The Property Industry Is Going Remote — But Is It For The Better?

11 February 2026

Toby Patrick

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Let’s face it, the world is going remote. Remote jobs, remote companies and even remote industries are quickly becoming the norm in business. There are both challenges and opportunities that come with this, which will differ from one case to the next. Today, we’re going to take a look at the property industry, an industry that is going nowhere but one that is certainly evolving. A large part of this evolution is seeing the property market become increasingly remote; it’s even possible to go through the whole process of buying a property without any human contact. In this article, we’re going to explore this shift and discuss whether this change is for better or for worse.

Red brick apartment building with black railings and small balconies. Potted plants line the front. A clear sky and lampposts in view.

A Quiet Shift

Some industries’ move to operating remotely has happened quite drastically, brought about by the need to work from home during the pandemic. But in the case of property, it’s been heading this way long before lockdown. Online-only estate agents emerged over ten years ago, and virtual viewings grew in popularity prior to them becoming the norm during COVID. While some industries are shifting towards virtual because it’s “on-trend”, the property industry’s move is one that offers genuine benefits in the form of speed, cost and convenience.

The Dangers Of A Remote Property Industry

Where there’s opportunity, there is often danger too. The convenience of using a remote agent or conveyancer is balanced out by the rise of remote providers who hide behind faceless personas to offer substandard services. If we travel back to the start of the 21st century, buyers had to meet with their solicitor, estate agent and so on. Nowadays, deals can be done over the phone or via email, and while this offers convenience, it also creates ambiguity around the work being completed and who is to be held accountable when mistakes occur. It must be said that in most cases, remote service providers do offer efficiency and convenience, but the small selection of bad actors in the industry is preventing remote workers from gaining 100% trust over those who still deal face-to-face with clients.

The Case for Hybrid Approaches

If physical environments provide trust and remote ones offer convenience, then the ideal solution possibly lies in a combination of the two, which is probably where we’re currently at. A hybrid offering in the property industry combines technology with human judgment, providing both speed and accuracy. Take a property valuation for example, AVMs have allowed us to get near instant valuations for properties, but often fall short in terms of accuracy when compared with a RICS valuation, which is carried out by a chartered surveyor. A RICS desktop valuation however offers the best of both worlds, using vast quantities of data but also the expertise of a qualified human.

Remote Isn’t The Problem

Ultimately, just because something is remote doesn’t mean it should be avoided. That includes services within the property sector, and we’re not saying you should avoid remote agents or advisors. However, when there is a lot to lose, like there is when buying or selling a property, it’s imperative that you do your due diligence. And remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is!

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Seagate’s £100m Boost: Why Northern Ireland Is Back on the Global Tech Map

Paul Francis
Sep 16, 2025
2 min read

In Derry, the hum of industry is about to get louder. Seagate Technology, the American data storage giant, has announced a £100 million investment into its facility in Northern Ireland. The move is being hailed as one of the largest single manufacturing investments in the region’s recent history, bolstered by an additional £15 million from Invest NI, the government-backed economic development agency.

Close-up of an opened hard drive, showcasing the metallic arm and disk under warm lighting. The background is dark, creating a focused, tech mood.

For a region that has seen more than its fair share of economic uncertainty, this is no small vote of confidence.

A long-standing relationship

Seagate’s presence in Derry is not new. The company first opened its manufacturing plant in 1994 and today employs around 1,400 people. Over the years, it has become one of the most significant private employers in Northern Ireland, producing cutting-edge components that feed into Seagate’s global operations.

This new cash injection will help the site focus on developing next-generation hard drives with dramatically increased storage capacity. With data demand exploding worldwide, Seagate wants to make sure Northern Ireland remains a cornerstone of its international supply chain.

Why Derry?

Northern Ireland may not be the first place most people think of when they picture the tech industry, but Seagate’s decision highlights the region’s unique advantages. The facility offers both a skilled local workforce and strong research ties to nearby universities. The government has also been keen to push Northern Ireland as a base for advanced manufacturing, particularly as the UK looks to balance growth across regions rather than concentrate it in London and the South East.

Politicians in Stormont and Westminster alike have welcomed the announcement as a rare good news story for a region still navigating the economic fallout of Brexit.

The bigger picture

The expansion comes at a time when global demand for data storage is ballooning. Everything from streaming services to cloud computing requires vast amounts of memory. By investing heavily now, Seagate is betting that hard drives will remain a vital part of the digital backbone, even as solid-state technologies rise.

There are challenges, of course. Asia remains a dominant force in hardware manufacturing, and the UK continues to wrestle with a shortage of STEM graduates and skilled engineers. The global supply chain is also volatile, with demand fluctuating alongside tech cycles.

Yet Seagate’s investment could make Londonderry one of the key hubs for global storage technology. For Northern Ireland, it is not just about jobs today, but about staking a claim in tomorrow’s digital economy.