Though it may be hard to find any silver lining in this pandemic, there are some ways it has changed the real estate industry for the better. While buyers and sellers have been ready for a more streamlined approach to the home buying process for a long time, many agents and brokers have been reluctant to implement the many available technologies until now. In that way, COVID-19 has pushed real estate in the right direction.
No longer does a seller have to meet with their agent in person to discuss staging and pricing. Driving to an office to review your dream home wish list is a thing of the past. Today these steps and many other aspects of the business are being done virtually. In this article, we will cover four tools buyers and sellers are using to make the process easier in the COVID-19 marketplace.
1. Virtual conferencing
By now we’re sure everyone is at least aware of programs like Zoom, WebX, and Skype and are most likely using these systems on a daily basis. The real estate industry is no different. Buyers and sellers have learned they don’t need to leave the comfort of their home or get dressed up for an appointment with a real estate agent anymore. Listing appointments and buyer consultations can be done virtually, making this step so much less time-consuming.
2. 3D walk-through technology
This is a big one for home sellers. If you want a buyer to be interested in purchasing your home, they need to be able to imagine themselves in the home. It’s a little hard to do that without visiting the house in person, but technologies like Matterport and Asteroom, which have been around for a while, have really helped sellers stand out in the crowd. Buyers also get a huge benefit out of these products.
3. Live stream open houses
Before COVID-19, home shoppers could spend an entire weekend crisscrossing the city, visiting dozens of open houses. Now, just like with virtual conferencing, all of that can be done from the comfort of your living room. Facebook, YouTube, and local MLSs are the best places to find these live stream open houses, but, we’re sure new sites will arise soon to host more of them. Live stream open houses are marketed on a very local level. So be sure to check with your agent for resources.
4. Yard signs delivering digital information
Nowadays, real estate yard signs are way more than just a billboard. Companies like QRRE (Quick Response Real Estate) are offering yard signs that distribute digital flyers, allow buyers to access a virtual walk-through from their phones, and show them similar properties in the area. These new signs are a huge advantage to buyers and sellers alike.
Seems like we’ve suddenly entered the future of buying and selling homes. If you ask us, it was about time. Some of these technologies have been around for a decade, and they are finally being taken advantage of now. Be sure to keep an eye out and utilize systems to help guide you through the buying and selling process.
