While the Coronavirus pandemic continues to change life at the speed of light as we enter another year, here are some tips to consider as you work to sell homes during these challenging times.
The real estate industry continues to grow since 2020 after it came to a screeching halt in the spring of 2020.
According to NAR, October 2021 brought 6.34 million in sales, a median sales price of $353,900, and 2.4 months of inventory. The median sales price is up 13.1% year over year, and inventory is down 12% from October 2020.
How to Sell Homes During a Pandemic
Real estate agents are turning to technology to replace the in-person experience. The number of 3-D home tours created on Zillow went up 326 percent on March 20, 2020.
Many realtors are finding creative ways to still show homes in person and online for their sellers.
“Without a doubt, tech has been the best ally to sellers, buyers, and agents. With virtual home tours in demand, our cellphones are now our best tools. This is most likely to stay for a while – or forever,” says Tonny Madrigal, an agent with RE/MAX Executive Realty in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Here are some tips to consider as you work to sell homes during these difficult times. #realestatetips Click To TweetCreate Video and Photograph Tours to Sell Homes During a Pandemic
In this day and age of technology, the most direct and productive sources to promote your properties for sale are online advertising and social media.
Today, posting video and photograph tours of your listings are the best visual ways to reach prospective buyers. You can post to YouTube if you have your own channel.
With a video tour posted to YouTube or other video-sharing sites, the homes take on a “life-like” 3D effect that will be seen by thousands and potentially millions of viewers.
A video tour is more than a photo. It’s a visual experience! It allows the viewer to see the entire flow of the home’s characteristics.
It places the viewer into a “virtual dream world” whereby, they can see themselves making that property their own.
With a video tour posted to YouTube or other video-sharing sites, the homes take on a “life-like” 3D effect that will be seen by thousands and potentially millions of viewers.
With a video tour posted to YouTube or other video sharing sites, the homes take on a “life-like” 3D effect that will be seen by thousands and potentially millions of viewers. #realestateagents Click To TweetUtilize Virtual Open Houses on Facebook Live
As the agent, take full advantage of “video call platforms” to “meet” and host a “Virtual Open House”*. You can create compelling and informative video home tours.
These can easily be accessed online by a potential buyer through various forms of social media.
Buyers can review the online videos in a conference format. This will allow them to discuss the pros and cons of each home’s benefits.
You can visit homes alone, walking through them on behalf of your clients, showcasing the home’s features electronically in real-time, and answering questions.
You can create compelling and informative video home tours. #realestateagents Click To Tweet
*How to conduct a “ Virtual Open House”
Work with your clients to set up a time for the tour and establish who will be calling whom.
- The buyers’ agent and you, the seller’s agent contact both of their respective clients and pass their direct phone numbers along. This can be as safe as leaving a key in a lockbox for strangers to walk through your house.
- Once the connection is made, the seller (or you, as their agent) can start at the front entry, come in the front door and walk through the house.
- As the tour progresses, buyers, (watching from their home with their family members) can ask questions, ask for a closer look, or ask for a different angle. They might even want to ask for measurements to see if their furniture will fit where they’d like to put it.
- At the end of the tour, the agents can communicate with each other about how to proceed.
See more tips on RE/MAX for virtual open houses.
Send Out Digital Marketing Brochures to Prospective Buyers
Share video walkthroughs of your listings with buyers and sellers via video conference apps like Facetime and Zoom. This is also a great way to stay in touch with your clients and prospective sellers.
You can visit them right in their home office, living room, or kitchens with video chat and conferencing. How personal is that?
Also, have your clients download your RE/MAX app for them to search out homes with their mobile devices. Their searches can be saved and they do a lot of research from your branded app.
Conduct Home Inspections Despite these Challenging Times
Overcome the directive against face-to-face interactions at this time, by having the home inspector go to the property alone and inspect the house. Have him do FaceTime or hold a Zoom meeting with all of the parties.
RE/MAX is now offering discounts on Zoom Pro. Log into your RE/MAX.net to start using Zoom Pro for a discounted rate.
This way, before the inspector leaves, if there is something significant that needs to be addressed, everyone can take a look at it immediately. He also can include more than the normal number of photos in his report for extra clarification.
NOTE: For a home where the sellers are still residing, you’ll need to leave the door unlocked and everyone needs to go for a long walk,( appropriately socially distancing from each other, of course). The home inspection can take from two to four hours, so plan accordingly.
Implement a Plan to Help Prevent the Spread of the Virus for in-person Showings
Drive separately from your clients. Stay a safe distance away. Make sure all doors are open and lights are on in the house to prevent any need for contact within the home.
Many states are not allowing any in-person showings so be sure to be aware of the local guidelines and laws for this one.
Have Faith
Finally, have faith. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Just about all of our lives are different now. There may not be a “going back to what we once knew”. But this global crisis will not last forever.
Hopefully, these tips will provide some alternative ways to reach out to your clients.
Richard Zompa, BrokerIf you are looking for more tips, information, or professional assistance to sell homes during a pandemic, know that Richard Zompa is here for YOU. Learn more about becoming a real estate agent in the coming year here.
He can help you meet your real estate sales goals during these difficult days. Contact Richard if you need any help today.
