PHOTO: QR code technology
While Australians are accustomed to encountering QR codes at cafes and restaurants, the technology is now gaining traction in the realm of property rental and sales.
Real estate agents have adopted QR code technology as a means to attract potential renters and buyers. Unlike traditional real estate signs, these QR code signs omit details such as the listing agent’s name, contact information, property images, or even whether the property is for lease or sale.
Instead, the sign simply features a QR code that directs interested parties to the property’s online listing.
One Melbourne resident, who noticed a sign from Casey Estate Agents, described the new approach as “interesting,” while another questioned its effectiveness, expressing a preference for viewing property images.
“It worked, didn’t it?” another individual pointed out. “You were curious about the bright pink QR code and followed it. You probably wouldn’t have paid as much attention to a regular sign.”
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Komal Bornino, a real estate agent from Casey Estate Agents Melbourne, revealed that the agency has been utilizing boards featuring only a QR code to advertise properties for the past six months.
“We’ve received negative feedback as expected,” Bornino told Yahoo Finance. “However, we’ve also received positive feedback where people have said, ‘What a game changer.'”
According to Bornino, the primary advantage of QR code signs is their focus on the property itself, rather than the real estate agent responsible for leasing or selling it.
“We’re emphasizing that it’s not about our faces or our brand as real estate agents. It’s about selling or leasing the property,” she explained. “By eliminating faces and contact details from the boards, we’re solely spotlighting the property. If individuals are genuinely interested, they will scan the QR code.”
Bornino acknowledged some negative feedback regarding QR codes, particularly from individuals with disabilities or those unable to scan the code while driving past.
“Some have said, ‘What is that? It doesn’t even make sense,’ or simply, ‘I don’t like that,'” she noted.
Despite this, Bornino anticipates that QR code usage will become more widespread among real estate agents, citing their prevalence in various other industries.
“While some businesses have a general QR code leading to their agency website, our QR codes are property-specific. They are generated solely for that property, providing direct access to its listing upon scanning,” she emphasized.
Bornino clarified that QR code signs have not significantly impacted the speed at which properties are leased or sold, though this observation applies to boards in general.