here are five ways property managers should utilise technology in their day-to-day work schedule.

1.Utilise Quick Response (QR) Codes

2020 revolutionised the QR code. What was once a seemingly dying piece of technology has resurged in the wake of COVID-19 where contact tracing is of utmost importance. QR codes provide more benefits than just contact tracing, however. Gone are the days where property managers needed to lug property brochures and floor plans to every open inspection. Instead, they can simply create a QR code for the listing and have people scan it upon entering the property.

Pro tip: Get creative and use QR codes for lead generation! If you’re already using them for contact tracing, you can add a checkbox for tenants to agree to receiving emails about other listings in the area when they enter their details.

2. sign Form 18as With One Touch™ Execution

Every property manager knows the frustration of chasing prospective tenants to sign a General tenancy agreement, only to have the physical copy invalidated by just one tiny error – which means reprinting the form and beginning the process all over again. What should be a relatively straight-forward process can be dragged out for days – if not longer – when using the hardcopy version of Form 18a. One Touch™ is a digital signing option available in Realworks that returns agreements in record time, while giving property managers complete visibility and control over their General tenancy agreements. With features such as cancel-any-time, automatic signing reminders and a live activity panel, One Touch™ is the new standard for General tenancy agreements.  To learn more about One Touch™ or register for an upcoming live webinar, visit the One Touch™ page here!

Did you know? The average time a General tenancy agreement is returned using One Touch™ is just over 24 hours!  

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways to Be A More Efficient Property Manager

3. Use Virtual Tour Technology

At the height of the pandemic, property managers swiftly adapted to virtual tours for routine and open inspections. Even though restrictions have now eased, consumers have become accustomed to doing almost everything from the comfort of their home – so why should inspecting a new rental be any different? Utilising 360-degree virtual tours assists in finding better qualified tenants – they can ‘walk through’ the property online to gauge whether it suits their needs before asking for a private inspection of the home, saving property managers hours of time and effort. It also allows interstate residents who are currently locked out of Queensland to apply for rentals sight unseen. Virtual tours save you time and effort in other areas of the business too, like entry and exit reports. Since the 360-degree technology captures the whole home, it eliminates the risk of damage being missed in an exit report due to human error.

Did you know? Realestate.com.au reported a 487% increase in engagement of online virtual tours in early 2020.

4. Delegate to Chatbots

Property managers are used to their phone or email notifications going off at all hours of the night, but what if there were someone who could answer some basic enquiries at any time of day, seven days a week? Enter the humble chatbot – who doesn’t need to eat, sleep or be paid. Most chatbots can be designed to have the answers to common questions inbuilt, meaning your new virtual employee can assist prospective clients or tenants with their queries before they progress to speaking to someone in your team.

5. Stay Across Emerging Social Media Platforms and Trends

If you think ‘TikTok’ is just the sound a clock makes, or that ‘Reels’ are strictly for fishing, chances are you’re not staying across the latest social media platforms and trends. Don’t panic – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn aren’t going away any time soon – but keeping up with the latest will help you understand what channels your target audiences might be gravitating towards. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new platforms, either. The worst case scenario is nobody seeing your material – but that outcome is guaranteed if we’re never willing to put yourself out there.

Looking for more advice about life in property management? Read more at https://www.reiq.com/personas/property-managers/ or book yourself a space in our Property Management Masterclass webinar series here.