Source: Freepik Author: Redaction There is now a greater commitment to the future on the part of companies , which are increasingly investing in measures aimed at the well-being of their employees, the communities in which they operate and the protection of the planet. It was in this context that Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) emerged, which in Portuguese can be translated as environmental, social and good corporate governance practices. This is a set of pillars created by the United Nations (UN) Global Compact in partnership with the World Bank , related to the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose aim is to assess the performance and sustainability of companies, particularly in the area of the environment, social relations and the transparency of their practices. What are the ESG Pillars? The implementation of good environmental practices has been increasing over the years, mainly due to natural disasters and pandemics, which have made it clear to companies that financial sustainability is dependent on environmental and social sustainability. As such, more and more companies are developing programmes based on ESG practices, namely: Environmental - taking greater care with carbon emissions and energy efficiency, using renewable energies, conserving natural resources and reducing pollution and waste; Social - developing better working conditions and labour relations, policies that ensure diversity, as well as responsible investment and safety; Governance - anti-corruption practices, business ethics and fair corporate policies. How ESG works in the property market ESG can have a significant impact on the property sector through the promotion of sustainability and the implementation of positive practices, in a scenario where the demand for developments with environmental certificates has increased , as has the preference for real estate agencies that demonstrate this concern. To implement ESG practices in your agency you can: - Solicit sustainable projects , with green building practices and energy-efficient technologies; - Support local social projects; - Promote diversity and inclusion within the company; - Establish policies and guidelines that promote transparency in your business; - Create a secure whistleblowing channel; - Creating communication about your agencys efforts to implement sustainable practices. There are also various certifications that can help you assess a propertys performance. Knowing about them can be an advantage that will make you stand out from the competition, increasing the success and reputation of your estate agency. Adopting approaches geared towards environmental, social and governance sustainability is an asset for your business, as it will create a differentiating factor that will attract investors and meet customers high expectations, as well as contributing to a more sustainable and responsible future . Related to this topic, read: What certificates should my property have? SUPERCASA answers or How to maximise natural resources in construction
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction In a statement sent to SUPERCASA Notícias, AICCOPN reveals that in the first ten months of 2023, the amount of public works tenders awarded totalled 5,074 million euros , corresponding to a significant increase of 73% compared to the same period last year. In turn, by the end of October 2023, public works contracts concluded and reported on the Base Portal, within the scope of public tenders, totalled 2,026 million euros, corresponding to a year-on-year increase of 28% . As a result, the difference between reported contracts and tenders launched in the same way has totalled around 3.048 million euros since the start of the year. Public works contracts awarded as a result of Direct Adjustments and Prior Consultations totalled 449 million euros in the period under review, which translates into a year-on-year variation of +32%. As a result, in the first ten months of this year, the total amount of public works contracts awarded and registered on the Base Portal totalled 2.676 billion euros, which is 33% more than in the same period last year. Read more: Topographical survey: how important is it? or Public works record their biggest financial deviation in 17 years
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction In recent years, the necessary conditions have come together to create an economic storm , such as geopolitical tensions, high inflation and the large increase in interest rates by the European Central Bank (ECB). These factors are already affecting the economy and making themselves felt in the Eurozones property sector , especially in the residential market, where high interest rates are slowing down demand for homes and creating a subsequent fall in prices. Following the presentation of the November Financial Stability Report, Luis de Guindos, vice-president of the ECB, addressed this issue, stating that the outlook for financial stability is fragile, as tighter financial conditions increasingly spill over into the real economy in an environment of weak growth, high inflation and rising geopolitical tensions . The property markets in the Eurozone are in recession , with the high cost of mortgage finance making access to housing more difficult, something that is now being reflected in residential property , which is seeing a fall in prices due to low demand. In the commercial property market , the situation is similar, with high financing costs due to high interest rates, exacerbated by the lack of demand for office and retail property since the pandemic . Although interest rates have risen frequently over the last year, the full impact of tighter financial conditions on the real economy has yet to be felt, the report says, pointing out that many financial institutions granted loans when interest rates were still very low , which could mean problems for companies when the cost of credit rises. The ECB therefore recommends that banks increase their capital reserves in order to ensure the resilience of the financial system, although the Council considers that, in general, the Eurozone banking system is in good condition to withstand risks . Read also: Real estate accounts for 35.4 per cent of banking assets and Portuguese banks are more profitable than their European counterparts
