Reasons Why Virtual Tours Help Sell Real Estate

There is no denying that 2020 has brought a lot of changes and taught us all a bit about the need to adapt to current circumstances. COVID-19 has impacted the real estate industry in myriad ways. The need to stay safe and social distance has caused us to come up with some clever solutions to meet our needs during this difficult time. From remote doctors' appointments, asynchronous learning for schools, Zoom meetings for work and more, we are learning how to forgo in-person events in order to social distance. 

The real estate industry is one that had, even from the start, been deemed essential and, as such, real estate agents continued to do the important and constant work of helping buyers and sellers. But, business was anything but normal, especially in the immediate shut down following the onset of the pandemic outbreak in the United States. Agents, buyers, and sellers alike all needed to adapt their strategies and have an open mind to taking new approaches, such as replacing an in-person tour with a real estate virtual tour.  

Embracing the Real Estate Virtual Tour

The real estate virtual tour is not a new concept, but the pandemic has certainly brought it out of the margins and made it into a widespread industry practice, that just may be the new normal. Several months or a year ago that may have sounded like a bold and somewhat unfounded statement, however, we now have ample evidence to show that virtual tours help sell real estate. 

For now at least, open houses that bring in large groups in order to generate buyer interest and create a buzz around a sale, are out of the question. Such open houses have been replaced with inventive marketing techniques, the use of technology and, of course, the real estate virtual tour. 

Why Every Real Estate Listing Needs a Virtual Tour

Virtual tours help sell real estate because they allow agents to continue showing homes despite the need for social distancing and they have created opportunities for buyers to view homes on a more convenient schedule. Many of us have been working and conducting our business remotely for a while, and the transition to this environment only made sense, even without the threat of a highly contagious virus. 

Photographs of properties have always been extremely important for online listings. Sellers and agents alike both know the importance of taking high-quality photos of the house and property to attract buyers at first sight. Photos are certainly important for generating the initial interest, but pictures can’t tell the entire story of a house. A cluster of photos on a listing remains a great way to catch the eyes of potential buyers, but if you want to sell your home quickly, getting on board with the use of technology as a primary way of showing your home is your best bet and the best way to meet buyers where they are at. 

And in this day and age, where they are at is at home social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19! Embracing the real estate virtual tour method will help you sell your home quickly, even during a pandemic.

Why do virtual tours help sell real estate? The answer is multilayered. At the first level, it’s the best chance those in the real estate industry had at the beginning of the crisis caused by the coronavirus. Real estate wasn’t among the industry shutdowns, but rather was deemed essential work. So the business of buying and selling houses continued and the need for housing remained a constant. 

Top 3 Reasons Why Virtual Tours Help Sell Real Estate

1. Virtual tours allow potential buyers to take a personalized tour of your house. Buyers can have the experience of moving through the house with 360-degree movement. They can see each room and get every angle and perspective, just as if they were there in person. Perhaps most importantly, buyers can move through the house and get a really good understanding of the flow of the house - something that isn’t easy to glean from photos alone. A virtual tour coupled with a schematic floor plan can give sellers a really great idea of the home and give them all the information they need to make a well-informed decision. 
2. Virtual tours are a low-risk first step for potential home buyers. After a virtual tour is conducted, buyers can be vetted and approved for in-person viewings. Narrowing down interested and qualified buyers only for the in-person viewings, if you are conducting any, will save a lot of time and headache. 
3. Virtual tours enable those with limited mobility or health issues to have the same access to your home as any other buyer. Creating equal access to buyers will create opportunities for you to increase the range of buyers you are attracting. This is a great way to get a larger pool of qualified buyers and sell your home at the price you need within a timeframe that suits you!

A great agent can make creating your real estate virtual tour a breeze. Work with a reputable real estate agent profiled on Homes & Land to help expedite the sale of your home.