MAIN IMAGE: Terence Sewraj – CEO of The Virtual Agent (TVA)
Advertorial
CONSUMERS are going online to find suppliers – from groceries to fashion and professional services like doctors and lawyers. Leading South African proptech company, The Virtual Agent (TVA), is bringing this service to the real estate sector with the launch of Find an Agent.
“With TVA’s Find an Agent, we’re providing a specialised, localised online resource that we believe will become the most trusted go-to platform to match agents with buyers and sellers, and not just properties,” says Terence Sewraj, Chief Executive Officer.
In the past, agents and clients met online via property searches. The trend has moved to search for a top agent first and trust them to find a property or buyer.
Sewraj explains, “The property market is dynamic, and timing is everything. With property listings, stock can be left online for exposure, or not updated. A top agent who knows their area is a vital link in the chain that connects buyers and sellers, especially in the digital environment.
“Through Find an Agent, we’re bridging the gap between buyers, sellers, and their ideal agents by leveraging digital technology. This seamless connection sets the stage for agents to build meaningful relationships and guide their clients every step of the way.”
Making the match
The Virtual Agent’s guiding mission is to make real estate agents’ lives easier with digital technology, without the agent having to be a computer whizz. “TVA’s in-house developers customise our software for South African agents, and we react quickly to what they need. We’ve got the sharpest minds in the business working on the algorithm that drives the functionality behind Find an Agent.”
Candice Goldberg, TVA’s Head of Sales & Marketing, stresses the importance of the information agents include in their agent profile on the portal. “A comprehensive agent’s profile provides more data for the search algorithm to analyse, and this improves the agent’s probability of ranking higher,” she says.
For this digital match-making process to succeed, the agent can include a profile picture, a list of their awards and accolades, their experience, their qualifications, the types of property sales they specialise in, a bio and more. “As area detail is so important, we’ve included the opportunity to list farming areas very specifically. It’s really worth the agent taking some time to include all their info in the profile – and built-in AI is there to assist.”
Two-phase launch
Early next year, a media campaign will launch TVA’s Find an Agent to consumers. For property buyers and sellers, TVA’s Find an Agent will be as revolutionary for the business as the Yellow Pages was when it was first published in 1886.
“Every agent featured on TVA’s Find an Agent platform is ranked, fully licensed with a valid FFC, deeply committed to property transactions, and an expert in their local area,” explains Goldberg.
Booking an agent is easy. Similar to Google, the consumer can evaluate TVA’s recommendations and read client reviews and ratings. One-click takes consumers to the agent’s full brochure and contact details which include a direct link to the agent’s CRM and diary to book a meeting, or they can make contact via email, message or a phone call.
“For agents, enquiries appear as real-time alerts on their Find an Agent dashboard, seamlessly integrated into their existing TVA subscription. From there, agents can promptly make contact, with all details effortlessly syncing into TVA’s ecosystem. “Since consumers opt into Find an Agent, agents can immediately initiate the FICA and fraud verification process, streamlining the initial steps and clearing that first hurdle with ease.”
The Virtual Agent is harnessing the power of digital technology to give agents everything they need on the move. “With TVA everything an agent needs can be accessed on the platform and Find an Agent adds a targeted digital outreach tool that consumers will find very useful too.” Sewraj highlights that agents can look forward to a more refined platform designed to address core stock challenges, provide comprehensive guidance for their compliance journey, and offer access to top-tier partners who enhance their experience as property professionals. “At its core, TVA is an independent company built for South African agents, with their needs and success always at the forefront,” concludes Sewraj.