Source: SUPERCASA Author: Redaction The Real Estate eGO Workshops have been very successful from north to south of the country, having promoted, throughout this year, several learning opportunities for agencies and consultants. On November 23rd, the ego Real Estate team was present on the island of Madeira with an exclusive event that hosted several real estate agencies in the region. With the theme Sales in Real Estate , agencies, consultants and managers had the opportunity to learn more about the different features of real estate management CRM as true allies in the day to day management of your business and at all stages of the process of selling, buying or renting a property. In this way, participants were able to watch practical examples on how to automate daily tasks in their CRM , which allows real estate professionals to gain time to focus on what they love to do: sell. As has already been customary in the Real Estate Ego Workshops, and Madeira was no exception, this event gave way to an authentic forum for the establishment of new contacts, exchanges of ideas and sharing of knowledge . During the event, the team had the opportunity to speak with some Madeiran agencies, namely Pro Real Estate , in the person of Paulo Camacho, CEO of the agency . The opinion of the Workshop in 1st hand by those who use the eGO Present in the market for almost 2 years and with a differentiated customer portfolio, Paulo Camacho considered the MLS Network ego Real Estate very advantageous , since it allows his agency to share real estate with other agencies, at national level, which are integrated in this network. Since it is the largest MLS network in the country, there are several advantages that this feature offers, with particular emphasis on the fact that it responds to a permanent need of the real estate market: guarantee the buyer customer who presents the property that he seeks and find the right customer for the property raised. This was one of the highlights of the Workshop, in which the ego team had the opportunity to share all the advantages of the MLS Network, as well as to clarify the various doubts that were placed throughout the event. Another advantage pointed out by the CEO of Pro Real Estate Madeira is the full integration of CRM with other fundraising tools, such as the real estate site: from the site to the CRM, everything is incorporated , which makes the whole activity much easier, allows the integrated management of different channels from a single location. Regarding the premium monitoring provided by the ego Real Estate team , Paulo Camacho says that it is very good , since it is a team available at all times to meet all doubts and requests, helping Pro Real Estate Madeira 100% . The Workshop ended with Ginjinha dÓbidos and the kisses of Caldas, in a welcoming atmosphere among all participants, reinforcing the importance that this type of events represent for a sector in constant evolution, since they give real estate professionals the opportunity to know the news of the market and to create a moment of knowledge sharing. Interested in participating? Point out in your agenda the next one: Aveiro !
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Real estate and debt securities account for 50% of the Portuguese banking systems total assets, according to the November Financial Stability Report. In June this year, exposure to real estate accounted for 35.4 per cent of assets. Despite a reduction of 1.1 per cent, loans to individuals secured by real estate continue to be the component with the greatest weight in assets, at 26.2 per cent, reveals Banco de Portugal, adding that in June 92 per cent of the stock of housing loans granted to individuals had a loan-to-value ratio (LTV) of less than or equal to 80 per cent. The correction of property prices is pointed out as a risk factor for the bank , however, the low percentage of the mortgage loan portfolio with high LTVs can mitigate the impact of a possible reduction in residential property prices, and the shortage of supply also limits the potential for price reductions. In Portugal, property funds are mostly closed funds , which means there is less liquidity risk, the supervisor points out. The portfolio of public debt securities accounted for 15.5 per cent of assets and has decreased over the last few years. Of the total public debt securities in the portfolio, Portugal accounted for 40.5 per cent in June 2023. This figure is still above the euro area average and Portuguese banks still have large amounts of Portuguese public debt in their portfolios. Follow this and other topics in SUPERCASA Notícias
Source: eGO Real Estate Author: Redaction The 19th edition of SIMED - Mediterranean Real Estate Show brought thousands of professionals and brands from the sector to the Malaga Congress Centre for three days of exhibitions, presentations and debates featuring the main players in the Spanish market. Between 16 and 18 November, it was possible to bring together in the same space a showcase of the best in the Spanish real estate market, with the collaboration and participation of CRM eGO Real Estate, a Portuguese brand with a significant presence in the neighbouring country. With a stand prepared to welcome all visitors to the fair, eGO Real Estate was able to stand out for its affinity with people and its rigour in presenting functionalities and products, such as Datacasa - the Spanish brand that is a counterpart of the Infocasa prospecting platform. The SIMED organisers admit that they set out to tackle new challenges this year, seeking to strengthen business opportunities and foster collaboration between the different players in the sector. To this end, two new forums were successfully organised, entirely dedicated to public-private partnerships, attracting investment and residential tourism. As part of its continuous evolution initiative, SIMED also integrated two new spaces into the show: the SIMED Arena, a 500-seat auditorium that will have provided a unique environment for presentations and debates integrated into the exhibition area, and the SIMED Club, a space for exhibitors, sponsors, collaborators and speakers, with the aim of promoting networking and exclusive interaction. Read also: SUPERCASA marks 10th anniversary of Magazine Imobiliário
