Remote working tools and tips for estate agents

With COVID-19 cases on the rise, and the government advising working from home where possible, you might be starting to think about how you’ll manage your agency if you end up having to close your branch.

No need to panic - with the help of some clever PropTech solutions, it’s definitely still possible for estate and lettings agents to stay open for business, whatever 2022 brings.

Use KeyNest to hold and exchange keys remotely

Storing all your property keys in the office cabinet isn’t much use if your agents are working from home. But making use of a remote key storage solution like the 1000+ KeyNest Points in the UK has proven to be a popular solution throughout the pandemic for many agencies.

Once signed-up, agents simply need to drop-off the keys at the KeyNest Point closest to the property, where they will be securely stored by one of the trained shopkeepers. This means property access can still be provided for agents, contractors and prospective tenants, without needing to head to the office.

For maximum security, agents and contractors have to show the shopkeeper a unique 6-digit collection code to pick up the keys, and you’ll always be notified whenever keys are dropped-off or collected.

Swap first viewings for remote virtual tours

Virtual tours are a great tool for giving prospective clients a really in-depth look at the property - while still keeping social contact for a minimum. Making virtual tours an accessible first step helps limit the number of in-person viewings to only serious prospects.

For high quality virtual tours that are easy for agents to quickly get to grips with, Made Snappy 360 is a brilliant solution. Designed specifically for estate and lettings agents, simply take a picture in each room using the 360 camera and mobile app, and then upload and link it together in under half an hour when you’re back at your computer.

Matterport is another great company that offers innovative virtual tours and added special features, such as measurement mode - whereby clients can open any 3D model and measure any element within the space, on any device.

Or for a 3-in-1 camera that handles your property photography, floor plans, and virtual tour all in one scan, the Giraffe360 subscription packages are well worth a look.

Manage your team remotely with digital software and tools

When face-to-face contact is limited, finding ways to remotely communicate and collaborate as a team is crucial. So use digital tools like Zoom to ensure that branch meetings remain in place, and make the most of project management software like Trello or Monday.com to assign and set deadlines, and keep in the loop on what your agents are working on.

After more of an all-in-one solution? Designed with hybrid working in mind, a cloud-based CRM like Rezi is the perfect tool for agents who need to be able to work anytime and anywhere. With its open API, there are endless integration possibilities for Rezi users, while features like calendar sync, electronic document signing, and automated workflows make remotely managing workloads and completing admin tasks a breeze. Plus, it can even be accessed through a user-friendly mobile app!