Even though modern life has been pushing us towards global digitalization for years, and we have been increasingly using the internet to save time by paying our bills, sharing information, finding old friends on social networks, and even shopping for clothes and groceries, no single year has shown us just how significant the internet can be in our lives.
Living for more than a year amid a global pandemic that made us struggle with something invisible, a virus, for which there was no cure and immunization is unfortunately still far away, we learned how to cope with the smallest and most significant challenges in life from the comfort of our own home. And yes, “from the comfort of our own home” was something we enjoyed at the beginning of the pandemic, and it was a welcome change in our lives; it was like a forced vacation that we all appreciated, even if only secretly. Realistically, until then, most of us did not know what it was like to work from home, learn from home, or take a foreign language course. Many companies whose business was unthinkable as practising from home, found a way to present themselves online to stay afloat and not have to close their business due to the pandemic.
Thus, fitness centres found ways to transfer their knowledge through online platforms and keep their customers in shape; the stores whose goods were previously only available in their branches have opened online stores, and even ordinary supermarkets have found a way to deliver groceries to their customers through delivery, so they did not have to leave their home.
An often not considered business and how they were affected by the pandemic is estate agents.
Many people lost their jobs and were forced to sell their property to keep themselves afloat, and so, ironically, the real estate market never slowed down. But, many people, as we did not have the opportunity to travel, spent money on social events and gatherings, saved the money they spent on travel and, food for work, clothes because we did not need new clothes for quarantine days, decided to invest right now in their own home. Some chose to renovate, some to buy a new home. But here the question arises: How can we choose a new and suitable home without respecting the measures to fight the virus?
Almost every estate agent has their own website, like ValuVillas, where you can browse available real estate they currently have. Well-designed websites even have feature filters where you can choose the desired size of the flat or house, a more specific location you prefer, and all the other features that you think are important. However, we must believe that choosing bread in the online supermarket is easy. We even learned to find the size and style of clothes and shoes successfully and quickly without trying them. We even mastered online banking and purchasing more significant items for the home, such as a new coffee table or a rug for the nursery, but can we indulge in images and instinct when choosing a home?
Online Market Overview and Offers
Online estate agents provide us with an overview of the market and options without requiring us to leave our homes. They offer photos from every corner of the house and even virtual tours, providing a realistic view of the property that meets our criteria. Information about the size, price, and condition of the home or apartment is available quickly and easily without incurring additional travel costs or investing time in considering potential facilities.
Staying safe and sound
Although scientists found a vaccine against the virus, the best measure to protect against the virus was not leave our home and mingle with people.
Estimation of the actual offer
No matter how much time we spend researching and reviewing images, we are all aware that with the tools available to anyone nowadays, an image, object, or even an entire house can be displayed as perfect even though, it is not the case. So, despite all the positive aspects of online offers, what traditional estate agents offer is a visit to the object you are interested in and the opportunity to overlook and see for yourself the condition of every corner, every wall, every item, the view through every window, sanitary condition, the smell of the house. All these details are important while evaluating the amount requested for redemption and measuring the financial possibilities, given that many of the facilities require renovation. Traditional agents offer you a complete tour of the potential house, and sometimes, the crucial part of making such a big decision is the feeling when you enter a room that no image can provoke.
Bargaining
Price plays a big role in decision-making, so bargaining is the final but crucial part of the entire process. Convincing, discussing, and reaching an agreement on a price is much easier and more realistic when both parties do so in person, face to face, as opposed to using impersonal and cold emails for online bargaining.
When considering the pros and cons of online versus traditional estate agents, we are unable to decide which option is best for you and the benefits offered by both methods. The most important thing for each client is to carefully consider the options and choose the one that best suits their needs.