Source: JLL Author: Redaction According to the data revealed in JLL s Global Real Estate Technology Survey 2023 , sent in a press release to the SUPERCASA Notícias newsroom, commercial property occupiers say they are increasingly inclined to invest in technology. According to the study, 91 per cent of the occupiers surveyed would prefer to pay more if the spaces were more technological , as they believe that technology represents added value, making them more profitable. Spending on technology in property tends to grow faster than investments in people, physical space and operating budgets. The survey also concludes that sustainability-orientated tools will underpin increases in spending on technology , highlighting the commercial and regulatory requirements driving the race towards carbon neutrality. Respondents expect energy solutions to have a greater impact on the property sector over the next three years. Occupiers are looking for technology that makes their assets more profitable and improves both their business decision-making and their sustainability performance. At JLL we already have solutions that allow us to act in this direction based on data, such as new decarbonisation software solutions, explains Maria Sacadura Botte, Head of Project & Development Services and Sustainability at JLL . Still on the subject of technological advances in sustainability, respondents pointed to artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI as the technologies expected to have the greatest impact on the property sector over the next three years. Surprisingly, the majority admitted to having limited knowledge of AI, despite labelling it as an important tool. Digitalisation in commercial real estate is advancing at such a rapid pace that company managers are increasingly dependent on experts in the field to understand how certain innovations can impact the business. This is where we can play an important role, advising on the implementation of these technologies, Maria Sacadura Botte concludes in the note to which SUPERCASA Notícias has had access. In addition, the JLL study showed that occupiers are starting to care less about reducing costs and simplifying remote working through technology, and more about tools that reinforce the value of their business objectives through collaboration, optimisation and improved decision-making . According to the survey, it was also realised that: The focus on remote working tools is now turning to technology to support working in the office, with adoption rates increasing from 40 per cent to 50 per cent from 2022 to 2023; Technological solutions for health and well-being have increased from 25 per cent to 48 per cent; Platforms that enable consolidated insights (47 per cent) and drive predictive management (43 per cent) are among the top priorities; Immersive technology in the workplace, such as virtual reality and augmented reality , is one of the top five technologies that companies intend to adopt next (44 per cent). The JLL Global Real Estate Technology Survey 2023 was carried out with Meridian West in May and June 2023. The 1,006 respondents included more than 600 property market leaders from major occupiers and more than 400 leaders from investors, landlords and property developers. The respondents are located in 10 markets worldwide: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. If you liked this article, read on: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Property Market , The importance of Virtual Tours in Real Estate Mediation
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Whatsapp is a multiplatform application that allows you to send instant messages and voice calls , as well as multimedia content such as images and videos, PDF documents and website links. However, what is the advantage of this tool for the property sector? It may seem like a simple tool, but since the creation of WhatsApp Business , in which new features have been added that can help property consultants to serve their clients and promote their property adverts , this means of communication has become relevant to the sector and has begun to form part of the day-to-day processes of real estate brokerage, prospecting and canvassing. This instant communication tool can revolutionise the way consultants connect with their clients through direct, active and personalised contact. What are the best features for consultants? - Business profile: offers the possibility of providing users with all the information relating to your activity, such as your contact details and working hours; - Statistics: you can easily visualise data on contacts made, such as the number of messages sent, delivered and read; - Automatic replies: send an immediate automatic reply of greetings to potential clients contacts, or notify them that you will reply soon; - Sending documents: you can easily share all kinds of multimedia files, links to product pages or other relevant documents with your customers; - Labels: segment your customers with labels so that you can easily distinguish between customers looking for a house, customers selling a house, types of budget, location, etc. Benefits of selling via WhatsApp 1. Immediate and unlimited contact Most users read the messages they receive on this platform in a short space of time, which means youll be able to reach your customers more easily, know that theyve received your message and respond more quickly, which makes communication faster and more effective. This means you can answer any questions the potential buyer may have and provide all the necessary information easily and without limits, since WhatsApp doesnt impose character limits and allows you to send all kinds of content. 