Virtual open houses are here to stay – and although we’re coming out of the other side of the pandemic lockdowns, virtual open houses and buying virtually is still happening in Toronto’s real estate market.
Restrictions on open houses are new territory for realtors, home buyers, and sellers. However, the latest numbers point nowhere but up, as we’ve started the first half of 2021 with a bang. Inventory is becoming low, meaning pricing will be going in an upwards trend.
This increase is likely because home buyers and sellers in the greater Toronto area are adjusting to the TREB’s recommended social distancing and safety protocols, as well as new technologies that make the New Normal easier to navigate. Virtual open houses allow real estate sales and investments to continue without compromising the health and safety of realtors or their clients.
It’s likely virtual open houses will be around for a while, depending on how the province rolls out its reopening plan. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Toronto and the GTA, you likely have questions about how these virtual open houses work. Let us help.
Real Estate Photography and Still Photos
Real estate photography services aren’t new technology—they’ve been a staple in online home listings for years. However, they’re especially important if you’re planning on hosting or attending a virtual open house.
Interior and exterior architectural photographs are often a buyer’s first contact with a property. That means sellers and realtors want to make sure these images stand out. This is especially relevant if you want your home to sell faster in an ever-changing digital housing market.
Shooting on your camera phone can make spaces look flat, dull, or if there’s a lot of light, overexposed. Getting a professional photographer can make photos of the property appear brighter and more colourful, with more detail and contrast, which helps buyers get a better feel for the home.
We always use the best photographers for our listings that know how to shoot brilliant images of your home that give a realistic, undistorted view of your home and its features.
Real Estate Video Tour or Virtual Tour
Video tours allow prospective buyers to view the home as if they were on a traditional property walkthrough. Depending on the property itself, these video tours can be shot either as a slideshow or, better yet, movement video, which feels more like the person is physically there.
In order to strengthen the virtual tour’s experience and give potential homebuyers a more nuanced impression of the property, we at TRB always include a virtual tour and walk through.
Virtual Open Houses – 360 Walkthrough
Real estate 360 walkthrough tours give prospective homebuyers an immersive sense of an interior’s look and flow. These tours offer a full 360-degree virtual reality experience, allowing the buyer to take in the property without ever having to leave the comfort of their own home. This is especially useful in helping interested parties adhere to provincial and industry-wide health and safety protocols.
Virtual 360 tours generally come in two possible forms. The first is a basic tour, which includes a few rotations featuring the home’s central locations. These typically include the living area, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and master bedroom. Interested viewers simply click and drag their mouse or finger across the screen to view each room’s features.
The second option includes many rotations at several points along the property’s pathways and allows viewers to click directional arrows to make their way through the entire home. Similar to Google Street View, this virtual tour style simulates a live experience as potential buyers “walk” from point to point.
Depending on the size and layout of the property you’re looking to buy or sell, both virtual tours give buyers enough realism to “feel” out the home before requesting a safe in-person viewing to do their due diligence.
Want to know more about virtual open houses?
We’re here to help and to answer any questions you have about buying or selling a house in Toronto, including listing your home or browsing virtual open houses. Simply complete our form and we’ll be in touch right away.
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