Chatbots for estate agency websites are being increasingly used – expected by website visitors even. So, you could be missing out if you don’t have one.

In today’s digital world, we tend to come across chatbots more frequently. That’s because they’re working for businesses and estate agents are no exception.

In this blog, we’ll look at exactly what a chatbot is, its role in automating client interactions and why there is a growing demand for instant responses in the estate agency world.

The benefits of chatbots in property sales can be staggering. We’ll look at all this and more in this blog.

What are chatbots and how do they work?

So, what are chatbots and how can they work for your estate agency?

Chatbots are AI-powered tools designed to interact with users through text or voice.

Today’s chatbots are progressively using conversational AI techniques like natural language processing (NLP) to comprehend user queries and automate responses to them.

Another is machine learning. This enables chatbots to process and respond to user questions by establishing trends and patterns using huge amounts of data. Of course, this means they are constantly improving because of their interactions. They are becoming ever more sophisticated.

Estate agencies typically use chatbots for answering FAQs and scheduling property viewings.

Benefits of chatbots for estate agency websites

There are many benefits to be gained by estate agents using chatbots. These include:  

24/7 availability
Chatbots can handle enquiries outside of business hours, when no sales agents are in the office, ensuring potential leads are never missed. For example, a chatbot will respond to a query at midnight about a property for sale. This shows clients that you care about your service levels, giving them immediate answers to their questions around the clock.  

Lead generation for estate agents 
Chatbots can also collect contact details, preferences and budgets from website visitors. They can filter serious buyers from casual browsers by asking targeted questions, for example. This is priceless information which helps you prioritise sales calls and follow ups.

Enhanced client engagement
Instant responses improve user experience and reduce bounce rates. A chatbot can guide users to property listings that match their needs, for example, so you can keep potential clients glued to your website at any time of day or night.

Time and cost efficiency
Estate agency website automation reduces the workload for sales agents, allowing them to focus on closing deals. Automating common tasks like scheduling property viewings or sharing pricing information is a huge benefit for estate agents and their teams. It also keeps potential clients happy.

Improved lead conversion
By providing instant answers, chatbots can nurture prospects until they’re ready or able to speak to an agent. Sales agents can follow up with users who showed interest in a property but didn’t take action.

How to integrate a chatbot on your estate website

Let’s take a look at the actionable steps you can take to integrate a chatbot on your estate agency website:

Step 1 – Choose the right chatbot platform
The first step is to choose which platform is right for you. Choose between tools such as Yellow AI, Drift, or Intercom, all which are tailored for the estate agency sector.

Step 2 – Customise the chatbot 
The next stage is to set up conversational flows that are specific to estate agency. For example, property searches or appointment bookings.

Step 3 – Test and optimise 
It’s absolutely crucial to ensure the chatbot works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices. With more and more users viewing websites on mobile devices, such as their phones or tablets, it’s vital to make sure the chatbot’s is working effectively on all screen types.

Regularly update the chatbot’s knowledge base with new properties and FAQs.

Step 4 – Promote the chatbot 
Once your chatbot is up and running effectively, promote it where possible. Describe the chatbot’s capabilities in marketing materials. And add clear calls to action (CTAs) on the website, like “Chat now for property info!”.

Potential challenges and how to overcome them

If you are reluctant to use a chatbot because you’re afraid your estate agency might be seen to be losing its personal touch, or because you’re worried it will only have limited capabilities that can’t deal with more complex enquiries, there is a simple solution. Your sales agents aren’t going anywhere. They’re still there to ensure clients receive the same levels of care and service. So, adopt a hybrid approach, where they make follow-up calls once they’re back in the office.

Your chatbot is simply a tool that adds value for clients. It’s an extremely cost-effective way of dealing with their needs out of hours.

There is so much to gain from having a chatbot for your estate agency website. You can give clients prompt answers to their property enquiries 24/7, streamlining communication and increasing lead conversion rates.

You can use this AI for estate agency marketing purposes, as you work with the data gathered by the chatbot.

Explore chatbot integration to remain competitive and improve client satisfaction. If you need any help, the WEBPRO Estate team will be happy to assist you.