Potential buyers and renters will now be able to chat directly with real estate agents with the launch of Domain Chat, a new app feature released by Domain that speeds up the search and is supposed to help consumers secure their dream home faster.
Chat has been one of the fastest-growing online behaviours on the internet, nearly doubling users over the past two years and replacing social networks as the most popular way to communicate. Domain Chat speeds up the entire communication process and ultimately helps make the property search experience easier, faster and more enjoyable for Australian house hunters.
The new app feature simplifies the time-consuming communication process between agents and property seekers, accommodating agents who are constantly away from the office and on the road. Domain Chat allows agents to receive real-time leads on the go in a faster communication tone than email, helping to decrease the time between enquiry and offer.
Agents can easily activate Chat for their own listings with a few simple clicks via Domain’s easy Chat setup. They also have the option to delegate specific listings to co-listing agents or colleagues.
Chat and messaging platforms have been the fastest-growing online behaviour; nearly doubling users over the past two years and replacing social networks as the most popular way to communicate. Domain Chat brings this trend to the property search for the first time to help agents have more personalised, real-time conversations with interested buyers.
Property enquiry data is important to agents and Domain recognises this by allowing agents to access all the Chat conversations they have; opening up powerful possibilities around agent CRM integration. Domain is also looking at passing additional data points through Chat to help agents further tailor their interactions with property seekers.
Domain’s Chief Product Officer Damon Pezaro said:
“In today’s technology-driven culture, we expect constant and convenient communication, whether we’re chatting with friends or buying a home. Real time conversations on mobile devices have become the norm, and we’re hoping to bring this to the property industry with Domain Chat.
“Domain Chat has the power to completely revolutionise the consumer agent communication process, making it a lot smoother and easier for everyone involved.
“During beta we received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the new feature, and are eager to see how it transforms the property experience for both house hunters and agents.”
Domain App refreshed for speed
The launch of Domain Chat coincides with a recent refresh of the Domain app, is supposed to have improved its performance to be faster than ever before. As part of the refresh, Domain has also expanded availability of the Finger Search tool to be included on iOS mobile devices. Finger Search is a geographically oriented tool that enables house hunters to physically circle specific areas of interest on their devices, personalising searches to meet the unique needs of each user.
Domain Chat is the latest feature added to the platform’s mobile app suite, available on iOS and Android. It joins other recent additions such as Domain Check-in, Facebook Messenger Chat Bots, and Live Auctions.
Earlier this year, Domain Group’s Director of Product Management, Lyndon Maher observed the growth in chat and personal assistant-type apps that have increasingly become available to the public. Read more here.
