With the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be difficult to shop around for a home. Usually, it’s essential to visit a potential property to identify areas in need of repair or renovation, as well as to evaluate the neighborhood. If you have a property for sale, says Cory Real Estate Services, you want to be sure that the house is in top shape for any visitors and this means fixing any damage that will be visible for prospective buyers.
Since people are discouraged from traveling to minimize the spread of the virus, the real estate industry has come up with a solution: virtual home tours.
What Happens During a Virtual Home Tour?
If you’re setting up a house or condo for sale, a virtual home tour lets potential buyers explore your property from a remote location. Even before the pandemic, various real estate agents and home sellers were already using virtual reality for clients. Using a video camera, you can stream a live feed to give clients a visual walkthrough of the property for sale. Homebuyers can also check out every room and corner with a few mouse clicks.
Preparing Your Home for a Virtual Tour
Whether you’re holding a live walkthrough, a pre-recorded tour, or a professional listing video, your home needs to look the part. Here’s how to prepare your property for a virtual tour:
1. Declutter
Any mess you see with the naked eye will look more disorderly through a camera screen. Focus your decluttering efforts on the main areas of your home like the:
Keep everything but the essential furniture and stow away personal items and memorabilia. You can buy appealing containers that will look great on screens, such as colorful boxes or decorative hanging baskets. However, don’t overdo it as you want to make the house look as tidy as possible.
2. Provide a path for a walkthrough
You want to make sure you move seamlessly from room to room during the virtual tour. Make sure that there is adequate space between seating and tables, as well as carpeting and walls. Doing so will make the room’s dimensions more pleasing.
3. Create consistent lighting
Ensure that all light fixtures have working bulbs and that all lighting is consistent in warmth and size. It will not only improve the general look of the house, but it will also provide consistent lighting for your virtual tour.
The Benefits of a Virtual House Tour
With 44% of people starting the homebuying process looking online for properties, a virtual house tour helps them make an informed decision. Here are the key benefits of adding a virtual house tour to your selling process:
When listing your property for sale, you might end up receiving various inquiries from potential clients, most of whom are just curious and are not interested in buying. Instead of meeting these potential buyers one by one, you can have them view your property through their mobile devices.
Clients have to drive to view the property, which is not recommended during these times. A virtual house tour eliminates the time and cost of heading to your property. Even if they choose a physical home tour, a virtual tour allows potential buyers to check the place in advance.
Virtual home tours are like a permanent open house. Potential buyers can access the home tour at any time, as long as they have a steady Internet connection.
This technology provides them a realistic experience. Even though they’re far away, it’s easy for them to imagine what it’s like living in the property. Make the necessary repairs and moderations to present your house at it’s best.
