Here’s What Every Seller Needs to Know About Virtual Showings

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought social distancing rules that have changed everything from your shopping habits to your work schedule to your social life. But if you're selling your home (or plan to in the coming months), the guidelines that affect social gatherings also change one of the essential elements of the sales process: The open house. 

When you can't even host a party with friends, it goes without saying that opening your home to groups of strangers is a no-go for the time being. However, you can still show your home to the maximum number of potential buyers right now without violating any rules. It's all thanks to virtual open houses. 

Like virtual happy hours with friends or video conferences with work colleagues, a virtual open house happens from the comfort of everyone's home. Potential buyers "tour" your home remotely through any number of platforms: A live stream on Facebook, a FaceTime call with your Realtor, a video conference via Zoom, or even a pre-taped video. 

While convenient, this new type of open house requires a little bit more planning on your end to make your home look it's absolute best. Here's what you need to know to show your home in its best light.

Take your own video first.

Your home is going to look a lot different on-screen than it will in person. Light, shadow, and colors will often appear more intense on camera than when seen in person, which can create the perception of smaller rooms. Before you can fix any of these issues, you need to see how your home looks on-camera — and the easiest way to do that is to take a walk through yourself, recording it with your phone.

Get ready to declutter as you’ve never decluttered before.

Rent a storage unit now, because you’ll be needing it. (Especially as many charities aren’t even taking donations for the time being.) For one, you don’t want any potential tripping hazards to get in the way of your Realtor’s tour. Second, the less you have in your home, the easier it will be for potential buyers to get a feel for the dimensions of a space. Since they can’t be there in person, it’s challenging to get a sense of a room’s scale on a screen. Furniture and accessories seem “bigger” when viewed on video and can easily create an overwhelming look.

Think white, light, bright, and airy.

The most successful Instagram and YouTube home tours often feature spaces that hit all of these elements. White paint helps make rooms seem brighter on-camera, airy window coverings (like woven or sheer panels) maximize sunlight and natural textures (like wood, linen, woven baskets) look especially inviting on-camera as well.

Pinpoint the time when your home gets the most sunlight.

Artificial light casts yellow tones that you might not notice in person, but the camera does. That’s why professional videographers (and influencers) always strive to shoot when there’s the most natural light in a space. Take note of the time during the day when your home has the most sunlight (and also note any parts of your home that happen to get the least sunlight). This will help your Realtor when scheduling their virtual showings or recording their video tour. 

Tip: If there are areas of your home that don’t get much sunlight, replace the bulbs in the light fixtures with white LED bulbs.

Come up with “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Whether your Realtor opts for a live stream or a pre-recorded video tour, potential buyers will have many more questions than they would during a traditional open house. Assist your Realtor by making a list of room dimensions, the approximate age of appliances, the finishes of the various counters and cabinets in the home, any information about recent additions or renovations, etc.

In the end, a virtual showing might become the new normal even when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. After all, it’s convenient and time-efficient, requiring less time for potential buyers to schedule or travel to. Even if you decide to list your home later, making changes that enhance your home’s on-camera impression is an investment that might ultimately pay off.