2. Share the best properties in your portfolio Use WhatsApp to publicise your property portfolio to various recipients via broadcast lists. In other words, you can create lists of contacts and select which ones you want to share your properties with, without having to select the same contacts each time you send. You can also create a catalogue to display your properties , where you can update their status, acting as a digital property showcase . Once youve captivated the potential client and made a face-to-face visit to the property, send a message reminding them of the propertys advantages , thus strengthening the relationship with the buyer and speeding up the sales process. 3. Security Messages sent via WhatsApp are encrypted , which means that all chats are encrypted as the data travels between devices. Encryption converts the data into coded text that only the sender and recipient can see. Even so, it is advisable not to share sensitive data and important documents. 4. Resource optimisation Using a chatbot on WhatsApp allows you to automate many of the daily communications you have to carry out , saving you time and allowing you to use your resources to create more complex and personalised interactions. Chatbots are also a useful tool for identifying and qualifying potential customers automatically , collecting essential information and targeting only the information that interests you. 5. Customer satisfaction Quick, personalised responses generate satisfied customers. Fast and effective communication will enable you to improve customer service, while remaining relevant and competitive in the digital marketplace. Even after the sale has been finalised, youll find a channel that allows you to build customer loyalty and guarantee ongoing satisfaction . Send follow-up messages, ask for feedback or offer additional support with this tool. Are you clear? Weve got more tips for you: Real estate: 8 reasons why clients dont buy , Real estate agency: the importance of good positioning or Working on commission: everything you need to know
Source: SUPERCASA Author: Redaction eGO Real Estate has organised a number of training sessions across the country, giving various agencies and real estate agents the chance to explore the countless potentialities of the market-leading CRM . Now, four years later, eGO Real Estate is returning to Madeira Island with a workshop that promises to be unique and enriching. If you dont already use eGO, we invite you to attend the workshop! With the theme Sales in Real Estate , this is a workshop that seeks to train consultants, managers and agencies on the various CRM functionalities associated with day-to-day business management and the respective prospecting and sales phases, in an everyday scenario where you can take advantage of its added value. Using complementary products such as Infocasa and Infocasa - My Routes , real estate professionals will learn about strategies that facilitate, optimise and speed up processes , in full integration with CRM. This not only enables sales opportunities to be properly monitored , but also a full record of activities with buying clients, such as requests and visit routes , as well as the creation of Comparative Market Analyses , which youll be able to create in real time during the event. If you are looking for a platform that will help you on a day-to-day basis, while providing you with different Digital Marketing solutions, real estate websites with the latest technology, and a wide range of real estate portals where you can advertise your properties, leading to your success and growth as a real estate professional, this is the right workshop for you! Come and meet us on 23 November at VidaMar Resort Hotel Madeira, from 9.45am to 5pm , and experience a unique day surrounded by the most specialised professionals in the market, who will not only provide you with a space to clarify your doubts and personalised support, according to the needs of your business, but who will also give you access to exclusive offers designed to make the most of your experience. If youre interested in this event, which is taking place next week, talk to us! Secure your place!
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction This Tuesday, 14th November, the Lisbon city council, led by Carlos Moedas, presented the budget for 2024, with the biggest investment ever in the areas of mobility and housing. An investment of 289 million euros is planned for mobility , and it is in public transport that there will be the biggest investment by Lisbon City Council and Carris, of 165 million euros between 2024 and 2027 , says vice-president Filipe Anacoreta Correia, who also underlines the goal of having 87% of the fleet decarbonised by 2027 . There are also plans to create two new deterrent parks and Navegante parks with free access for Navegante Pass holders, thus providing 1,956 new parking spaces in seven different locations: Pontinha Sul, Azinhaga da Cidade, Ameixoeira, Telheiras Poente, Telheiras Nascente, Avenida de Pádua and Colégio Militar. In housing, there is the biggest investment ever in Lisbons history, says the Finance Minister, with a planned budget of 150 million euros, an increase of more than 41.5 per cent compared to 2023 , for the construction of new housing projects, namely in Quinta do Ferro (São Vicente), Casal do Pinto (Beato) and Lumiars affordable rent. Lisbon City Councils most impactful budget figures - 289 million euros for Mobility; - 150 million euros for Housing; - 67 million euros for the General Drainage Plan; - 57 million euros in IRS refunds; - 9.1 million euros for Health; - 2.6 million euros for the Safe Rent Programme; - 1.6 million euros for the Municipal Rent Subsidy; The municipal budget proposal will be voted on by the Executive on 29 November and should have the final approval of the Municipal Assembly on 12 December. Read more: Real Estate Investments: Lisbon is one of the most attractive cities , Lisbon presents proposal for remodelling Martim Moniz Square or Lisbons Municipal Housing Charter is in public consultation
