Virtual tours are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Not only do virtual tours make it easier for buyers to view homes they might be interested in at any time of the day or night, they’re safe. With a virtual tour, a home shopper can eliminate homes they definitely do not want to see, making the whole process a lot more efficient.
As the seller of one of these homes, it’s extra important that your home is staged so that the virtual tour makes people want to come in and see more. This often goes well beyond what you’d need to do for a regular showing, since your goal is to mimic the feeling of what it’s like to be in your house. Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to get you started!
Declutter Like Your In-Laws Are Coming for Vacation
Before you list a home, it’s always important to declutter. Get rid of anything you don’t immediately need, or at least put it in storage somewhere away from the house. That idea goes doubly for virtual tours. It may seem like no big deal that you’ve got an extra ottoman or side table in a room when people are physically in the space, but the goal of a virtual tour is to try to create a sense of how the space actually feels in real life, and that can be hard if there’s too much distracting stuff sitting around.
When it comes to virtual tours, less is more, to a point. It’s still important to keep a few things even in unused rooms to provide a sense of scale and purpose for the room, but remember that the people seeing the tour want to see your home, not your belongings. Balance is key, and it can be a delicate one to strike.
Make the Best Features Obvious
When you’ve lived in a house long enough, even the coolest features can seem pretty mundane and kind of turn into background noise. When you’re trying to sell that house, think like a buyer. Does your home have some great things that buyers would want to see, or unique detailing that’s worth a second look?
Rather than skimming over these points of interest, emphasize them! Use well-placed lighting, simple decor, or other tactics to draw the eye to the cool parts of your home and landscaping without overwhelming them. It’s all about scale; just remember that your home’s best features are the main attraction!
Remember to Keep Security Front of Mind
We’ve all got something that would be absolutely tempting for an unscrupulous sort to rifle through or carry off. Whether that’s family jewelry, a gun safe, or even just a fire safe for paperwork, the temptation can be strong. Rather than display these items during a virtual tour, put them away so they’re not advertising to potential visitors that you might have something worth taking.
Along those same lines, try to tuck security equipment like cameras and sensors out of the way, even if they are part of the home and will be sold with it. As long as they’re in place and present when people view the home in person, potential buyers will be aware of the security system they’re getting, without everyone on the internet also knowing where all the sensors and cameras are.
If you have questions about buying or selling your home, you may contact me to see how I can help you.
Michelle Lohman, Associate Broker
Realty One Group
All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.
