The enduring power of the human touch in real estate

In the rush towards AI and automation you’d be forgiven for thinking the human touch is fast disappearing. Even the shift to online takes out the need for human contact. But in real estate, while technology and digital advancements can help, the human touch remains crucial.

So, what is it that ensures the enduring power of the human touch when it comes to real estate? In part, it comes down to trust. The estate agency will always remain a people business because for most it’s the biggest financial transaction they will make – therefore trust is vital. A personal, handheld approach can instil greater confidence and trust than a faceless transaction online.

Building meaningful relationships with clients

Property transactions take time for all parties – whether buyer, seller, renter, or landlord. There are initial requirements to be discussed, viewings, negotiations and offers, all to be undertaken before a deal can be done. This means that contact with an agent won’t be a one-off but a continual process as the client progresses through the relevant sales or letting funnel. There will be questions to ask, nerves to soothe and expertise to be shared, which is why it is crucial to build a trusted relationship between agent and homeowner.

The value of personalised service and human expertise

As much as online can be useful for sharing expertise, nothing beats the value of a human expert – someone who has a true grip on the local market because they’ve lived or worked there for a long time, for example. They might have children at the local school and so have an inside view into how good the educational facilities are, or they know the best spots in the town for a night out. Their trained eye and experience also mean they can quickly identify the market a property is most suited to.

Crucially they will understand what buyers and renters in the area look for, or what sellers and landlords have on offer. They may even have sold or managed the rental of the same property multiple times over. Those with a more established career may have also moved up the ladder in the agencies that they work within, becoming shareholders or directors for example, which means they will be even more invested in success.

And they are likely to bring the human touch to negotiations too, especially important when you consider the complicated chains that can exist in the house-buying process and the desire to maximise the selling price while also moving forward quickly with a deal.

Technology has a place

Of course, technology still has its place. Online platforms such as Rightmove have become the first stop for many. They make the search process easier, faster, and more transparent, so finding a property has never been easier. When marketing a property, we use technology to match potential buyers and present your property to people than ever before.

We now have the ability to automate simple tasks that can now be done at the click of a button, which frees up time to focus even more intensely on forging valued, trusted relationships with their clients, by offering great customer service and an unforgettable experience. And that is the true enduring power of the human touch in real estate.

At ludlowthompson we are very much a people business. Our founders remain at the helm 30 years on, and we have long-standing managers and partners, all of whom are promoted from within. We have also held the Gold standard of accreditation from Investors in People since 2012, which shows are commitment to people in an ever evolving world.

Talk to an expert at your local branch today and experience for yourself why we believe the human touch in real estate is more important than ever.