Industry supplier epropservices has created a new virtual valuation platform to help the industry operate during the lockdown and social distancing periods.
Jon Cooke, chief executive of epropservices – the parent company of The Guild of Property Professionals and Fine & Country – says that the service was born out of the need to continue providing sellers with a professional valuation without agents having to physically visit the property.
All the vendor needs to do is complete a questionnaire and upload a short video and/or some photos of their property, as well as choose the best date and time for them to take a video call.
“Based on the video, photos and information provided, agents will be able to fully research the property and then conduct the face-to-face virtual meeting, choosing the system of their choice to provide an accurate valuation, giving a realistic sales or rental price for the property” explains Cooke.
“Following the meeting the agent can send the vendor a detailed report on the property providing them with the pricing expectations, as they normally would do” he notes.
“If the vendor decides they would like to go ahead, the agent is then able to start the process of marketing the property and conducting virtual viewings.”
According to Cooke, both Fine & Country licensees and Guild Members have the tools to be able to go through the entire process remotely and find either a buyer or tenant for a property without there ever being any physical meetings.
“No-one know what the future holds for how we interact with customers or how customer behaviour will change, potentially a virtual valuation platform will always be a vital tool in an agent’s service offering,” Cooke concludes.