How to Set Up a Tour of Your House to Sell

Though seeing a house in person before buying has long been the norm, recent events such as COVID-19 have made a virtual tour even more popular in today’s real estate market. Ideally, offering tours will get your house to sell faster and for more money by drumming up interest. 

Whether you decide to create a virtual tour of your house online to complement professional photographs or tried-and-true showings, the following tips will make sure your home comes across in the very best light.

Who Should Host an Open House? And When?

If your home looks unique, an in-person visit from a potential buyer might be the best way to show-off its assets. Location is also important. If your home is in a trendy or busy area, it’s most likely your house is in high demand and your open house will surely be successful. Plan to host a showing on the weekends when people typically have more flexible schedules—in the morning for metro areas and noon for the suburbs.

Marketing Is Key

When you put time and money into prepping for an open house, it’s important to spread the word so your home receives maximum exposure. Posting about your showing online is the main way people will find out about the tour of your house. It’s a cost-effective digital age where you can post your house on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), utilize social media sites like Nextdoor and Facebook, and create a public event with a detailed description and photographs. The real estate market uses other prominent sites for open house exposure like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.

With social media, incorporate trending hashtags such as #openhouse, #curbappeal or #househunting to make sure your post reaches as many people as possible. Spread the word through flyers and a lot of signage, too! Don’t underestimate the power of neighborhood gossip. Your neighbors might be interested in your house or they might know somebody else who will. You don’t always have to search for a buyer far from home.

Set the Scene

Before professional real estate photographs are taken, make sure you declutter and let in a lot of natural light to ensure your house gives off a bright and open feel. Pay a professional cleaning company or get down and dirty yourself to deep clean your property—potential buyers will be paying attention to detail. Don’t forget about the front lawn either! Make sure everything looks manicured and tidy, whether that’s trimming the grass, slathering on a fresh coat of paint or putting fresh flowers on the kitchen counter. You want your house to feel homey, and a fresh batch of cookies sets a cozy mood for the buyer to envision themselves living there.

Virtual Tours

A virtual tour of your house allows you to reach a larger buyer pool while saving you time and money by allowing an initial sweep of the property. Those more interested in looking for fun versus seriously considering buying can simply watch the 3D video and not waste your time by scheduling a showing. 

Whether your realtor streams a live showing online, you pay a professional for high-definition 360-degree footage or you simply film it yourself on your phone, virtual tours can get your house to sell quickly. If you attempt to film the virtual tour yourself, stand in the center of the room with all the lights on and move slowly. Ideally, the virtual tour video would be completed several days before listing your house.