Tag: New York

Housewarming gifts that’ll guarantee estate agents repeat business

by Charlotte C.

There’s a whole lot of house moving going on right now, as many property market sales transactions reach levels unseen in decades.

With this brings stiff competition amongst brokers, causing some agents to go above and beyond – even after the deal is done. 

So how can agents think outside the box when it comes to building long term client relationships, and leaving that all important lasting impression?

We’ve all heard about that agent who remembers their client’s birthdays, sending cards, flowers or baskets of chocolates. It’s not rocket science, but it’s the little things that can really count. 

Sometimes it’s the most unexpected (but quite obvious) ones that get remembered most.

We’ve shortlisted some of the best housewarming gifts real estate agents can give their buyers, guaranteed to get them repeat business. 

Give Love, Get Love

1. A local takeaway

After spending the day shifting all their worldly possessions off a truck, your clients are going to be hungry. It’s unlikely they’ll have done a grocery shop. Solve this problem by sending them dinner. Trust us, no ones ever turned down an UberEats driver with free burgers. Cinnabons are also a guaranteed winner.

2. A caffeine hit

It’s the first morning in a new house. No major hiccups. If only we knew where we’d packed the Nespresso machine! Doing a Starbucks run (or, again, sending a delivery driver to do it for you) will have your tired clients crying happy, caffeinated tears.

3. Cleaning products (or better still, a one-off cleaning service)

You’ll be surprised at the level of gratitude shown when dropping by with a box of cleaning essentials. If they don’t end up using them right now, you know they’ll get used in the future. Or better still, send them a cleaning service. Walking into a sparkling clean home when you’re still trying to get everything in your life back to normal brings such a sense of relief. It might not even be as expensive as you think.

4. Bathroom essentials

If there’s one thing that lockdown taught us, it was that toilet paper shortage is a thing. Bring a family size multi-pack of the quilted variety, and even some premium-scented hand soap. It won’t be awkward. And it will certainly be appreciated.

5. A quirky doormat

First impressions count – but so do lasting ones. And nothing says “Marhaba” quite like a brand new doormat. Chances are they left their old dusty one at the previous property. But no matter what their taste is, you’ll be able to find something that applies. For the designer shoe lovers out there, this one’s for you!

6. A house plant

House plants offer a wholesome, welcoming vibe to any room. Bring over a few small potted plants to add a bit of natural warmth to your buyer’s new home. If you’re not sure whether your client is a plant person then bring a succulent or two; they’re notoriously easy to keep.

7. A pool float

Pool owners love getting goodies for swim time. Maybe their new pad comes with a pool. Ride-on crocodiles, inflatable unicorns or giant doughnuts — whatever floats their boat. They’re almost guaranteed to secure you an invitation to their next pool party where networking and relationship building is certain to happen.

8. A mystery hamper

There’s a subscription box for just about anything your client is into. Fine beverages, scented candles, organic chocolates; these will go down a treat if they’re luxury lovers. Let them know you’re thinking of them with a gift box every so often.

Lasting Impressions Count

So next time you find your clients the perfect home, keep a note of their move in date, and bookmark this article. It will serve as the perfect reminder of how important you are to them, long after one of the most stressful days in their house-moving journey.

overwrite.ai is a pioneering Themed Generative AI, creating engagement-oriented content for the real estate industry. 

We create the marketing content that powers the real estate industries of the UAE, KSA, Egypt and Lebanon.

For informative news and views on the world of real estate, proptech and AI, follow overwrite on Instagram and LinkedIn, and keep up-to-date with our weekly NewsBites blog.

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Gen AI gives Gen Z’s a level footing at work

by Charlotte C.

Gen Z has had a hard landing into the workforce. 

Starting jobs amid the global pandemic, many of these new workers have missed out on gaining essential hard- and soft skills usually gleaned by working alongside older colleagues.

However, as the first truly digital generation, their innate fluency with technology could help them make up some of that ground – especially as AI becomes a hugely important part of the modern workplace.

