Beyond square feet, why the right property professional matters after sale
KUALA LUMPUR: For generations, buying a home meant ticking the same familiar boxes — location, layout, facilities and price.
In the evolving real estate landscape, the role of property professionals is shifting from focusing solely on the property itself to emphasizing the ongoing experience that follows ownership, according to PropNex chief project officer Steve Tong. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into residential living is redefining the homeowner's journey, moving beyond the initial sale to encompass technology support, upgrades, and long-term value throughout ownership.
Datuk Firdaus Musa, executive chairman of Firdaus & Associates, highlights that buyers now face questions about the functionality, practicality, upgradeability, and post-sale support of technological features in homes. Experienced professionals are crucial in providing reassurance and helping buyers understand the longer-term value proposition of these intelligent homes.
The AI Living @ i-City project, the world's first residential concept to integrate AI and robotics into everyday living, underscores the significance of this shift. The developer, I-Berhad, has partnered with four property agencies to guide buyers through the pre-launch registration process, with Firdaus & Associates taking the lead. Firdaus stresses that property professionals must now communicate the added value of intelligence in homes, helping buyers comprehend the technology's lasting value.
As AI becomes more ingrained in residential property, property professionals must develop the ability to translate technological advancements into tangible ownership value. IQI vice president Kamal Abd Ghafur notes that AI Living represents a natural progression of the industry's digital transformation, opening the door for AI to continue adding value long after homeowners move in.
ESP managing director Aldrin Tan emphasizes the potential for digital platforms to evolve into long-term ecosystems connecting developers, property professionals, and residents. He believes the real opportunity lies in integrating the entire property lifecycle, from initial purchase to ongoing ownership and services.
Firdaus believes that the property industry's continuous evolution, from integrated townships to smart homes, signifies that AI and robotics represent the next frontier. He underscores that early involvement in this emerging sector is crucial, as it allows professionals to learn from buyer inquiries, concerns, and true priorities, creating capabilities and knowledge that will be invaluable as this category expands.
The bigger transformation, however, may occur after the sale. I-Berhad is developing UrbanOS, a digital orchestration platform designed to integrate AI, robotics, building systems, and resident services. Firdaus sees this platform as a potential game-changer, extending the property professional's role beyond transactional support throughout the home's ownership lifecycle.
This could include move-in support, upgrades, rental, resale, and other services that develop around the home. By adapting to this intelligent ecosystem, property professionals can remain relevant to homeowners long after the initial purchase, ensuring the profession's continued importance in an increasingly connected and intelligent real estate landscape.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
