The Rise of Cloud Computing in Real Estate
Five years ago, if someone had told me that I’d never have to save another file to my computer again, I would have thought they were out of their mind. But here we are, and more and more real estate professionals are making the switch to the cloud. As Adam Pash writes in Entrepreneur, “The internet has changed the way people do nearly everything—from consuming media to performing research to maintaining relationships to communicating. Its effect on business has been similarly wide-ranging. And today, for mission-critical data, internet-based computing—aka cloud computing—is introducing major changes to the way work is done.” [1]
It’s no surprise then, that real estate pros are starting to wake up to the power of cloud computing. They’re realizing that by making the move to cloud-based storage and software, they can access important documents anytime, anywhere. No more frantic rushes back to the office to dig up a file for a client. With cloud solutions, all you need is an internet connection and a smartphone. Your files are always with you, ready to go. [1]
But the benefits of cloud computing for real estate don’t stop there. It also makes sharing documents a breeze. As someone who works with clients, appraisers, lenders, title attorneys, escrow agents, and cooperating agents on a daily basis, I can tell you – being able to send files of any size, right from my phone, is an absolute game-changer. It keeps everyone in the loop and speeds up the closing process exponentially. Plus, with handy search functions, I can quickly find exactly what I need. [1]
Bulletproof Security and Backup
Of course, when it comes to real estate, data security is paramount. That’s why I was so relieved to discover that cloud solutions offer automatic backup and recovery. No more worrying about lost files due to theft, hardware failure, or natural disaster. Even if the unthinkable happens, I can get back up and running from anywhere. And with advanced encryption, I know my clients’ sensitive information is always protected. [1]
Choosing the Right Cloud Storage Solution
With so many cloud storage options out there, it can be tough to know where to start. But after doing my research, a few providers have really stood out to me:
| Provider | Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Dropbox | – Secure storage and sharing – Sync across devices – Easy to use |
Free for 2GB, paid plans start at $9.99/month |
| Google Drive | – 15GB free storage – Integrates with Gmail and other Google apps – Great for Android users |
Free for 15GB, paid plans start at $1.99/month |
| iCloud | – Sync across Apple devices – 5GB free storage – Affordable paid plans |
Free for 5GB, paid plans start at $0.99/month |
| Box | – Eliminates email attachment hassle – Seamless Microsoft and Google integration – Robust security features |
Paid plans start at $5/user/month |
| Microsoft OneDrive | – 1TB free with Microsoft 365 subscription – Familiar Microsoft integration – Easy file sharing |
$6.99/month for 1TB |
After weighing the pros and cons, I ended up going with Dropbox. The seamless cross-device syncing and user-friendly interface made it the perfect fit for my real estate business. And with the free 2GB of storage, it was an easy decision. [1]
Staying Ahead of the Curve
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that cloud computing is going to play an increasingly crucial role. Buyers are already doing the majority of their property research online before even contacting an agent. [2] And with homeownership rates on the rise, the demand for efficient, tech-savvy real estate services is only going to grow. [5]
By embracing cloud-based storage and software, I’ve been able to streamline my workflows, improve client communication, and strengthen data security – all while saving a ton of time and money. It’s a no-brainer, really. If you want to stay ahead of the curve and provide the best possible service to your clients, cloud computing is the way to go. [3,4,6,7]
So what are you waiting for? Take the leap, and let the cloud revolution transform your real estate business.
References:
[1] RISMedia. (2022, April 25). 7 Popular Tools to Run Your Real Estate Business in the Cloud. https://www.rismedia.com/2022/04/25/7-popular-tools-run-your-real-estate-business-cloud/
[2] Crain’s Chicago Business. (n.d.). Cloud storage company Box to lease West Loop office. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/cloud-storage-company-lease-west-loop-office
[3] Zoolz. (n.d.). Cloud Storage for Real Estate. https://www.zoolz.com/cloud-storage-for-business/bigmind/industries/real-estate/
[4] BairesDev. (2022, March 17). Cloud Computing for the Real Estate Sector. https://www.bairesdev.com/blog/cloud-computing-for-the-real-estate-sector/
[5] Zoho. (n.d.). 5 Benefits of Running Your Real Estate Business on the Cloud. https://www.zoho.com/workdrive/digest/5-benefits-of-running-your-real-estate-business-on-the-cloud.html
[6] NetApp. (n.d.). Cloud Real Estate: Opportunities and Challenges. https://bluexp.netapp.com/blog/cloud-real-estate-opportunities-and-challenges
[7] Reddit. (2021, February 15). Best cloud service for small companies. https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/comments/lkdz1i/best_cloud_service_for_small_companies/
