In the era of social distancing and hand sanitizer, waltzing through someone else’s house, touching all their things isn’t really cool anymore. If you’re in the market for a new home, you have to find some other way to tour it. Luckily, modern technology means we don’t have to leave the house for anything anymore, even home tours!
Ready to buy a house COIVD-style? Here’s how to make the most of virtual home tours.
Virtual Tours in a Nutshell
You’ve had video meetings before—you’re on mute, Karen!—so a virtual home tour won’t be too much a shock to you. It’s just a friendly video chat, only with homework.
To have a successful video tour, you need four things:
· Phone, tablet, or computer
· Internet connection
· Videocall app (Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc.)
Once you find a house you like, your agent will set up a time for a tour. They’ll put on their gloves and mask, rub on the hand sanitizer, and walk through the house, showing you everything there is to see. You’ll get to tour the house from the safety of your home through the eyes of a real estate professional.
But it’s not as simple as logging into Zoom and watching a video. There are some steps you need to take to make your virtual tour as impactful as possible.
Work with a Qualified Agent
Real Estate rule #1: Always work with a good agent.
Even if everything is virtual, a good agent will have access to more accurate information and in-depth knowledge than any source you can find on the internet. They’ll be able to find you the best properties from every nook and cranny (more than you can find on Zillow) and guide you through the real estate process to make sure you don’t make any mistakes. Buying a house is a big deal; it’s a good idea to have some experience on your side.
Research the Home Beforehand
Once you find your agent, they’ll set you up with a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) search that’s customized for your budget and desires. You’ll get automatic emails the minute (or however frequently you can stand to get emails) a new listing enters the market and meets your specific search criteria.
Look at all the pictures and read all the descriptions. The more information you can get about a home before a virtual tour, the better. It’s also a good idea to check comparable homes (comps) in the area to make sure the property is within a reasonable price range. Too high, and you lose money. Too low, and there might be something wrong.
See If There’s a Virtual Open House Available
Home tours aren’t the only thing that’s virtual these days. Many real estate agents, myself included, offer virtual open houses. While you won’t get the personalized view you would from a virtual tour, a virtual open house will still get you inside the home.
Watching a video of someone walking through the property will give you a better feel for the home’s layout compared to looking at static pictures. You’ll also be able get a sense of the available space. Wide angle lenses can do wonders to make a house seem huge in a picture. That hallway might be a lot narrower in person.
Schedule a Virtual Tour
If a home passes the research and open house phase, it’s time for a virtual tour. Talk to your agent and schedule a time for a walkthrough. They’ll work with you to use whichever videocall platform you’re most comfortable with.
Virtual tours are similar to virtual open houses, except they’re more intimate. It’ll just be you and the agent, without sellers or other buyers. You can ask specific questions and guide the agent around the home. Ask them to zoom in on that fancy gourmet range, open cabinets, or measure rooms to see if your furniture will fit.
Ask Questions
The most important part of a virtual tour is to ask questions. This is your time to tour the home, so make sure you cover any questions leftover from the research and the open house phases. Ask if the doors creak, how it smells, or if they can hear cars going down the street. It helps to write down a list of questions beforehand so you don’t forget.
A good agent will also be able to point out things from an experienced perspective. You might not know that utility running through the backyard indicates a property easement, but your agent will.
Don’t Forget About the Neighborhood
Buying a house is like getting married. You’re not just marrying the person; you’re marrying their entire family. The neighborhood can have a huge impact on whether a house is right for you or not. During your virtual tour, ask the agent to take a peek around the neighborhood. See what the houses look like, if they’re in good repair, and how close the neighbors are.
It’s a good idea to hop over to Google Maps to get a feel for the neighborhood’s layout before the virtual tour. It might help you decide whether a tour is even worth it.
Ready to Buy?
While you might not be able to tour houses in person anymore, you can still get a good feel for the property with a virtual tour. Your real estate agent will walk you through the property, show you everything there is to see, and provide an experienced perspective without you ever needing to leave your couch.
Ready to find your dream home on Hawaii’s Big Island? Give me a call! I’d be happy to help you find the perfect property to fit your needs and budget all from the safety and comfort of your home.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.