Here’s how to stand out from competition and be the go-to agent in the community you specialise in
Do you specialise in a community but are not satisfied with the quality of leads coming your way? For instance, you are an agent who knows Dubai Marina like the back of your hands and with quality listings to boot, but end up getting calls for properties to rent or buy in Discovery Gardens or Jumeirah Village Circle? The frustration is justifiable. So, how do you ensure that you are the expert home buyers or renters choose to go to? We have created a new product, Community Expert, to help agents get extra exposure, more relevant leads and stand out from the crowd. We have put together five easy tips to be known as an expert in your community.
1. Maximise visibility for relevant audience
Make sure you put your agent profile and credentials in front of the audience that matters the most. Adopt a customised marketing strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to cater to a targeted market. This will guarantee visibility and better quality of leads. For instance, place your banners on our newly launched Community Guides pages to get concrete leads from users seeking properties in neighbourhoods you specialise in.
2. Appear on top of relevant searches
With verified listings gaining prominence in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it’s more important now than ever before for agents to be on top of mind for property users. The most effective way to do this is by appearing on top of relevant searches. For example, when people search for agents in the area you specialise in, say the Palm Jumeirah, your name and profile must feature right at the top of their search. In order to do that, verify your agent profile, and your listings, and you’re guaranteed to appear higher than other agents and get that first page slot.
3. Know your area inside out to gain client’s trust
As seasoned agents with expertise in a specific community, share your knowledge with the customer and get to know their unique needs and preferences before pitching a property. Anusha, Team Leader at Prestige Real Estate, shares her experience: “I am a Greens and Views specialist. The only way to win clients’ trust and show them that I am very knowledgeable about this area is by asking them simple questions about their requirements. For example, what is the minimum apartment size they require, floor preference, preferred view, need for a guest bathroom, etc. These questions help me filter through the available options in the area and narrow down on their ideal requirements. This shows that I know the buildings and floor plans inside out and often clients want to only work with an area specialist who ‘knows it all’.”
Ryan Hudson from Allsopp & Allsopp concurs that knowledge is the asset an agent needs to become an area expert. “There is probably no better feeling for a buyer than to go on viewings with an agent who knows absolutely everything about the product they’re selling. If they don’t want that product, then that agent can listen to their requirements and take them to another property, knowing everything from service charges, what floor is the swimming pool on, if it has squash or tennis courts, gym, etc.”
4. Frequent the community to stay updated
It’s great to have a sound knowledge of the apartment floor plans, views and specifications. But, communities in Dubai are always a work in progress. So, it’s important to stay on top of your game to not sound outdated in front of your clients. Visit the community you specialise in often to stay abreast of all the changes. For instance, Leon Wright, Property Sales Consultant, Allsopp & Allsopp, suggests: “As well as my sound building and apartment knowledge, I like to keep myself up-to-date with the community as a whole. I spend a lot of my free time in Jumeirah Lakes Towers’ restaurants and cafes because I enjoy the vibe of the area. It is so much easier to sell or lease apartments in an area you are passionate about. My clients can be confident that they will get market-leading and transparent advice within JLT.”
5. Use modern marketing tools for your listings
Gone are the days of simple listings with just text to describe the property. Agents must today invest more time and effort in their listings to make sure they stand out from the crowd. For instance, get a good photographer to take high-quality pictures of your property, use drone photography, give prospective buyers a virtual tour for an accurate preview of the property, stage the property well, etc. Ahmad Badreddine, Senior Investment Advisor, Provident Real Estate, recommends: “I spend many hours perfecting my listings and using modern marketing methods to promote my brand and property portfolio to my audience – such as 360 degree video tours of properties and video stories of properties. I aim to build strong relationships and deliver on the high expectations of today’s clients.”
To achieve all these desired results and more, use our new product, Community Expert. Use this product to have your agent profile featured on pages with the highest traffic on Property Finder. It will also highlight your profile when users browse through Building Reviews in your area and give you visibility on our Community Guides page.
Find out more on how to book Community Expert.
