An open house gives prospective buyers an opportunity to see a home that was recently listed and to ask a real estate agent questions. Some agents have used virtual open houses to show homes in the past, but the approach has become much more common in the wake of COVID-19.
How Do Real Estate Agents Host Virtual Open Houses?
Some virtual open houses are live and interactive. In those cases, an agent shows a house and communicates with potential buyers on a social media site or a conferencing platform. Prospective buyers may be able to ask questions during the presentation, at the end or to submit questions via a feed.
Another approach is to record a video in advance and post it online for people to view. That strategy allows a real estate agent to cover key talking points and to edit or re-record video as necessary. An agent can also use a drone to capture footage of the property and the surrounding landscape.
The downside to using a pre-recorded video is that it does not allow customers to ask questions about features of the house or the neighborhood during the tour. Interested parties may reach out to the agent afterward via email or social media, but potential buyers may not take the time to follow up or may forget.
Real estate agents can advertise a virtual open house in much the same way they advertise traditional open houses. They can choose a day and time, promote the event on their website and social media accounts, and send out emails to their contacts.
Why Do Real Estate Agents Use Virtual Open Houses?
Hosting a virtual open house makes house-hunting easier for buyers. Instead of having to drive to several open houses, buyers can simply tune in virtually, without leaving their current home. Virtual open houses can be especially helpful when prospective buyers are planning to relocate from far away and are unable to visit a house in person.
Sellers are often uncomfortable having strangers in their house when they aren’t there. They may also dislike having to leave their home for several hours while their agent is hosting an open house. With a virtual open house, sellers can have only their agent in their home. Due to concerns about contracting the coronavirus, a virtual open house is also safer for both buyers and sellers.
Consider the Benefits of a Virtual Open House
If you want to sell your home, you may be able to find a buyer via a virtual open house. If you’re looking for a home to buy, stopping by a series of virtual open houses can be much easier than visiting in person. Once you have found a buyer or decided on a house to purchase, your real estate agent can walk you through the rest of the process.
