The use of digital technology, including being familiar with digital marketing, is definitely a must-have skill in this ever-changing industry. In order to keep up with the changes and trends in consumer behaviour, agents must embrace and adopt technology or they risk being replaced by others.
While some may reckon real estate agents are in a sunset industry, most consumers would still prefer engaging an agent for their property needs due to the expertise required. Agents provide a personalised experience with a much-needed human touch in property transactions, something that is now highly desirable in a world that is rapidly adopting technology to automate processes.
In the real estate industry, digital technologies have become enablers, but having said that, people still remain key.
Therefore, at OrangeTee, the technological innovation focuses on:
1. Improving agents’ productivity
• RenTapp: A new feature in the OrangeTee Agent App to ease the entire leasing process. It includes a tenancy management system that simplifies rental inventory management often handled by agents. RenTapp will also help agents manage rental dues, rental market analytics and condition reports.
2. Adding value to customers
• Virtual Staging: A new feature in the OrangeTee Agent App which allows agents to virtually stage properties, turning a house into a home.
• Virtual walkthrough: Helping agents virtually conduct a viewing remotely
3. Helping customers make the best decisions
• OrangeTee Market Analytics Suite and OrangeTee Analyser: Tools that aim to provide accurate data on investment properties and latest market insights for agents to better advise their customers.
Steven Tan, Chief Executive Officer, OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd, shared that upon joining the industry back in 1994, there were no smartphones and online platforms such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube. As such, accessibility to information was very limited, and consumers had to rely on real estate agents for information and advice in order to make informed decisions.
Today, one of the biggest changes is that technology has advanced immensely and consumers are better informed and more sophisticated. The access to a myriad of platforms has granted consumers the ability to obtain information on an independent basis, without the need to rely on agents.
The most memorable experience for Tan was when he launched Singapore’s first customer review platform for property agents titled “Property Agents Review” in 2016, to elevate the service standards of property agents in Singapore.
The platform allows customers to review and rate their property agents and allows prospective customers to access the agents’ speciality areas, track records, and ratings before an engagement.
This has received great interest from the media and Tan had the opportunity to present it to the then Minister of State for National Development, Dr Koh Poh Koon, who visited with representatives from the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).
Tan’s advice to youths looking to join the real estate industry is to:
• Have a positive mindset and learning attitude;
• Do things right, and do the right things;
• Embrace changes - this is a volatile industry
There is no guidebook as to when one should start thinking about a career. For Tan, his family has always been his main source of motivation.
Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset, Tan started his glass and aluminium curtain wall business at the age of 26 because of an opportunity.
At the age of 32, Tan decided to venture into real estate due to his interest in the industry - having studied real estate back when he was at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and wanting a higher income to better support his family.
Venturing into real estate may not suit everyone as the beginning of the journey may be tough. With the launch of the recent Real Estate Salesperson (RES) internship programme, interns receive full sponsorship and mentorship to complete their RES courses and examinations to help kick-start their career.
“It all boils down to your personal goals and what you want to achieve,” says Tan.
Sometimes, pursuing a career we are passionate about may be risky, but, if working on your passion is important to you and you can afford to do so, then go for it! The results or career prospects may turn out to be much better than what you expected or imagined - and the risk to pursue it will be worth it.
But if it is not feasible to pursue your passion, that is fine too! You can always pursue alternative choices. A job can ‘just be a job’, that helps you achieve your goals but avoid working in a job you don’t resonate with at all.
To find out more about what Steven Tan, Chief Executive Officer, OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd, has to share, register for Bedok Career Conversations today.
Comments