Second Corona wave - agents given seven steps to prepare

NAEA Propertymark is advising agents to continue measures to allow them to operate if a second wave of Coronavirus hits later this year and the ‘stay at home’ regime returns.

In a statement the association says agents should be using the current time, in the light of the lockdown, “to reflect on their businesses and shine a light on areas that could need a little Tender Loving Care or a shift in a different direction.”

Specifically the association identifies seven key areas:

1. Video Viewings: Continuing with these, even now that physical viewings are possible “will also stand agents in good stead if [lockdown] measures are put back in place and viewings are postponed once again”;

2. Build Email Lists: The NAEA Propertymark urges agents to filter contacts into focused groups. “No other marketing or communication technique gives the opportunity to direct conversations to specific audiences like email lists, so use this time to perfect and enhance them”;

3. Adapting Processes: PropTech is the key here, from training staff to maximise existing platforms or introducing new ones;

4. Blogs: These are “a perfect opportunity to voice the ethics, humour, and tell the story of who you are as an agency” says Propertymark. It advises that Google loves 1,000 words plus in terms of optimising searches, using short videos in the blogs, and being topical with content;

5 Identify Working-From-Home Issues: If there were any hitches “analyse these … and take the appropriate steps to rectify them in case stay at home measures are re-introduced. These could have included equipment, Wi-Fi signal, or connection problems”;

6. Perfect Your Office: Many measures have been taken by agents already but Propertymark suggests new factors to consider include disposable desk mats to limit contact with surfaces, dividing staff into shifts or groups that do not mix with each others, enhancing cleaning and creating ”a space for staff to reach out with their concerns and accommodate specific needs”;

7. Social Media: “Agents should take the time to research their audiences and look at channels as an opportunity to online network” the association advises.