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Digital inspections for faster and easier leasing
We don’t have to look into a crystal ball to see that the future of property management is digital first. It is both a generational shift as the proportion of younger renters continues to grow and an expectation of convenience that now touches every part of our lives.
Most things today are just a click away, and the online world is optimised for that digital-first experience, allowing us to click, purchase and receive online shopping orders within the same day.
The rental experience however still provides a significant amount of friction that drags out the time on market, increases the cost of service delivery and creates a less-than-optimal rental process for potential tenants. And with 25-30% of people viewing properties from interstate or overseas, that friction is amplified.
The great news for property managers is that shifting into digital-first experiences doesn’t require major changes behind the scenes. It’s all available now and often delivers cost savings along the way.
Here's the trick to designing a great digital experience: think about the interstate or overseas renters and design the process for them. They can’t view a property on their lunch break, drop into the office with their ID or sign paperwork in person. Every step from inspection to application must work remotely and seamlessly. And when the process is designed for those remote renters first, the whole customer journey becomes simpler for everyone. By getting it right for the 30% of remote renters, you also make it easier for the 70% who are local too.
For prospective tenants located interstate or overseas, attending an open home in person is often impossible. This is where a digital inspection platform like Little Hinges becomes essential.
Little Hinges allows property managers to create high-quality 3D digital inspections of every property. These digital inspections allow potential tenants to explore the home on their own schedule, walking through rooms, measuring spaces and assessing all the features of the property from anywhere in the world. By removing the need for in-person inspections, agencies reduce delays, minimise unnecessary physical appointments and extend their reach to a wider pool of qualified tenants, all without additional staff time or cost.
Even for local prospective tenants who attend in-person inspections, the digital inspection adds value. Prospective tenants arrive already familiar with the property, allowing them to qualify themselves faster. The Virtual Tour also provides an accurate point of reference post in-person inspection reducing the need for re-inspections providing accurate measurements and features of the property. This improves efficiency for property managers and creates a smoother and clear experience for tenants.
Once tenants are engaged with a digital inspection, conversion opportunities are immediate.
Little Hinges digital tours have a ‘Ask the Agent’ button overlayed directly on the digital inspection, which allows prospective tenants to submit a digital application as soon as interest is sparked. This approach turns engagement into action, enabling property managers to collect applications before the first physical open home occurs. It also accelerates the tenants qualification process and ensures that no interest is lost if they are waiting for the next scheduled inspection.
When a prospective tenant can’t attend an inspection in person, a well designed digital application process also becomes essential. If a tenant had inspected the property remotely and wanted to submit an application to lease it, using a platform like Little Hinges with a built-in electronic ID verification ensures the application is secure, compliant and efficient. And adding a checkbox for applicants to confirm they have inspected the property digitally helps filter serious prospects and ensures they have reviewed all the property features before submitting. This step reduces time waters and improves the quality of applications. Creating a smoother workflow for property managers and a faster, more transparent experience for out of state and international tenants.
Digital Inspections lead to both immediate conversion pathways and streamlined applications, for faster lease agreements - including reduced days on market, fewer vacancy days and lower administrative overhead, as well as improved operational efficiency. Agencies gain more visibility into applicant engagement and preferences allowing better decision making and improved owner satisfaction
For tenants the experience is modern, convenient and confidence building, whether they are local or located interstate or overseas. By designing the process for remote renters first, every step from inspection to application works seamlessly, making it easier for local tenants as well.
A fully digital-first workflow for inspections drives better outcomes for everyone involved and positions agencies as innovative, responsive and future ready.
Book your digital inspection package with Little Hinges for just $299, including 15 HD property photos, 2D floor plan, 3D virtual tour, live visitor analytics, and on-demand tour hosting.
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