“With AI, people tend to fall into a dystopian or utopian outlook, and younger people normally fall into the latter,” she says. “While there isn’t huge amounts of quality research into this yet, anecdotally, young people are more accepting and willing to adapt AI into their daily lives and at work.” – Emma Parry, HR professor at Cranfield School of Management, UK

Stephanie Forrest, the founder of TFD, a London-based strategic communications consultancy in the tech space, has seen first-hand how Gen Z employees use AI technology with ease, and are quickly becoming essential in the workplace. “They don’t question [the technology] – they simply see it as a way to optimise what they are already doing.” 

At TFD, she says, Gen Z were the first employees to experiment with generative AI tools such as Open AI’s ChatGPT for tasks including admin, research and email composition.

“Since AI is so new for everyone, it puts Gen Z employees on a level footing with other members of a team, providing them with a way to meaningfully contribute. AI enables forward-looking companies to learn from younger employees, in terms of how they use technology to be more efficient,” says Forrest.

Gen Z: the first employees to experiment with
generative AI tools

“Gen Z employees can leverage their AI knowledge to innovate and streamline processes and help bridge the gap between technical and non-technical roles,” – Professor Weiguo (Patrick) Fan at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, US

This can help them stand out. For instance, at VEM Medical, a US-based medical tool company, “Young employees’ ability to use AI technology to automate tedious jobs and optimize workflows has grown our productivity dramatically,” says Derrick Hathaway, sales director.

Additionally, says Fan, “Gen Z’s familiarity with AI helps these younger employees adapt to these changes and understand the implications of AI on their roles, making them flexible and dynamic employees.” Fan adds how these skills are especially valuable in industries including technology, finance, healthcare, marketing and manufacturing, where companies are rapidly integrating AI and machine learning.

Click here to access the full article 

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of overwrite.ai and its owners.

Elizabeth Bennett writes for the BBC.

This story has been published from an article in BBC WORKLIFE published on July, 2023

About overwrite.ai

overwrite.ai is a pioneering Generative AI, creating engagement-oriented content for the real estate industry.  We create the marketing content that powers the real estate industries of the UAE, KSA, Egypt and Lebanon.

New York: Sinking under the skyscrapers

by Charlotte C.

New York City is sinking under the massive weight of its skyscrapers.

New research has revealed that the combination of massive skyscrapers and a rising sea level could make the city more prone to natural disasters.

However, researchers said developers are not taking the risk of rising waters seriously enough, and this could spell trouble for the over 8 million residents of the city in the future.

A team at the University of Rhode Island took on the daunting task of estimating the total weight of the more than 1 million buildings that make up New York City. They found that almost 1 trillion kg of concrete, steel and glass are pushing down the ground, causing it to slowly sink lower towards sea level.

HOW FAST IS NYC SINKING?

The famed eight-block-long Wall Street in the financial heart of New York is just 1 to 2m above sea level.
Midtown Manhattan is built on rock, which compresses very little. However, Brooklyn and Queens have looser soil, which causes the sinking to happen faster.

Fears for a slowly sinking city

Parts of Lower Manhattan were artificially expanded by land reclamation near the coastline, making the ground more vulnerable to gravitational forces from the weight of the buildings because it is not as compact as natural landscape.

As a result, some of the land there is sinking twice as fast, at a rate of up to 4mm per year.

POLICIES NEED TO CHANGE

Researchers said that while it is not yet an emergency, they want to provide the science to help with future planning.

“This is where the policy comes into play. This is where we have the responsibility to integrate this data, this science, with other science and climate science, and talk about the impacts.”  

– Mr Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a senior researcher at Columbia University’s Climate School

However, construction is showing no signs of stopping.

The same waterfront areas that bore the brunt of the devastation from Hurricane Sandy and the more recent flash floods have seen some of the highest rates of new housing developments.

New York Floods after Hurricane Sandy

The city, which has some of the most expensive land in the United States, stands to lose a lot as rising seas continue to erode the shore, said observers.

A CITY WITH A LOT AT STAKE

“In the New York area, as we project to 2050, the amount approaches US$1 billion.This is not the retail value of land but the tax-assessed value. This value supports property taxes and all of the municipal services dependent on those.” – Peter Girard, vice president of communicationsresearch organisation, Climate Central

The city ranks third in the world in terms of the value of real estate assets exposed to coastal flooding, after Guangzhou and Miami.

This could mean big losses for owners and investors if natural disasters hit.

For full article click the link below.