Why Your Next Real-Estate Deal Might Involve a Robot

Right before Laura Franco went to look at a three-bedroom apartment for rent in Santa Clara, Calif., in mid-January, she got a surprising text message from the property manager, Zenplace. "They said a robot would meet me at the property. I thought, 'a robot?' " said Ms. Franco, 31, an event planner and bartender. When she arrived at the listing, a text message provided her with a code she used to let herself in. Then a long-necked white robot on wheels, with a screen that looks like a small tablet, rolled up to her.