631 Talbot St., St. Thomas 519-207-0777 book online at angrybearbarbershop.ca Your Local Choice. Rooted in your Community Since 1881. PEACE, LOVE & GREAT HAIR merry christmas He believes the technology will reshape the way buyers expect to shop for homes, while reinforcing, rather than replacing, the role of realtors. “I do think it’s going to change how people shop for homes,” Jeff says, “But not because it’s replacing real estate agents – it’s changing buyer expectations. Today’s buyers expect answers immediately. If they’re standing in front of a home on a Sunday evening, they don’t want to wait until Monday morning to learn about the property. They want answers right then and there.” Jeff compares the shift to the evolution of online banking and online shopping: “Those industries didn’t eliminate professionals, they made information more accessible and made the customer experience better. Real estate is heading in that same direction.” He emphasizes that buyers still need trusted professionals to guide them through pricing, negotiations, inspections, and closing a transaction: “Talk to the Home doesn’t replace that relationship. It starts the conversation sooner and helps buyers make more informed decisions.” Unlike a traditional MLS listing, the platform isn’t limited by space. “The biggest difference is the amount of information that can be provided,” Jeff notes. “There’s virtually no limit to what a realtor can add to the listing. It can also notify buyers about price improvements and upcoming open houses.” One of the platform’s standout features is its ability to communicate in more than 30 languages; something Jeff believes reflects Cana- da’s increasingly diverse communities. “Canada has people from all over the world,” he says. “Communities are becoming more diverse every year, and this helps bridge those language barriers.” While so far, buyers have largely asked traditional questions, the platform has already influenced how listings are prepared. “As realtors, we know people often ask about things like ceiling heights in unfinished basements,” Jeff says, “Or whether a home
Jennings Founder and CEO, Gavin White, envisioned a platform where buyers could gather the information they need without feeling pressured to contact an agent before they were ready. That vision became Talk to the Home, a system that allows buyers to call, text, or scan a QR code on a listing and instantly ask questions about the property. The AI-powered assistant responds around the clock, providing details about the home, neighbourhood, nearby schools, features, and much more. Created by realtors, Gavin White and Jeff West of Right at Home Realty Brokerage, and after a successful local rollout that has already seen approximately 30 listings using the platform, the technology is now launching nationally. According to Jeff West, the idea was born from a common frustration experienced by both buyers and real estate professionals. “There’s a lack of information through other platforms, and as realtors, we often find buyers are asking the same questions that simply aren’t available online,” Jeff explains. “There can also be language barriers between buyers and agents, so we wanted to create something that makes important information available to everyone.” Real Estate Speaks Your Language with Talk to the Home Buying a home often begins with questions: how old is the roof? Is there room for an in-law suite? What schools are nearby? Traditionally, finding those answers meant waiting for a realtor to return a call or searching through limited listing information. A new Canadian platform called Talk to the Home is changing that by allowing buyers to have a conversation directly with a home’s listing, anytime, in more than 30 languages.
Page 38 Hometown St. Thomas • December 2025 Stop in for all your Fall Décor, Pumpkins, Straw & Gourds
To advertise here contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
CHICKEN
ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPICY
BUFFALO
Proud Canadian Farmers
KOREAN BBQ
(519) 631-1370 5680 Sunset Road (on the way to Port Stanley) Open 7 days a week. www.debackerefarmmarket.ca
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY.
ST. THOMAS 1063 TALBOT STREET 400 HIGHBURY AVENUE
AYLMER 555 JOHN STREET
© 2026 Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC
Page 28 Hometown St. Thomas • September 2026
To advertise here contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs