Editor’s Note: This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin’ now at blog.rismedia.com:
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The media has paid a lot of attention over the past few years to the apparent unwillingness of millennials to buy homes. The statistic that one in three 18- to 34-year-olds lives with their parents (representing a throwback to the 19th century) tends to be wielded as evidence that this generation is living in a sustained state of adolescence, eschewing responsibility and the trappings of adulthood. Those that do live on their own choose to rent, rather than buy, the result of paltry savings (drained by student debt) and an aversion to being tied down.
This narrative, however, is a myth, and the notion that millennials have no interest in buying homes is vastly overblown. In fact, according to NAR’s 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study, millennials were the largest group of homebuyers (34 percent) for the fourth consecutive year in 2016. As Jeremy Wacksman, chief marketing officer at the Zillow Group, put it to NBC News, “Millennials are not just starting to buy homes; they’re powering the housing market.”
Most millennials are first-time homebuyers, which means any agent aiming to attract new clients has to get in front of this demographic. There are a number of ways agents can achieve better visibility with first-time homebuyers.
Go Mobile
An Experian study found that millennials spend more time on their phones than any other age group. Whether checking email, chatting with friends, hailing cabs, ordering food, or playing games, millennials use their phones for just about everything—and real estate is no exception. To get in front of first-time buyers, real estate professionals need a strong mobile presence. Prospects and clients should be able to browse listings on mobile, complete with high-quality images and detailed information, communicate with agents, and access documents.
Enable Self-Service
Millennials are independent and known for their proclivity towards self-service. Unlike older generations, which tended to value human-powered service, millennials would rather do things on their own using technology. They like to conduct their own research and remove middlemen as much as possible. To some agents, this might seem threatening, but it shouldn’t be. Agents still have a valuable role to play, but they will attract attention from first-time buyers more effectively if they give them the tools to help themselves. This entails making information readily available across channels. Prospects should be able to peruse listings on their own, find answers to common questions, and digitally contact agents with queries.
Use Photos and Videos
Millennials are a highly visual generation. Thanks to apps like Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, images are critical for attracting attention and engagement whatever the product. That said, this is especially true for a field like real estate, where how a property looks is one of the greatest factors in making a decision about it. Driving visibility with first-time buyers requires well-composed, professional-looking photos and videos for every listing. Statistics show that people respond more frequently to video than they do to text, so it’s also a good idea to integrate videos into email campaigns and on homepages.
Social Media
Millennials spend a lot of time on social media, so gaining visibility with first-time buyers requires a strong social media presence. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, and Snapchat are all effective channels for reaching this generation; however, it’s not enough to simply set up an account. Each social network has a distinct culture and type of content it is best suited for, and failing to get this right could alienate first-time buyers.
For example, Twitter can be a great way for agents to participate in discussions about relevant news stories, real estate trends, and local happenings, while Instagram is a powerful tool for cultivating a brand identity and connecting your listings with a lifestyle. Follow the 80/20 rule, meaning keep 80 percent of your posts on topics of interest and 20 percent about your business specifically.
Don’t hesitate to think outside of the box. For example, agents can use Facebook Live to live-stream open houses. Whatever channels you go for, make sure your logo appears on all social media sites, and strive to be “authentic.” Millennials place a premium on authenticity, so be casual, but consistent.
A new generation of homebuyers requires leveraging a new generation of tools. First-time buyers represent a goldmine of new business for real estate professionals who know how to get seen. The agents that come out ahead will be those who know the truth—millennials are ready and willing to buy homes, but they want to do it on their own terms.
Matthew Murphy is chief marketing officer of Chime Technologies.
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