Is this a good time to sell? Is this a good time to buy? Interest rates are low; is it easy to get approved for a mortgage? How well are homes selling in my area? When will the market be back to normal?
There are dozens more questions your clients (and potential clients) might ask, so it’s important to have access to relevant market stats so you can be ready with answers. We’ve highlighted some recent ways we’ve seen agents use data to stay top of mind.
Connect and Share Data Socially
Agents with a social media following – whether it’s 20 or 2,000 – are posting about what’s going on in their local markets. Some are retweeting stories they’ve come across from respected industry leaders like NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun, others are posting links to showing activity charts found on the ShowingTime website, and still others are using data available from InfoSparks, SmartCharts or FastStats to discuss days on market, average sales price year over year, and so on. There is no shortage of content being published every day to help you get into the social media habit.
Connect and Share Data Using Online Meeting Tools
Other forward-thinking agents are adapting to the current environment by hosting online meetings.
Zoom, FaceTime, GoToMeeting, join.me or similar tools have come to the forefront, and have been readily adopted from necessity. Not only are these tools helpful for connecting with co-workers, they’re perfect for connecting with clients.
An agent from Alexandria, VA, told us she’s found online meetings to be more helpful than she expected. “I’m doing a lot more virtual appointments via Zoom, which enables me to screen share SmartCharts with clients,” she said. SmartCharts, like InfoSparks and FastStats, enable users to present housing market data using charts to explain what’s going on.
“It can actually work better than having to print out a PDF and walk through it in person, asking my client to look over my shoulder as I go through market stats on my tablet,” she added. “It’s a little silver lining for this new way of doing business.”
Action Steps
Now is a great time to take advantage of the MarketStats charts available through your MLS or association. Sharing current market data will help you build your social media presence and position you as a go-to agent.
It’s also a great time to become proficient with one of the many online meeting apps available to connect virtually with your clients (and potential clients). Share your screen, walk them through the professional-looking charts YOU generated and cement your position as a go-to agent.
If you’re a real estate professional and belong to an MLS that subscribes to MarketStats by ShowingTime, you already have access to useful reports and charts for every situation.
For MLS and association staff who need to quickly generate reports and charts that summarize local market activity, MarketStats by ShowingTime can help. Click the button below to contact us for more information.
