Celebrating Valentine's Day with the Benefits of PropTech: Love and Technology in Harmony

Love is in the air, and so is technology!  Like star-crossed lovers, the relationship between these two integral aspects of our lives is one that is becoming increasingly bound. 

As Swiftech wrote last year: ‘Technology has had a major impact on how people express their love and affection.’  So, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, we thought this the perfect time to explore how technology is revolutionizing the way we experience love and romance, specifically in the realm of real estate. 

From finding the perfect love nest to enhancing the ambiance of your home, there are a number of ways technology will be playing cupid this Valentine's Day.  In this blog, we’ll look at the role technology will play on romance and real estate, with advice on how you, as a homebuilder, can make sure not to miss out on the custom of these beloveds.

Finding the Perfect Home Together

For couples in love, finding the perfect home to share with their significant other is one of life’s most exciting milestones.  And here, technology has had a major impact on the way couples initiate this journey.  Property search tools, such as Rightmove and OnTheMarket, have given home searchers the ease of scouring the country, or even the world, for their next dream home, while remaining snuggled in the cosy comfort of their own sofa.

Platforms like these can use advanced algorithms and AI to match home users’ preferences with available properties, saving them time and effort, and thus maintaining the anticipation and excitement of the search.

But what can homebuilders do to stand out above the digital competition when appearing in an online search?

The first step to securing the attention of these lovebirds, is to ensure your development’s website or online portal are eye-catching and intriguing.  ‘Creating a memorable website for a property development is critical these days since most people start their search for a new home online,’ says Assemblo.  If you’re using an online portal, then a white labelled dashboard is essential.  If you can add fly-through videos of the development, and even of the show home, then you will wow potential customers with a touch of Hollywood romcom glam.  

Assemblo goes on to advise that, ‘Property developers should also employ the right mix of digital advertising and social media activities to reach their target audience and get the most bang for their buck.’  So, if you’re thinking about couples moving into your properties, advertise to them.  Draw on images of couples looking happy in your homes, or receiving keys together from one of your fantastic sales advisors, in your digital marketing campaigns.  Why not run a campaign on Valentine’s Day across all your social media channels, to highlight your merits as the perfect first homebuilder for happy couples?

What Else Will Couples Want to Know about Homebuilders?

Once you’ve grabbed the attention of these darlings, it will be time to prove your worth as the homebuilder they should choose. 

Offering a virtual home tour, is a great way to elevate their levels of excitement and let them share an experience they can then tell their friends and family about.  The ‘cool’ aspect of this first encounter with one of your show homes, will be significantly more memorable than the average look-around appointment with a sales agent, and with competition in real estate at an all-time high, memorable is what you should be going for.  And, as Medium says, ‘Technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing the customer experience and standing out from your competitors.’

Another consideration when thinking about selling to people in love is that, often, couples buying a home together will be first-time buyers, and this will have an impact on what they’re looking for from their property developer.  Make it clear in your marketing and communications that you are a developer that looks after first-time buyers and helps them understand the various aspects of the buying journey.  This way, buyers feel empowered and in control, as opposed to overwhelmed and unsure about whether they’re making the right decision.

Providing Reservation Manuals for your buyers is a great way to guide them through the buying journey and help them understand what they need to do, and when.  Guides like this can prevent unnecessary delays and keep momentum up for a swift transaction.

Another option is to provide a residential portal or application, especially one that allows you to supply this information along with a range of tools and advice about the process of moving home.  A guide to the development and its local area, can be very useful and reassuring for a new homebuyer, as can tools that allow them to choose fixtures and fittings within the new home, from their phone, tablet or laptop.

What do Couples Want Inside the Home?

Now that you’ve reassured them that you’re a builder they can trust, and they’re ready to take their decision making to the next level, these smitten duos will be looking at what the home and development have to offer them.

Consider your provision of smart home technology.  Once they’ve found their love nest, technology can continue to enhance the living experience of these sweethearts.  Smart home devices can be fitted which will help set the mood for a romantic evening with nothing more than a voice command. Whether that means adjusting the lighting or playing their favourite romantic playlist, these gadgets add a touch of magic to the home, making every moment between loved ones special.

Like all homeowners, safety will be important to couples buying a home together.  Love brings a sense of security emotionally, and technology can reinforce it further with advanced home security systems.  From smart doorbells with built-in cameras to motion sensors and remote monitoring, technology offers peace of mind, allowing your homebuyers to focus on creating cherished memories with their partners.

But What About Residents Who Haven’t Found Love?

It would be unfair, on Valentine’s Day, not to also think about those of us who are still looking for love.  For singles who wish they were in a relationship, this can be an upsetting time of year.

But as a property developer, you can be of more help to them than you might have imagined.  Organising activities across the development, such as speed dating or singles nights, can be a great way of introducing residents to one another and increasing their chances of finding love.

If you use a property management and residential engagement app, then arranging these events and advertising them to your home users is incredibly easy.  Applications like this can also help single residents get to know one another through their Chat or Messaging features, as well as the ability to book and use shared spaces.  Imagine eyes meeting across the gym, two people heading strategically to the water cooler at the same time… you could be the beginning of this romance!

Finally, in an increasingly digital world, technology is becoming more and more a means of connecting loved ones, and a place where they can share special moments, regardless of their physical distance.

As we celebrate Valentine's Day, let's embrace the relationship between love and technology.  From delivering the dream home to the happy couple, to creating memorable experiences between partners, technology, such as Spaciable Living, can help you enrich the lives of your home users and even help them find love and happiness.

So, here's to love, technology, and endless romantic possibilities… Happy Valentine's Day!

For more information and to book a demonstration of Spaciable Living, go to: https://www.spaciable.io/spaciable-living