The One Thing No Other Agent is Saying on Listing Appointments

As agents, we may discuss the differentiating factor a connected home provides but there is one thing we aren’t saying on listing appointments.  We aren’t saying how critical it is to partner with an agent who knows how to market a smart home.

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The following post is a guest contribution from Angel Piontek, Associate Broker and Vice President of Marketing with Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, VA

Every day, sellers and real estate professionals sit down at a kitchen table or living room couch to discuss a partnership.  These discussions range from determining the sales price, negotiation, an effective communication plan and more.  The goal for the seller is to find the right agent who can best represent their interests and help guide them through the selling process.  As technology and homes have evolved throughout the years, part of today’s conversation includes the topic of smart home and the increasing consumer demand for more convenience, safety, security, and savings.

The popularity of connected products has gained momentum over the past few years and we have seen more homes with smart home devices installed.  According to the Coldwell Banker survey released this month, 32 percent of Americans report having smart home products in their homes, revealing a 33 percent year-over-year increase.

As agents, we may discuss the differentiating factor a connected home provides, but there is one thing we aren’t saying on listing appointments.  We aren’t saying how critical it is to partner with an agent who knows how to market a smart home.  Here are five reasons why:

1) A smart home agent will know how to convey the benefits of smart home products.

The seller should be aware that our responsibility is to educate both the buyer and their agent on what devices convey and the benefits they will enjoy. For example, a smart lock isn’t just a lock that is connected to the internet.  The lifestyle benefits include peace of mind knowing who has accessed the home, the ability to virtually give a key to a guest and revoke access when they no longer need it and the security of knowing the kids are home from school based on alerts.  These are just some of the ways an agent who knows smart home can convey to the prospective buyer.

2) A smart home agent knows that it requires creativity.

An installed smart home device is no better than its “dumb” counterpart without effective marketing.  Agents should have fun marketing smart homes with video walkthroughs, product demonstrations, 3D tours that call out the devices and more.

3) A smart home agent is an invaluable resource. 

There are many things to consider when listing a smart home.  There are security issues with having recording devices in the home and it’s important that those are disclosed upfront.  A smart home agent will also be able to help facilitate the hand-off to the buyer with advice on resetting products and where to find more information.

4) A smart home agent knows what will appeal to the buyer. 

According to the Coldwell Banker survey, 77 percent of the respondents would want smart thermostats pre-installed.  This type of data is gathered to help educate Coldwell Banker agents on what consumers are looking for.  You can help guide the seller in choosing what devices will appeal to the most buyers.  Don’t forget, we are the only brand that has a Smart Home Staging Kit.  The products in this kit were chosen because they have the most consumer appeal.

5) A smart home agent should be certified.  Coldwell Banker agents have access to the first-ever smart home certification class that educates them on the history and future of smart home as well as how to properly market a home that meets the CNET description of a smart home.  In addition to the certification course, Coldwell Banker continues to be a leader in smart home and delivers valuable content on a regular basis.

A smart home needs a smart home certified agent.

Athena Snow

Senior Manager, Public Relations & Giving for Coldwell Banker. Grew up in Sarasota and attended college at Western Carolina University. Athena wanted to wake up in that city that doesn’t sleep so headed to Madison Avenue to start her marketing career. She has been with this awesome brand for more than 15 years and can be found generating buzz about CB in every way possible. Athena helps to grow the brand’s position as the most storied real estate company within the industry and has led many high-profile endeavors; she was at the forefront of the brand’s pioneering smart home campaign, raised $6 million in two years to build 130 Habitat for Humanity homes, and led the Homes for Dogs program in partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com that resulted in tens-of-thousands of dogs finding their furever home. She currently leads the CB Supports St. Jude program, which encourages the Coldwell Banker network’s 96,000+ real estate agents to make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for every real estate transaction they represent. In her spare time, you can find her either digging up a new area in her yard for another flower bed or planning her next travel adventure. She's the proud mom of three cats Jolene, Ziggy and Lucy.