The estate agency refurbishment specialist is increasingly being asked to incorporate touch-screens into its designs, and has started working with the leading touch-screen company for the property sector.
Mike Simons, Partner at MPL Interiors, says a need for a heightened high-street presence and a desire to keep up-to-date with modern life has prompted a spike in enquiries:
"Touch-screen technology is part of everyday living - whether someone is using a smartphone, a tablet or a computer screen. Today's home movers will be used to tapping and swiping to conduct property searches so we knew it wasn't going to be long before touch-screen technology arrived on the high street."
The screens offered through MPL Interiors can be mounted in a window display or set into a coffee table, and the displays provide access to the agent's entire portfolio via an easy-to-use interface. When it comes to the window-mounted version, the user touches the glass from the street side of the office, while the coffee-table screens are touched directly.
Mike adds:
"The benefits of having a touch-screen in your window are numerous. Firstly, it allows people to interact with your company without actually setting foot into your office. Some people feel quite intimidated at the thought of walking into an estate agent, especially if they are just browsing, but a touch-screen enables them to explore the notion of moving home without any hard sell.
The screens perform well in all conditions - even in direct sunlight - making them an around-the-clock focal point. This is an innovative product that gives a competitive edge over other agents otherwise offering similar services. Plus the quirkiness of a touch screen will ensure you're not forgotten in a crowded market."
Mike feels that a window-mounted touch-screen really comes into its own once an office is unmanned:
"The screen is like an extra member of staff, working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once all your staff have gone home the screen remains switched on and is especially enticing after dark when the illumination is quite arresting."
Steve Blackaller, Sales Manager at InTouch Property Search, says window touch-screens are also a vital tool in the drive for data capture:
"With people using touch-screens on an around-the-clock basis, agents will want to capture details when their staff aren't there. We've recently developed the screen so a pop-up keypad appears, allowing the user to submit enquiries directly from the window. It also provides the agent with usage statistics, enabling the identification of trends in property requirements. What's also great about the technology is the ability to show every offices' properties on a single screen - perfect for multi-branch agencies who want maximum exposure."
A recent recipient of a window-mounted touch screen is Hearnes in Bournemouth. The agency's owner, Lyndon Le Boutillier, says:
"The screen is like using a big iPhone. It's become a real talking point in the town and relates to how people now search for property at home and while on the move. Touch-screen technology is what people feel comfortable with so we decided to embrace the idea. The screen allows people to search for property and register their details outside of our operating hours, which is fantastic."
While touch-screens in the window encourage everyone to explore, a screen mounted within a coffee table is a brilliant tool for agents who are working with hot prospects inside the office:
"It's easy for MPL Interiors to create a relaxed, comfortable seating arrangement around a touch-screen coffee table. It allows the negotiator and the home mover to look at properties and industry information without the awkwardness of hovering around a desktop screen or looking at print-outs," concludes Mike.
MPL Interiors can work one or a number of touch-screens into your office refurbishment, making provision for power supply, cables and feature lighting.
