An Important Step to Making your Property Internet-Friendly

With an increased need for virtual sales and social distancing a new approach to home selling is needed, but you can still accomplish your selling to-do list and make your property screen friendly for the internet. Selling a home can often feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Even though you have a to-do list to tackle, there are simple strategies that you can follow that will help you simplify the process, even if you’re forced to sell in a different way than you had expected.

If you’re in the position to move out before you sell, you can allow buyers to tour the property on their own, using smart lockboxes set with a one-time code. You would only need minimal furniture for staging and no small valuable items would be left behind, but for many sellers moving pre-sale isn’t an option economically.

With so many unable to offer in person tours, how do you make your property screen friendly when this is now the best, and sometimes only way to reach your buyers? One of the most important steps to focus on is your home staging. Even though this has always been an important part of the home selling process, you will now need to double down on this practice during the virtual selling process. Research shows that staged homes sell for more money and quicker than un-staged homes. When the majority of people are visiting virtually versus physically, staging should be the one place you do not skimp.

Stepping up your technology is an important place to put your focus. Utilizing the latest in 3-D touring technology will give you a leg up. Many agents are using this tool that allows buyers to move through the home on their own using 3-D touring. If you have the resources to invest in your own 3-D camera you can shoot your own virtual tours without having to schedule a photographer. Otherwise, it’s very important to invest in a good professional photographer and staging. You will want your online listing to stand out and not pale in comparison to how competitors are presented online.

Some sellers are using agents who are willing to do personal, live virtual tours. The agent can walk through the house or property with a smartphone or tablet and this way a buyer can ask their questions in real time. Facebook Live has also proved useful for group showings. You still want to make sure that the showings are private enough for the buyers to join in without feeling exposed, but still open enough so that everyone is able to participate easily.

Some important tips to make your home screen-friendly for virtual photos and tours:

1. Declutter – Make sure you aggressively declutter and put away anything that looks random and out of place. Less is more! Your house will look more spacious without family mementos, toys, magazines, etc., taking up white space. Don’t erase the personality of the home, but also be sure that it’s neutral enough someone else can picture it as their future home.
2. Be creative with your layout – Arrange your rooms and furniture in a way that maximizes space on screen. Do some test photos and live video chats with a friend and make sure you have a clear path between furniture pieces. No embarrassing stumbling during your tours!
3. Clean and brighten it up! – Break out the fairy godmother wand and give your space some bippity boppity boop! Make sure that your house is clean, dust free and your lighting is bright and magical for the camera.

With a simple adjustment to tried and true strategies the home selling process will be a piece of cake! Staging your home is the number one priority for a screen friendly listing. Your home will have the coveted sold sign in no time!