![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/tcs-marketing-systems-project-launch.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\nWith Ontario now in the final phase of its three-part pandemic reopening plan, developers and sales professionals in the real estate sphere are adapting to the latest round of easing pandemic restrictions.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, we\u2019ve seen the return of open houses, higher indoor capacity limits and larger social gathering pools. These newly-implemented freedoms are shaping how pre-construction project sales launches are taking place these days, in addition to influential market trends and the still-prominent integration of real estate technology.<\/p>\n
Although current COVID-19 provincial policies permit bigger meetings and public events, the desire to use technology in real estate transactions remains strong. Tony Sbrocchi, TCS Marketing Systems\u2019<\/a> Director of Business Development, explains that the pandemic forced pre-construction sales methods to \u201cfinally catch up\u201d to what technology can offer in terms of simplifying the process.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200b\u200bIn our most recent launch, we had only a handful of clients with agents physically come into the sales centre. Under 10 percent of buyers stepped foot in the office,\u201d said Sbrocchi.<\/p>\n These days, the use of social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram by agents and developers to promote projects has changed how these opportunities are delivered to the client. As many cultures use their own social networks, such as WeChat, Sbrocchi explains that agents can also make use of these platforms \u201cto target certain [buyer] groups.\u201d The use of launch videos by developers and marketing professionals has made it easier for agents to be present for a sales launch with all of the information available in a digital format to send to their clients.<\/p>\n \u201cAcceptance by the legal community of electronic signatures for pre-construction agreements has made the process of purchasing much more convenient for all,\u201d said Sbrocchi. \u201cI believe this is one of the biggest changes to how our business is carried out now.\u201d<\/p>\n Glen Buttigieg, the Vice President of Sales at TCS Marketing Systems, explains that the firm is keeping a close eye on how the public is responding to Ontario\u2019s third stage of reopening. Buttigieg believes that buying and selling processes will continue to play out in the same manner that they have over the last 16 months until there is more consumer confidence with respect to the pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cStage Three allows for those buyers who want to \u2018touch, taste, smell,\u2019 the product to do so and make a more informed decision,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have seen a slowdown in traffic, I believe, mainly due to people wanting to enjoy the re-opening of cities that coincided with summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Historically, the summertime housing market is a slower season as children are home from school and employees take vacation time. While sales volume usually dips during this period, real estate prices tend to stay put. Buttigieg notes that market activity in August typically ramps up, with September marking the start of buying and selling activity back in full swing.<\/p>\n Recently, Buttgieg says that he has seen a steady volume of pre-construction sales as developers move forward with project launches. According to the latest data from the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), 24,060 new homes were sold<\/a> in the Greater Toronto Area during the first six months of 2021, a level that\u2019s 25 percent above the region\u2019s 10-year average.<\/p>\n \u201cLow-rise [demand] continues to lead the way, however, we are seeing the resurgence of mid- and high-rise as of late,\u201d he said. \u201c[The] right product in the right location continues to do well. The old adage, \u2018location, location, location,\u2019 still holds true.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Photo: Priscilla Du Preez<\/a> \/ Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Photo: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n