Selling homes online is a growing trend that shows no sign of slowing down, especially after the lessons learned during the current global Covid-19 pandemic.
In fact, there is every chance that virtual home sales could become the new normal because they offer so many advantages to all parties involved in the process.
Imagine the potential for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents to connect from anywhere in the world and view any property they desire.
With modern technology, you could even view and buy a home from your phone while sitting on a beach in a different country! Maybe that’s not quite your style, but the tech is here, and for some it’s happening.
Read on to learn about the many benefits of online home sales.
People are more aware than ever of the dangers of viruses and germs that can linger in the air and on surfaces.
When multiple viewers are walking through every room in a house for weeks on end, this can increase the risk of contamination. As of this time of writing, the USA is seeing drastically lowered levels of widespread disease. However, many people remain more “germaphobic” than they were before 2020.
By utilizing virtual home tours, thousands of people can simultaneously view the same property without leaving the comfort of their own homes. Not only does this mean the sellers and other buyers come in contact with fewer people (and germs… and messy fingerprints), but it also means far more potential buyers can get a good look at the listing.
This is safer and more efficient for buyers and sellers, and it means a real estate agent is not in contact with so many people each and every day.
Traditional home showing methods are time-consuming for everyone involved. There is the need to schedule appointments to suit all parties, drive to the location, show the property, and then drive back again. Talk about inefficient!
There is also the potential for people to get stuck in traffic, run late because of a previous engagement, or even forget to attend the meeting altogether. These things happen. But when viewing online first, a buyer can get a pretty good feel for a listing without ever leaving the comfort of their couch.
With virtual property tours, no one loses time if a buyer fails or forgets to view a listing online.
Virtual home tours make everything more efficient, including the costs involved with showing a home. Of course, driving to a home for sale means paying for gas. For the real estate team, it means paying wages or just spending time for the showing agent to attend. It’s much cheaper to click on a web link and communicate via video chat.
Efficiency is multiplied by the fact that agents can show the same home to many viewers at the same time. By increasing staff efficiency, this can mean more time spent by agents on the more complicated parts of real estate, like research, strategy and negotiations.
Home sellers often appreciate virtual tours because they prevent the need for frequent cleaning or coordinating with agents if they still live in the home.
Once a real estate agent has a virtual tour produced, the seller can live comfortably without having to worry about making too much of a mess, just tidying up before showings with serious buyers.
From a real estate agent’s point of view, showing homes virtually is an excellent way to display the property in its best light.
Professional photographers and videographers can create multimedia content showing the home from every conceivable angle, and ensure the production is perfect before showing it to viewers.
For buyers, the advancements in virtual tech mean it is easy to navigate through each room, take your time, and go back to look at areas of particular interest.
Search engines use algorithms to determine the quality of content on your web pages and then rank your site accordingly.
Video, photo and 3D tour content may help your property webpage appear higher in the search engine results. When it comes to SEO (search engine optimization), the more content the better!
Search engines take all this into account when deciding where you should be in their results.
If your property or your agent’s website rank high in the search results, it may attract more visitors and interest from potential homebuyers.
It’s easy for local people to attend a house showing in person, but what about those living further away? Perhaps a buyer is moving to a new city and wants to purchase a house in advance, or maybe they are seeking a holiday home.
With working-from-home becoming more and more commonplace, it’s becoming increasingly common for homebuyers to search all over the country for their new home, rather than just in their immediate vicinity.
With virtual home tours, people can get a great look at a property from any location in the world using their computer or mobile device. This is a great way to make properties more accessible to as many people as possible, from untethered workers to foreign investors and beyond.
When people consider purchasing a property, their decision may depend on the home improvements they would make if they were to buy. This often involves calling tradespeople or architects and arranging to meet them at the house.
Additionally, it means meeting the real estate agent at the property. But with online viewings, anyone can see the home from every angle and discuss possible renovations over the web.
It may not be possible to make definitive decisions without an in-person appointment, but it will certainly give you a head start without involving too many trips and meetings.
Whether they are looking for a family home or a personal residence just for themselves, homebuyers usually want a second opinion from friends or family members. Buying a home is a big decision, so it makes sense to involve the people you care about!
With online viewings, homebuyers can share the same virtual tour content with their family and friends. And everyone can view the home as many times as they want, from anywhere they are located. It’s a big benefit to collaborate and share information online, and that benefit reaches real estate through virtual tours.
We specialize in getting the highest value and best results for our clients. That means using virtual tours for both our buyer clients and our seller clients’ listings to make the process as efficient and attractive as possible!
Virtual services for real estate are big, and only getting bigger. But we always emphasize a personal touch and service tailored specifically to your needs, in order to make sure you are well informed and comfortable at every step.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Bernal Heights or San Francisco, please feel free to reach out for a no-pressure consultation to discuss your options. We’re happy to help!