What to Expect from Virtual House Tours, Staging, and Showings
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped numerous aspects of our lives, and the real estate market is no exception. With restrictions and safety concerns altering traditional practices, prospective homebuyers and real estate agents have turned to technology to bridge the gap. Here’s how the landscape of buying a home has transformed, and what you need to know to navigate this new terrain effectively.
#### Embracing Virtual Home Tours
Initially, virtual home tours might seem like a convenient way to peek inside a property without leaving your couch. These tours, often presented in 3D or through meticulously staged photographs, showcase a property in its best light. However, as Matt Difanis, a broker-owner, points out, these tours can sometimes be overly flattering, highlighting only the positives and using visual enhancements that may not entirely represent reality.
While virtual tours are excellent for narrowing down choices or getting a first impression, they should not be the sole basis for making an offer. Just as you wouldn’t propose marriage based on a flattering profile picture, buying a home from a virtual tour alone is equally risky. Use these tours as a preliminary filter before diving deeper into properties that genuinely interest you.
#### The Real Insight: Virtual Home Showings
Where virtual tours leave room for embellishment, virtual home showings strive to bring reality back into the picture. During these showings, an agent walks a buyer through a property via platforms like Zoom or Facetime, providing a live, unedited view of the home. This is the time to spot the imperfections—the "warts," as Difanis puts it—that a polished tour might omit.
Jill Friedland, a real estate agent, advises buyers to use this opportunity to ask pointed questions. Inquire about any aspects not shown in the video and request views of areas like the basement or close-ups of any potential issues. This more transparent, interactive experience is crucial, especially for buyers who cannot visit the property in person.
#### Decoding Virtual Staging
Another innovation in the real estate world is virtual staging, where digital technology is used to furnish an empty home or reimagine an outdated space. This can be entirely digital, where furniture is superimposed into photographs, or a hybrid approach where existing furniture is rearranged based on a professional stager’s plan.
While virtual staging can make a property more appealing, it's essential to understand what you're looking at. States often require disclosures if images have been digitally staged, but this information might be tucked away in fine print. Always confirm with your agent whether what you’re seeing is the real setup or a digitally enhanced version.
#### The Hybrid Future of Home Buying
Looking ahead, the consensus among real estate professionals is that home buying will likely adopt a hybrid model. Virtual tools will continue to play a significant role, especially in the initial stages of home shopping. Buyers can efficiently sift through numerous listings online, reserving in-person visits for their top picks. This approach not only saves time but also broadens the scope for buyers exploring out-of-town opportunities, as seen with buyers like Kerry Stanley, who appreciated the detailed virtual showings before committing to an in-person visit.
#### Conclusion
The integration of technology in home buying has opened up new avenues for exploring properties and making informed decisions. By understanding the tools available and using them wisely, you can leverage virtual tours and showings to your advantage, ensuring that when you finally decide to make an offer, it’s based on a comprehensive understanding of the property. As we move forward, this blend of digital and traditional methods promises to make the home buying process more accessible and informed for everyone involved.