Many people say that technology will never replace humans. While that is partially true, technology is helping us in more ways than ever. It allows us to do things differently and more efficiently.

Back in the horse and buggy days, people never thought cars would even exist! Over the last decade, we did not expect electric vehicles to be mainstream. But now, many large corporations are already giving dates of when they plan to go all-electric.

Electronic Signing

Technology changed the way people do business. One of the most significant examples of this is digital signing. Back in 2004, when Jared and Rebecca Chamberlain started selling houses, once they made a deal, it didn't matter what time of day it was; they needed to drive wherever the parties were just to get them to sign three copies of the deal with a black carbon copy sheet!

Fast forward to 2012, digital signing came into play. Jared and Rebecca immediately figured out how to electronically send documents and have them signed. It enabled them to work on four different deals at the same time. By tethering Jared’s laptop to his phone, he could create, send and receive signed copies of offers for clients without the creepy 2 AM parking lot meetings needed!

Digital signing has enabled realtors to streamline the home buying process, not just on the agents’ side but also for the clients. Buyers just wait for the documents to be sent to their email, and they can write back and even sign in the comfort of their own homes. Real estate agents can have more time to do things like show houses to other clients.

Facetime or Video Calls

The use of video over the past years has been incredible. It has allowed our team to communicate with a broader audience through YouTube, reaching viewers not just from Calgary but throughout Canada and more. It has also shaped how showings happen nowadays. Through FaceTime, clients can see homes virtually anywhere. There are also apps like Matterport that create 3D tours. Interested buyers just need to go online and click around a house to see every part. There are also talks saying that Virtual Reality Headsets can replace physical showings in the future!

But in reality, there are still many people who prefer physical showings. Nothing beats the feeling of opening a property door, smelling the fresh flowers in the living room or seeing a picturesque view from the deck as you talk to your agent.

GPS / CarPlay

Gone are the days when you have to drive around holding a huge paper map, not knowing exactly how to reach your destination. One of the biggest changes that technology has helped not only agents but all drivers is Apple CarPlay or GPS.
Technology has shaped how you drive around and find places. Others don't even need the map sometimes, but they keep their GPS on only to find out how long it will take to reach their destination.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth headsets are one of the best inventions ever. These headsets help in doing a lot of things hands-free. You can call anyone while doing anything.

Bluetooth has also helped agents and home sellers in accessing properties. There’s no need to drive around the city just to pick up keys from the owner. Now, agents can access lockboxes via Bluetooth on their phones, and the owner can set it up before leaving their house. It has made life so much easier!

Drones

What was once reserved for helicopters and planes up in the sky shooting acreages, now we have incredible technology that we can use to film any type of house. Using drones, anyone can get fantastic shots with stunning views and different angles that most people don’t usually see.

It is really exciting for our team to figure out and employ all of this technology and future technologies for you when you work with us to find your dream home.

Future Technology

As with the future, We asked ChatGPT about how AI and future technology will change how people buy and sell homes in the future, and it came up with interesting answers.

According to ChatGPT, future technology has the potential to significantly change the way we buy and sell homes in the future. This could happen through enhanced property searches. AI can help home buyers find their dream home by considering their preferences, budgets, and other criteria.

Enhanced Property Search

AI-enabled systems can provide more personalized recommendations based on a person’s search history and suggest homes that may not have been considered but would be a good fit for them.

What’s excellent about AI is that it is a set of data that continuously learns how you interact with it. If you input the correct data and then give it more information on how you are interacting with the properties, it can identify how long you look at things and show you more options according to your liking.

Virtual Property Tours

ChatGPT also pointed out that virtual and augmented reality technology can provide immersive experiences to potential buyers, allowing them to tour homes without physically visiting them. And this can save time and reduce the need for in-person viewings.

Pricing and Valuation

AI can analyze local real estate market data and provide very accurate pricing and valuation models. This can help sellers price their homes more competitively and help buyers make more informed purchasing decisions.

The key here is to work with the best realtor to ensure you get the right value for your home. The AI can tell you what it is worth, but that pricing does not make a big difference until you are negotiating with a buyer, another agent, or with your spouse. At the end of the day, the result is what matters, and you need to partner with the right agent to navigate that process.

Streamlined Transactions

AI can help simplify and automate the buying and selling process, reduce the need for human intervention and make transactions more efficient. For example, blockchain technology can help create more secure and transparent real estate transactions with smart contracts automatically, executing various process steps.

What’s interesting about this is that there are some of these systems already out there that are commercial only. The companies that have been doing this have decided that using residential homes, initially at least, has too much emotion attached to it and want to focus on investment-type purchases that would fall under commercial a lot more.

Technology is fantastic, and those that embrace technology and figure out a way to use it will be the ones who will thrive. So if you are planning on making a change, book a call with us and let us show you how technology can help us find your next home!