Not all “buyers” are buyers. Many know within just a few minutes of stepping through the front door that they aren’t interested in your home. They don’t like the layout, or they feel that the “atmosphere” is wrong. Maybe they’re just looking for one key feature that matters to them personally, like having two large, window-free walls in the family room so they can fit their custom-made, corner entertainment system. Those buyers will walk through your house and rule it out in two minutes. Once they leave, they never look back. No offer.
Other prospective “buyers” don’t even have an intention of making an offer. They’re just windowshopping—getting a “feel for the market”. And yet, the seller has to accommodate them just as they would a serious buyer.
Accommodating buyers used to inevitable—just one of those “soft costs” of selling your home. Sellers would need to get their home show-ready and KEEP their home show-ready for any time a buyer might want to look inside. Maintaining a home in tip-top shape is time-consuming even during “normal” times, and it stings when a buyer shows up, takes your time, and then ghosts. You put in all that work! And during the pandemic, every buyer who walks through your home feels like a risk. Even if you take all the precautions and it truly is safe, it can still feel unsettling.
But no longer.
With 3-D virtual tours, buyers can get their first look inside your home whenever they want, and without interfering with your day-to-day. A prospective buyer can see from their own computer how the entryway flows into the living room, or how the kitchen counters feel, or whether the family room feels big enough. They can immerse themselves in the middle of your home and “look” around at the windows and the floorplan. They can even take measurements! It’s an amazing convenience for the buyer, and it benefits the seller just as much.
Historians and archeologists use this exact same 3-D modeling software to photograph and display fragile Egyptian tombs, labyrinthian historic sites, and other famous places like the Yorktown Battlefield. Take a look!
On top of that, by keeping windowshopping “buyers” out of your home, these 3-D models reduce road traffic and fossil fuel emissions. Casual buyers can stay at home instead of driving across town just to peek at a house for a few minutes. And the less foot traffic, the less follow-up sanitizing—it’s safer and easier for everyone.
It’s a little counter-intuitive, but sellers shouldn’t want a high number of “buyers”—they should want a high number of serious buyers. With 3-D virtual tours, it’s finally possible to make that distinction before you open up your home. When we post a virtual tour available online, most of the buyers who visit in person are actually prepared to put down an offer.
We’re pretty excited about this new technology.
PS: Here’s the listing page for the property featured in this post!
