The builder sales centre reimagined

By Tim Ng

Society is evolving at an unprecedented pace. We live in an age of nearly immediate gratification, where, thanks to iPhones and Google, information is always at our fingertips. Connected is the new normal. And now, services have joined the ranks.

Apps like Jiffy, Grocery Gateway, and Flex are challenging the notion of bricks and mortar locations and redefining where customers can access the services they need. Groceries delivered to your front door. A personal trainer to the office during your lunch break. An electrician on demand. These are the experiences today’s buyers expect — technology-enabled service that intuitively responds to their lifestyle. What does that mean for real estate? It means that sales are no longer confined to the sales centre.

Technology is changing where we do business

Over the last six or seven years, sales presentations have relocated and are now taking place over coffee, on the subway, in the park. The buying process is evolving to become more flexible and, as a result, more customized, connecting with potential purchasers where they are, at a time and place that suits their needs. Traditional sales centres certainly still have their role, but the industry is changing to recognize that ‘sales’ can happen anywhere, anytime. That’s where Blackline comes in.

The new way to buy a home

Blackline puts the sales centre in the palm of your hand with full-feature digital sales presentations accessible from your smartphone, laptop, anywhere with an internet connection. The app empowers every link in the sales chain.

With a simple URL, potential purchasers can access all relevant project materials, from 3D building models to the brochure, pricing, amenities, virtual tours, and the complete rendering package, all online. Smart search options include advanced filters like finding the closest schools and grocery stores. Floor plans can be viewed side-by-side for easy comparison.

Agents can select a specific unit for a worksheet, then electronically complete and submit that worksheet, with instant and automatic distribution. Developers have the ability to allocate specific units to specific agents at any time, providing exclusive access for VIP phases and events. Unique profiles allow a deep dive into user activity, tracking details like click patterns, devices used, even number of units sold. The app provides real-time information on availability, allocations, and analytics, information that allows the sales strategy to adapt and respond to the market faster and more intelligently than ever before.

By streamlining real estate sales, it is easier than ever to access, distribute, and present information to potential purchasers, and to connect people and properties in unprecedented new ways. Buyers can now purchase a home from the comfort of their living room, the boardroom, an airport lounge, a café — a whole new world is taking shape, and it’s more user-friendly and intuitive than ever before.

Tim Ng is the Principal and Founder of ADHOC Studio which builds best-in-class digital products and narratives for urban developments.