If you’ve been thinking of selling your home in the Triangle, you’re likely wondering how the current health crisis might have impacted your plans. The good news is that selling your home while social distancing is very possible—in fact, real estate has hardly slowed these past few months! Here are some things you might want to know about selling your house virtually.
Selling Your House Virtually Is Very Possible
In a recent survey by realtor.com, most home sellers stated that they were generally willing to allow their agent and some potential buyers into their home for showings, though they would probably prefer to limit overall exposure.
So, bottom line, what exactly do you need to do for a successful virtual home sale that protects your health, the health of your household, and the health of your buyers?
Find an agent with a digital game plan
Now more than ever, it’s important for your home to have a strong online presence—that is, for it to be easy for a lot of buyers to find across various internet platforms. When choosing an agent to list your home, ask about their internet marketing strategy.
A good agent with a strong understanding of online marketing will be able to advertise your home on a large variety of websites, social media platforms, and more. They will likely offer high-end photography or videography, detailed listing descriptions, virtual tours, and more.
Use high-quality listing photos
Most buyers find homes with an online search. For a buyer to fall in love with and ultimately decide to buy a home, that buyer first has to like what they see online. And that all starts with high-quality professional-grade listing photos.
Good photography can make homes seem brighter and more open. It can also draw the eye to home features that you would like to highlight. And it will ultimately make your home look a lot more impressive online than a standard cellphone camera.
Give buyers an in-depth virtual look
Take those listing photos one step further with a virtual tour. Virtual tours compile professional-grade photography into a short video clip that essentially “walks” the viewer through the home, giving them an in-person feel of the flow and layout of the space.
Virtual tours are critical these days. In fact, in a recent realtor.com survey, homebuyers named virtual tours the #1 most helpful piece of technology for deciding on a new home.
Tell the buyer as much about your home as possible
Another important tactic for sparking buyer interest in your home is a detailed listing description. Let the buyer in on your home’s best features. Tell them about what makes your home so special. Give them the details—about the home and the neighborhood around it.
Work with your agent to craft a detailed and enticing listing description that highlights the perks of your home, your neighborhood, and your area. The more you can tell a buyer about your home, the more likely they are to find something to love.
Host a virtual showing with an agent
Interested buyers might want to get a few more details on your home before they schedule an in-person showing. One way a lot of agents have been bridging the gap between virtual tours and actual showings is with an agent-led video chat, or a virtual showing.
Virtual showings allow the buyer to connect with an agent via video chat while the agent takes the buyer on a live video tour through your home. Unlike with a pre-recorded virtual tour, the virtual showing allows the buyers to ask questions in real time and get an even closer look inside and outside.
Be open to in-person showings
Here in Raleigh, real estate is considered an essential business, which means that we are currently able to schedule in-person showings, provided we follow CDC guidelines. If a buyer loves your home enough to schedule an in-person showing, try to be as accommodating—and safe!—as possible.
Wiping down high-touch surfaces, offering hand sanitizer, and limiting in-person activity are all ways to help keep yourself and your buyers safe. You may want to have your agent offer some additional guidelines, like removing shoes, wearing gloves or face masks, or washing hands. You can even open cupboards or doors ahead of time to prevent the need for touching.
Thinking of Selling Your House Virtually?
If you’re thinking of selling a home in the Triangle, Linda Craft & Team would love to help! We’ll tell you more about the virtual home selling process, get your home looking fantastic, and price it to sell. With 350+ years of combined experience, we can confidently say there’s no better team to help you get the job done right! Just contact us at 919.235.0007 to get started.