How can clients customize their home search criteria in RealScout?
RealScout provides clients with a flexible and user-friendly platform to manage and customize their home search criteria. Below is a detailed guide on how clients can utilize these features:
Overview of Client Access
Clients have their own login credentials for RealScout, allowing them to access their accounts through the Home Search App or a web browser. This ensures that they can manage their search preferences anytime and from any device.
Search Criteria Customization
Once logged in, clients can open Settings to update their search criteria to better match their preferences. They can:
Adjust filters such as: - Price range - Number of bedrooms and bathrooms - Property types (e.g., single-family homes, condos, etc.)
Search by location using: - City, neighborhood, or ZIP code - Custom map boundaries that they can draw themselves.
Incorporate commute time by adding commute locations (e.g., workplace or school) to view estimated travel times from properties.
Alert Management
Clients can manage their email alerts to stay updated on new listings that match their criteria. They have the option to:
Set the frequency of email updates (e.g., ASAP, daily, or monthly)
Turn off alerts if they no longer wish to receive updates
Edit listing alerts set up by their agent
Create additional alerts themselves
Search Features
RealScout also offers advanced search capabilities, such as the ability to draw custom map boundaries. This feature allows clients to focus on specific areas that are most relevant to their search. By leveraging these features, clients can ensure that their home search experience is tailored to their unique needs and preferences.
Commute Time as a Search Criterion
RealScout offers features to incorporate commute time into property searches, helping clients find homes that align with their daily travel needs. While the platform does not support exact commute time filtering, it provides tools to approximate commute-based searches and display commute information for clients.
Adding Commute Time Criteria for Clients
To add commute time as a criterion for a client:
Navigate to the Clients page in RealScout.
Open the client’s profile by selecting their name.
Locate the Commute Time section within the profile.
Add the desired commute location (e.g., workplace or school). This will enable clients to view estimated commute times from properties to the saved location on the listing details page under the map.
Limitations of Commute Time Filtering
RealScout does not currently support filtering property searches by exact commute times. Agents cannot directly set commute time parameters during the search setup. Instead, commute times are displayed to clients when they view individual property listings.
Workarounds for Commute-Based Searches
To approximate a property search based on commute time, you can use the following methods:
Map Radius Search:
Use the map search feature to draw a radius around a specific address (e.g., workplace or school).
Enter the address, drop a pin, and use the circle tool to create a radius that roughly matches the distance for the desired commute time.
Save the search to share with your client.
Client-Specific Commute Locations:
Add a commute location in the client’s profile under the Commutes section.
When clients view a listing, they will see the estimated commute time from the property to the saved location. These methods provide an approximation of commute-based searches, helping clients make informed decisions about potential properties.