How Technology Will Shape Real Estate in 2019

It's 2019 and technology cannot be ignored. It already affects almost every aspect of our lives, business to personal. But where will technology go from here? Find out what 2019 has in store for real estate professionals here.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is a big field in technology right now, but many people still don't understand what artificial intelligence is and why it's important. Artificial intelligence is the technology that makes it possible for machines and computers to learn from experiences, adjust to those experiences, and perform tasks that would traditionally require a human to complete. This field has developed in leaps and bounds over the past few years and there's no indication that it will be stopping any time soon. 2019 will likely see artificial intelligence become more pervasive as smart home technology and smartphones integrate more and more A.I. functionality into our everyday lives.

Smart Homes

These days, any attempts to go green or energy efficient will almost certainly involve smart home technology, much of which will be powered by A.I. Smart home technology is a wide field that encompasses everything from light bulbs and appliances to security systems and doorbells. The idea behind the smart home is to give users the ability to monitor and manage various aspects of their home from a single device, such as their smartphone.

Personal assistants such as Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa, the personality inside the Amazon Echo, are useful tools to manage your smart devices, browse the internet, set reminders, or otherwise assist you. The business applications of this technology are invaluable, especially if you find yourself on the road and need to make notes, research a home, schedule a meeting, or place a call without using your hands. Early this year Amazon released Amazon Echo Auto, making it even easier for real estate agents to keep their assistants with them on the go.

The versatility and affordability of these personal assistant devices also makes them an excellent option to explore when thinking of closing gifts for your clients. As a bonus, including a smart assistant in your open house can be an exciting way to make any open house more memorable. When taking buyers to a showing, your assistant can answer questions about nearby attractions, schools, parks, stores, and more.

Smartphones and Social Media

Smart home technology isn't the only technology that could affect your business in 2019. Foldable phones and 5G technology are expected to roll out in either 2019 or 2020. This will make your phone faster and possibly more useful as they become more portable and allow a larger screen size.

Your smartphone may also play a larger role in your business success this year, not due to any revolutionary new features, but because of the many features you may not be taking advantage of yet.

Within the past few years, the cameras installed in smartphones have evolved to allow for highly professional photos and videos. You can upgrade your audio and video quality even more with accessories like microphones, photo lenses, and editing apps to turn your phone into a powerful marketing tool.

With such easy access to video and photo creation tools, 2019 is a good time to work on building a social media presence. Existing platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube, and podcast services are dependable options to help you reach your current audience while smaller platforms like Vero or TikTok may offer you a chance expand your audience as a thought leader.

To view the original article, visit the Homes.com blog.