Virtual Tools for Real Estate Marketing

Everything we do today has to be filtered through the lens of what is safe for us and the ones we love. With the challenges we face almost everything we do seems to take extra precautions and diligence. Selling your home in today’s environment is no exception. When polled most people indicated that as someone selling their homes they are willing to allow agents have potential buyers inside provided there is agreement that expressed guidelines are respected.

While this proved to be an acceptable option, most home sellers said they were be uncomfortable in an open house setting. That is totally understandable and prudent. This led us to wonder when in a situation where you must sell your house what virtual tools out there can help achieve that goal while keeping your family as well as potential buyers safe throughout the process.

In today’s rapidly changing market, it is more important than ever to make sure you have a digital game plan and an effective online marketing strategy when selling your house. One of the ways your agent can help with this is to make sure your listing photos and virtual tours stand out from the crowd, truly giving buyers a detailed and thorough view of your home.

So, if you are ready to move forward, virtual practices may help you win big when you are ready to sell. While abiding by state and local regulations is a top priority, a real estate agent can help make your sale happen. Agents know exactly what today’s buyers need, and how to put the necessary digital steps in place. For example, when asked to select what technology would be most helpful when deciding on a new home, here’s what today’s home buyers said, in order of preference:

• Virtual tour of the home
• Accurate and detailed listing information
• Detailed neighborhood information
• High-quality listing photos
• Agent-led video chat

After leveraging technology, if you have serious buyers who still want to see your house in person, keep in mind that according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there are ways to proceed safely. Here are a few of the guidelines, understanding that the top priority should always be to obey state and local restrictions first:

• Limit in-person activity
• Require guests to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
• Remove shoes or cover with booties
• Follow CDC guidance on social distancing and wearing face coverings

Getting comfortable with your agent – a true trusted advisor – taking these steps under the new safety standards might be your best plan. This is especially important if you are in a position where you need to sell your house sooner rather than later.

Nate Johnson, CMO at realtor.com ^® notes:

“As real estate agents and consumers seek out ways to safely complete these transactions, we believe that technology will become an even more imperative part of how we search for, buy and sell homes moving forward.”

It sounds like some of these new practices might be here to stay.  In a new era of life, things are shifting quickly, and virtual strategies for sellers may be a great option. Opening your doors up to digital approaches may be game-changing when it comes to selling your house. Let us connect so you have a trusted real estate professional to help you safely and effectively navigate through all that is new when it comes to making your next move.