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Understanding the reasons that lead a potential customer to give up on a purchase is essential to improving the management of the sales strategy and, eventually, recovering lost opportunities. If you work with a sales funnel , then you know how difficult it is to record a negotiation as lost , however, although they can be reported as lost at any stage of the sales funnel, including these negotiations will ensure better management for your company. Main reasons for missed opportunities 1. Unsuccessful contact This type of missed opportunity occurs in the first stage of the sales funnel and is one of the most common. There are leads (potentially interested parties) who dont answer calls or respond to any kind of communication attempt, whether by WhatsApp or email. After several attempts, unsuccessful contacts lead to a missed opportunity that should be recorded in your sales funnel. 2. Lack of response Although similar to the previous reason, the two should not be confused. A lack of response happens when you are in contact with the prospect and they simply dont reply. It can happen at any point in the process and you should find out why from your contacts, in order to understand what may have been done to cause the prospect to walk away. 3. Lack of interest Whilst some customers stop responding, there are others who immediately show a lack of interest in the services presented to them. This reason may be clear at the first stage, although it can arise at any other stage of the sale, so you should try to understand why the customer has lost interest , while respecting their decision, since insistence can completely ruin your chances of winning the customer. 4. Postponement of purchase This is perhaps one of the most frustrating reasons, mainly because it happens at a later stage in the process and involves some work that wont pay off as quickly as youd like. There are various reasons for postponing a purchase, such as money, travelling, etc. A postponement is not a cancellation , so you can still try to reschedule. 5. Lack of finance Lack of funding is a recurring problem that can happen at any stage of the process . In these cases there is nothing you can do, but if you provide good customer service, you increase the chances that the customer will come back to you when they are in a better financial position . 6. Customer profile There are various buyer profiles, but not all of them are suitable for you and your company. Its important to carry out an assessment of your customers profiles so that you can adapt to their needs and avoid missing out on opportunities. 7. They bought from a competitor The worst reason to lose a sales opportunity is when the potential customer buys from the competition. When this happens, its important to reflect on the reasons that led the customer to prefer another service. This analysis will allow you to improve and grow your company , but in these cases it is very difficult to understand the real reason. 8. Invalid contact It may not be very common, but it can happen that you receive leads and then, when you try to contact them by phone, you realise that the contact is invalid. This can happen either because of a typing error, or because users have only provided their details in order to access your adverts and content, and have no real interest. In these cases, there is nothing you can do. Once you understand the reasons why customers give up on a purchase , you can use this information to improve your services . The first step is to map all the data to get a broad, clear view of what the biggest reasons are for abandoning the opportunity . You can map this information using a spreadsheet or a property CRM. However, the lack of automation in spreadsheets will make this a more labour-intensive and time-consuming process. The best method is through a property CRM which, as well as making the process easier, allows you to add all the necessary information in a simple and accessible way. This way you can find out - the most frequent reasons; - which professionals are responsible; - the stages with the highest rate of missed opportunities; - the origin of the leads; - the time spent on the process. Are you looking for a CRM that guarantees all this? eGO Real Estate is the most complete solution on the market.
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction PwC Portugal and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) have launched the annual Emerging Real Estate Trends in Europe report , which analyses the cities with the greatest potential for liquidity in times of risk in the property market . Portugal stands out, with Lisbon ranking eighth as the most attractive city to invest in property in 2023. In first place is London, in the United Kingdom. The Portuguese capitals position in 2023 was an improvement on last year , moving from 11th to 8th place, revealing the citys growth trends and economic potential , which presents itself as a safe investment location with business advantages for both foreign and domestic investors. The report concludes: With so much uncertainty at stake, property investors are naturally more careful than ever about how and where they invest their capital in Europe. For many, this means concentrating on cities that offer liquidity in times of greater risk . In second and third place in the ranking highlighted by the report are Paris, in France, and Madrid, a city in neighbouring Spain. London and Paris accounted for around 15% of the total volume of property transactions in Europe in the first nine months of 2023, but the liquidity premium associated with economic performance is also noticeable in other up-and-coming cities such as Madrid, Italy and Lisbon . Did you like this news? SUPERCASA Notícias recommends: Portugal follows international property trend