3 ways to make viewings & visits more sustainable
Going green is a global issue and agents can make a contribution by re-evaluating their attitudes to property visits and accompanied viewings, as Viewber explains.
A really busy agent in a strong market can make multiple property visits in a week. Not all of them will be fee-winning opportunities, nor will they need to be attended by an experienced property professional. Nonetheless, service levels and the nature of agency demand they are accompanied.
Repeated lockdowns, however, have shown the property industry it can operate in a remote capacity when required. A byproduct of this is fewer miles travelled in vehicles, a reduction in damaging emissions, lower fuel bills and improved air quality. Although we’re not suggesting you never meet clients in person again, a smarter approach to viewings and visits can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Here are three ideas to help you improve your eco credentials when it comes to accompanied viewings and property visits.
1. Switch to electric vehicles: it is heartening to read news of agents ditching diesel and petrol cars in favour of greener alternatives. The latest converts are Belvoir Sales and Lettings Wolverhampton, who has worked with Evans Halshaw Vauxhall to make the all-electric switch. In Harrogate, Verity Frearson has taken delivery of five new electric MINIs that will help reduce its carbon footprint. Chestertons in London have an entirely electric fleet.
As well as a number of Government grants and tax incentives available to agents, running a fleet of electric vehicles can also be a cheaper way to get from A to B, when compared to older models.
2. Create video & virtual tours: when we read that Oakwood Homes managed to let 26 properties in one month without a single physical viewing, we immediately thought of the massive carbon saving achievement. By conducting virtual viewings, the company avoided multiple repeat property visits – saving an agent’s time and saving the planet. Viewber is proud to be part of the sustainable movement, offering hosted virtual viewings and 360? tours to agents.
Whether you use them to pre-qualify applicants, to deter home movers from requesting third and fourth property visits or to be eco efficient, a Viewber can produce these assets whilst attending an accompanied viewing appointment – further reducing the amount of time someone needs to spend travelling to a property.
3. Book a local Viewber: we understand that today’s technology allows agents to cover a wide-reaching geographical catchment and that driving to a property may seem utterly necessary but there is another way. Some of your visits and viewings can be accompanied by a local trained Viewber, who is highly likely to be able to walk to their assigned property and know the area backwards.
This is possible because we have a nationwide network of thousands of Viewbers, located in towns, cities and villages across the country. Our Viewbers prefer working in their own local communities and will often be closer to a property than the agent, which increases the chances of a Viewber arriving on foot for almost zero carbon emissions.
If you would like to consider incorporating Viewber’s services as part of your sustainability effort, get in touch to find out more. Our tools and services will help you re-evaluate how people travel, why they need to travel and where they need to travel to.
