We are proud to announce that our CEO, Sadie Yoshimi Hase, was featured in the April 2024 edition of Landlord and Homeowner, a leading monthly magazine for rental property owners.
This issue focuses on the importance of embracing foreign tenants as a crucial factor for the future growth of rental management in Japan. The magazine highlights SmileHome’s innovative, multilingual platform as a vital tool for facilitating this transition and supporting the acceptance of foreign residents.
SmileHome Inc. specializes in rental brokerage, daily support for foreign residents, and various supplementary services. Guided by the motto, “Making Japan the most livable country in the world,” SmileHome continues to provide seamless solutions to bridge the gap between foreign tenants and rental property management.
For inquiries, feel free to contact us at: info@smilehome.tokyo
Interview Highlights
SmileHome: Empowering Real Estate Agencies with RealTec for Seamless Support of Foreign Tenants
Company Name: SmileHome Inc. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
CEO: Sadie Yoshimi Hase
SmileHome Inc. leverages RealTec (Real Estate Technology) to support real estate agencies in catering to foreign tenants. Their flagship product, the cloud-based “SmileHome” platform, is designed to streamline interactions between foreign tenants and real estate agencies.
What SmileHome Offers
The SmileHome platform allows foreign users to handle a variety of tasks, including:
- Property searches
- Viewing requests and reservations
- Applications and contracts
- Life support requests
Simultaneously, real estate agencies can use the platform for:
- Property matching
- Screening
- Progress management
The platform supports five languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
A Unique Feature
SmileHome enables chat communication with built-in translation functions, allowing seamless interaction between foreign tenants and real estate agencies. The platform also supports three-way chats involving SmileHome staff when necessary, offering a level of service rarely seen elsewhere. Additionally, users can download important documents, such as contracts, in translated formats, making the rental process more accessible for foreign tenants.
Driving Productivity and Cost Savings
“Some real estate agencies spend hours assisting foreign tenants at their offices,” notes CEO Hase. Recognizing this inefficiency, SmileHome developed its platform to accelerate and simplify customer service. Research by SmileHome indicates that using the platform can reduce costs by over 40% compared to traditional in-person foreigner assistance through direct employment.
A Vision for the Rental Industry
Through its RealTec solutions, SmileHome is revolutionizing the rental industry by making it easier for agencies to support foreign tenants while improving productivity and reducing costs. The company’s efforts are paving the way for greater inclusivity in Japan’s rental market and helping the industry embrace the growing population of foreign residents.