Virtual tours can either bring in home buyers or send them somewhere else looking for a property in your area. Since this is the first impression most viewers probably will have of your home, you want to be sure it is a good one. This is especially true when competing with other Coral Gables luxury homes, Weston luxury homes, or other high demand real estate property.
There are a few simple guidelines realtors and home owners can do to make their virtual tour work positively for them.
- Take Photographs: To give you a different perspective on your home, take digital photographs of the each room so you can see how they actually appear on camera.
- Do a Deep Cleaning: It’s incredible how a thorough cleaning can brighten a room and completely change the appearance of a home.
- Look Up and Down: Ceilings, crown molding, flooring, and baseboards will be clearly seen in most video tours, so don’t forget to dust the light fixtures, ceiling fans, light plates, electrical plug plates, wall, and everything in between.
- Make Rooms Larger: Take out any excess furniture that can make the room seem smaller and clutter. For example, aim for only one couch and a lounge chair in the living room or a dining room table with no more than four chairs. Down size and show off the house not your furnishings.
- Restyle Rooms: With just the basic furniture left, restyle the room. Get ideas from design and home magazines. Add nice finishing like a vase of fresh flowers on the day the video will be shot.
- Hide Toys: Children’s toys (as well as adults) can make a space seem busy and disorganized. Place them in boxes or in the garage, which usually is not part of the virtual tour plan.
- Depersonalize the Home: Remove family portraits and photographs. The reason is that you don’t want to distract potential buyers. You want them to envision your home as their own. So when they view it they can see their things in the home, not yours.
- Remove Seasonal Items: This is an easy way to date a home and show just how long it has been sitting on the real estate market of home listing. This will instigate buyers to aggressively negotiate the price if they see Christmas decorations up while taking a virtual tour in September.
- Store Cleaning Supplies: No one wants to view toilet brushes in the corner of a bathroom or dishwashing detergent near a kitchen sink. Place those items in cabinets away from the camera’s view.
- Move Cars Out of Sight: Cars parked in the driveway or in front of Coral Gables luxury homes, Weston luxury homes, or other property will take away from the full view of the home. This also falls under depersonalizing your home. Remember you don’t want viewers to be distracted from seeing the house by your vehicle lineup.
If you still are unsure of how to prepare for your home’s virtual tour, talk to a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. We are experienced in listing and selling Coral Gables luxury homes, Weston luxury homes, or other real estate properties. We can advise you on the best ways to get Coral Gables luxury homes, Weston luxury homes, or other homes for sale ready for show time! Talk to one of our sales professionals at one of the office listed below or other locations across the state of Florida. Give us a call today!
