Kerry Howell is a real estate photographer at Picture Perfect Homes by Kerry Howell Photography. In addition to beautiful photos she also offers virtual Matterport tours and floor plans.
I asked her to give you some advice on how to sell your home virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic so you can get the most eyes on your home with the least feet in the door.
How Can Virtual Tours Help Sell Your Home?
Virtual tours help cut down on in person tours, minimizing exposure and allowing people 24/7 access to your home. It’s hard to hide things on a virtual tour, before putting your home on the market I recommend fixing problems in your house to make it perfect instead of trying to hide flaws and get people in the door. Virtual tours will show the true house. You can’t hide paint scuffs or water stains on a Matterport tour so it’s important to get those things fixed ahead of time.
Do You Recommend Virtual Matterport Tours For Every House?
I used to recommend virtual tours only for high end homes or new construction. Now I think every home would benefit from a virtual tour. Photos show the size of the room but not the flow of the house or the layout. Matterport allows you to walk through the house like you’re actually there. We used to just put perfection online. Real estate marketing is taking a turn to show the real house. It’s a mindset shift from perfection to authentic. It’s like the movement for wearing less makeup and showing your natural self. I also recommend showing the basement and the storage space .
Additionally, Matterport has a measurement tool so you can plan for your furniture or any renovations your want to make.
What Do You Say to Agents Who Don’t Think Virtual Tours Are Important?
Agents still think that photos will get them by, a lot of them just stopped taking photos with cell phones. Professional photos help elevate your brand as an agent and virtual tours save the agent’s time so they’re only showing homes their buyer’s are interested in. It used to be the goal to get as many people in the house as possible. Now it’s the opposite.
How to sell your home virtually:
Clean your home from the floors to the ceiling. Repaint baseboards, make all the repairs you’ve been putting off.
Update your curb appeal. Buyers that come for showings spend a good amount of time in your front yard while their agent struggles to open the lockbox (so much pressure!) Make sure your front yard is tidy, well kept, and plant some annual flowers with a fresh layer of bark mulch to complete the look.
Get professional photos taken as well as a virtual Matterport tour. This will allow buyers to see your home in the best light and a get a feel for the layout and flow.
Have your agent host a virtual open house. They can create a Facebook event and invite their sphere. You can also invite your Facebook friends. During the live video event buyer’s will have a chance to ask the agent questions and see things in closer detail.
Gather all of your home’s documents such as the deed, plot plan, Title V, and fill out a seller’s disclosure form. This gives buyer’s necessary information up front without them having to dig for it.
Once you go live on the multiple listing service you can allow in person tours. Disinfect all surfaces and doorknobs/light fixtures before and after each showing.
Once you accept an offer you’ll go through the normal escrow process. There are some home inspection companies that are offering virtual inspections for buyers who don’t feel comfortable going into the home.
Want my free checklist for selling your home virtually?
Download it here!
