Virtual home tours are rapidly rising in popularity. Whether you produce the video on your own or hire a professional photographer/videographer, following these six tips will help draw homebuyers in!
6 Tips for Virtual and Live Home Tours For Better Response
1. Let in as much light as possible
A bright room will not only make the lighting of the tour better, but it will make the house feel more open. Do everything you can to make it as bright as possible. Open doors and windows to let in natural light. Turn on all the lights in the house.
Light differs at different times of the day, so be mindful of the direction the sun is shining in from. If the light shines through most of the windows in the morning, film in the morning. Around noon, the light is very white and may leave you with over-exposed images. The best time of the day to film is around sunset when the light is warm and golden.
“The hour before sunset will give you nice, warm light.”
2. Show off the outside of the house
Potential buyers need to see the outside of the house. Step outside at the beginning or end of the tour to get a nice shot of the house. Make sure you get the whole house in the shot, and don’t forget to get extra shots of outdoor spaces or the backyard.
If you do choose to include the outside of the house, make sure it looks nice; curb appeal is essential! Get the landscaping done, mow the lawn, and trim the bushes. Sweep the porch and make it look clean. If the porch is large, stage furniture to show it off as a sitting area.
3. Film from where people would stand in the house
Try and make your tour seem like a real in-person home tour. To do so, film from where people would typically stand. People tend to pause near windows, on landings overlooking other floors, and at the entrances to rooms. Buyers also face windows, so film facing the windows to allow for the best lighting and to see the views. Many tours film from the center of each room, so this technique will help your tour stand out!
4. Display any features that homebuyers will like
When creating your tour, keep your niche in mind and think about what features the homebuyers will like. For example, if your niche is single-family houses, show off the spacious laundry room the home might have. Show any features of a home that buyers might ask about, such as a dishwasher. If the house has any unique features that other homes may not have, make sure they are visible.
“Give buyers a closer look at special features like fireplaces, original architecture, and spacious laundry rooms.”
5. Plan your route for the tour
Planning out your tour route beforehand will help you provide the viewer with a more natural viewing experience. In doing so, you can make sure you are getting rid of anything that buyers may not want to see, like messy closets or pet items. If you are doing a live tour, a pre-planned route will make everything go smoother. It is also important to take an easy route around the house so you can ensure buyers will better understand the layout of the home.
6. Watch for mirrors and reflections
You want to make sure you and your photographer aren’t caught in reflections on mirrors, TVs, or windows, as it can be distracting. While it is hard to avoid your reflection altogether, trying shots from different angles will help eliminate shine. If you can’t prevent reflections completely, you can edit them out in post-production.
