With the right tools—a smartphone and a fast internet connection—practically anyone can host an online home tour at any given time. But for home sellers who want their property to attract the best possible offers, a virtual house tour should be a major production that merits careful planning and preparation.
If you are selling your home by hosting a virtual showing, follow these tips to make sure that your house makes a strong and lasting impression on potential buyers:
Learn about the types of virtual tours you can create
Homebuyers can choose from a variety of styles and techniques for creating a virtual house tour. You can shoot a pre-recorded walkthrough, stream it live via Facebook, Instagram, or a video conferencing app, or even get an interactive 3D tour created.
There is no “right” option; the final choice will ultimately only depend on your preference—and perhaps your budget.
Consult a local real estate expert
Savvy and well-connected local agents know what buyers in their area look for in a home. Get these important insights so you can plan what to shoot or focus on during your live stream.
Your agent can also guide you when it comes to picking the ideal schedule, especially if you want to host a virtual open house aimed at a public audience.
Be willing to invest in professional video services
To attract top dollar offers for your house, professional videography will be a worthwhile investment. This can help you produce a video walkthrough that you can include in your permanent promotional materials, or perhaps a hightech 3D tour. In addition to impressive, high-quality output, a professional camera crew also spares you from the stress and anxiety of having to do everything yourself.
Get all your cleaning and repair needs done
While your buyers may not be able to examine every detail up close during a virtual tour, you can expect them to ask a lot of questions and even demonstrations. Don’t give them any reason to worry or complain. Clean your house as you would if they were actually visiting. In addition, check that all of the features and fixtures are in perfect working condition.
Choose the ideal time to shoot or go live
Timing is important in a number of ways, particularly if you are hosting a live house tour. For one, the right time of day—such as around late afternoon or the “golden hour” right before sundown—will give your presentation a nice touch of dramatic natural lighting that can add to the sheer beauty of your property.
In addition, choosing the right time is crucial for maximizing your potential audience, as in the case of publicly available virtual open houses.
Maximize lighting
Whether or not you go live with your virtual house tour, lighting should be an essential part of your preparations. Natural lighting helps, but this limits your shooting schedules to daytime hours. There can also be dark and shadowy areas around your home that natural light can’t reach, such as corners, hallways, and closets. Supplementary lighting fixtures and mirrors can help illuminate these spaces.
Rent furniture and decor if necessary
If your furniture is worn after years of use, consider renting sample furniture to liven up the look of your living spaces. Rental furniture can sometimes be bonus amenities you can get from professional home stagers, so if you are already investing in such services, check if you can also get these resources as part of your deal.
Show off your curb appeal
When preparing your home tour, you might be tempted to focus too much on the interiors of your house. Don’t forget that your home’s facade is also worth showcasing.
In fact, plan your home tour so that it begins from the outside—just like how an actual house viewing would begin. Avoid starting too close to your front door. Step back so that interested buyers can see how the entire house looks from the outside.
Of course, this also means that adequate preparations for your house exteriors should be made before you shoot any footage.
Have supplementary marketing material ready
Make it easier for your potential buyers to keep track of the essential facts and figures related to your property. Prepare info sheets and promotional materials that you can email to your viewers. You can send these to them ahead of your presentation for use as reference materials, or you can send them after the tour as part of a thoughtful “thank you” package for their participation.
Are you selling a house in Washington State? Get top dollar offers with help from our team of trusted local experts. Call The Groesbeck Group today at 360.941.3734 or email Info(at)JeanGroesbeck(dotted)com.