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The COVID pandemic put a stop to most of our normal activities. However, it could not stop people from buying houses. It just changed the way how homebuyers viewed homes.
During the pandemic days, real estate professionals used virtual tour technology to show around a property to a prospective buyer instead of or along with a few in-person viewings. This virtual tour trend continued even after the panedmic and is still being widely used by homebuyers, sellers, and real estate agents.
So, it’s clear that virtual tours have become an indispensable tool in the real estate industry, allowing homebuyers to explore would-be homes from the comfort of their couch. However, are virtual tours really worth it? Let’s explore what the top agents of a real estate brokerage have to say about using virtual tours for home buying!
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Virtual Tours During the Home-Buying Process
BENEFITS -
Convenience
The biggest benefit virtual tours offer to homebuyers is “convenience.” You can explore multiple properties from the comfort of your own home or literally anywhere with an Internet connection. There’s no need to travel long distances or spend hours visiting different homes in person.
Time-Saving
Time is precious, especially when you’re buying your dream home. With virtual tours, you can view a number of properties and narrow down your options within a short time. You don’t have to schedule numerous in-person visits with your agent from the real estate brokerage or the seller, saving you valuable time.
Accessibility
From homebuyers with busy schedules to those with mobility issues, virtual tours make a home accessible to every buyer. You can view as many homes as you want at your own pace, zooming in on details that matter most to you without any rush or awkwardness.
Comprehensive View
Unlike the usual marketing photos or videos, virtual tours provide buyers with a comprehensive view of the property. You can virtually walk through each room, properly examining the layout, design, and features in detail. This immersive viewing experience gives you a better understanding of the property’s flow and functionality.
Visualization
Virtual tours also allow you to visualize yourself living in space. You can imagine furnishing the rooms, picturing your family gatherings, and envisioning your daily routines - something which is difficult to do with traditional photos and videos.
24/7 Availability
Available around the clock - agents of a real estate brokerage consider this as one of the best benefits of virtual tours. A virtual tour gives the option to a homebuyer to explore properties at their convenience. Whether it’s early morning, late at night, or during weekends, you can tour a property virtually whenever you have free time.
DRAWBACKS -
Limited Sensory Experience
No doubt, virtual tours offer an in-depth visual representation of a property. However, they cannot provide the sensory experience of physically touring properties. You can’t feel the texture of the walls, smell the surroundings, or hear the ambient sounds of the neighbourhood.
Potential Distortion
This is something home sellers and listing agents won’t want you to know. Virtual tours rely on technology to capture and render images of the property. This can certainly result in some distortion or inaccuracies. The lighting conditions, camera angles, and resolution can affect how the property looks in the virtual tour.
Lack of Expert Guidance
Buying a home is a big decision, often requiring guidance and support from the professionals of a real estate brokerage. So, when you tour a property virtually without your real estate agent by your side, you may miss out on valuable insights, advice, and assistance.
Difficulty Judging Scale
Virtual tours can sometimes make it challenging to judge the scale and proportions of a property accurately. Rooms may appear larger or smaller than they are in reality, resulting in potential misconceptions about the space.
Potential Technical Issues
Like with any tech tool, virtual tours may sometimes encounter technical glitches or device compatibility issues. These technical problems such as slow loading times, distorted images, or software malfunctions can cause delays and disruptions in the virtual tour process.
So, Should You Use Virtual Tours During Your Home-Buying Process?
Absolutely YES!
No doubt, virtual property tours have certain drawbacks and cannot replace the experience of physically walking through a home. However, they can be a powerful tool for buyers to pre-screen properties. Using this, you can efficiently winnow down your options, filtering properties that don’t match your needs.
By strategically using virtual tours, you can prioritise the properties that truly deserve your in-person attention, making your house-hunting journey significantly smoother and faster. Here are some tips shared by the professionals of a real estate brokerage to make the most of virtual tours -
Prepare Adequately - Before starting the virtual tour, make a list of your must-have and deal-breaking features in a property. This will help you focus on important elements during the virtual home tour.
Choose the Right Platform - If possible, watch the virtual property tour from a laptop or a large-screen device to enjoy a high-quality tour. Also, make sure the Internet connection is stable for a smoother experience.
Take Your Time - If you want to make the most of your virtual tour experience, never rush through the tour. Take your time properly examining each room and space and pause the video when needed to examine details of the property like fixtures, finishes, and room dimensions.
Ask Questions - In case the virtual tour allows for interaction with the agent or the real estate brokerage representing the seller, make sure to ask questions. This could be anything you want to know about the property - the condition of certain features, neighbourhood amenities, or the age of the house.
Look Beyond What’s Shown - As mentioned above, virtual tours may not accurately capture every aspect of the property. So, use the additional resources provided like the floor plan, or photos to supplement your virtual tour experience.
Take Notes and Photos - Keep track of important details by taking notes or screenshots during the virtual tour. This will help you remember key features and compare different properties later on.
Get a Second Opinion - If possible, involve your family members or closest friends in the virtual tour process. They may notice a few things that you miss or offer a different and valuable perspective on the property.
Key Takeaway - You Still Need to Physically Visit Homes Even if You've Seen Them Virtually
Yes, this is what the agents of a real estate brokerage always advise to homebuyers regarding virtual tours. Always use virtual tours to begin your house-hunting process. However, don’t make a home-buying decision based on a virtual tour alone as long as you can.
In marketing photos, videos, and virtual tours of a property, the seller or their agent tries their best to highlight the most appealing features of the home. They won’t certainly show a cramped basement area or an outdated kitchen in the virtual home tours.
So, to make an informed decision, always visit a property physically before putting forth an offer on it. It is only through physical visits that you get to truly experience the space and get a feel of the neighbourhood.