Those in the Millennial generation and younger now make up more than half of the U.S. population and account for more than 38% of today’s homebuyers—by far the largest proportion among all generations. That percentage will only keep growing as Millennials and Gen-Zers age and continue to enter the real estate market.
So often, this is portrayed as a worrisome prospect since these individuals are more digitally minded and tech-savvy than any other generation. Business owners are told to adapt or get left behind. There is truth to this, but for real estate agents, it’s not the gloom-and-doom scenario that it’s made out to be. That’s because agents have been incorporating online search and communication methods into the way they work with clients for years now.
Consider this: More than 90% of Millennial buyers are using the internet to search for their dream home. While that’s the highest share among all age groups, others also frequently use third-party search sites at high rates to search for homes.
We’ve witnessed agents adapting as these statistics continue to rise. Every year, more agents across the country are using the Homesnap app to collaborate with clients on their home search. The upward trend we’ve seen at Homesnap, especially as it relates to mobile, reflects broader home-buying trends. Nearly 80% of Millennials who used their smartphone to look at properties ended up finding their future home on their mobile device, according to the 2020 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report.
This generation’s clear preference for on-demand, on-the-go access is not something to feel anxiety over. There is no ambiguity in how they want to conduct their search—only an opportunity for agents to meet them where they are and work together in an efficient way.
If you aren’t already using Homesnap with your clients, you should be. It’s the most user-friendly app, both for tech-savvy young people and older generations that aren’t as digitally inclined. It’s always ad-free, too, as we never sell space on listing pages to competing agents.
Here are the top three ways you can use the Homesnap app to guide your clients on their home-buying journey.
1. Agent-Client Connection
To use Homesnap with your clients, first make sure you are connected in the app. This protects your relationship by giving them a search experience that is branded to you. That means that as clients look at properties, the only agent they will see and be able to contact in Homesnap is you.
This connected relationship also gives you clear insight into their home search. As their primary agent, you will be able to see the properties they view and favorite, as well as receive News Feed alerts when the status of a favorited property changes.
To connect with your clients in the app, simply tap the Invite icon in the Me tab or share your profile link via email or text. When they register or accept your invitation (if they already had an account), we will automatically create a connected relationship. You can view your client list to see who has accepted and resend an invitation if needed.
2. Searching for Properties
We are a partner to your local MLS. As such, you can count on Homesnap to show accurate, real-time housing data. We continually sync our system with the MLS to ensure we capture new and updated listing information.
When you start working with your client in Homesnap, be sure to show them these powerful search capabilities:
Search by Commute: This handy tool allows you to input multiple addresses so you can find a home that is within a particular drive time of all locations that are important to you. For example, your clients can limit their search to only homes that are within 20 minutes of work, daycare, the gym, a particular school and grandma’s house.
Custom Area Search: Searching at the zip code, neighborhood or city level doesn’t always capture all the locations a client is considering moving to. For added flexibility, you can draw a custom search area on the map and only see homes located within those borders.
School Attendance Zones: Clients who have children often want to ensure their kids can attend a particular school. With Homesnap’s Schools layer, you can search for homes located in a specified school’s attendance zone.
Saved Search: When you (or your clients) get to searching, you’ll likely be adding filters on top of Search by Commute details within a custom-drawn area. You don’t need to redo your specifications every time you power up Homesnap. When all your criteria are in place, just tap Save Search. You can name it (e.g. The Johnson’s first choice) and enable push notifications and/or emails to alert you whenever there is new market activity within your search parameters.
3. In-app Communication
Since you’re already collaborating with your clients in Homesnap, it makes sense to centralize your communication in the app as well. That way your clients aren’t searching their emails and texts trying to find that one property you sent four days ago. It’ll all be easily accessible within Homesnap.
When you share a property with your client via in-app messages, that conversation is noted on the property listing page under the heading “Related Conversations.” Agents and clients alike find this helpful when they’ve been viewing numerous properties and need help remembering whether they’ve already shared a particular home.
A Final Thought
Today’s buyers expect their home search to include digital components. Make sure you’re encouraging your clients to connect with you in Homesnap and use the app to make their home-buying journey a smooth one. The experience will make your clients feel like part of the process, instead of like onlookers, during the search for their dream home.
