Home selling done safely during a pandemic

When the coronavirus outbreak hit the United States, it affected all facets of life, including real estate. While selling a home is more challenging now, it’s not impossible. There are plenty of ways to go about it while keeping safe. In fact, many real estate agents and home sellers have been utilizing virtual technology to sell their properties while limiting exposure to other people. Here’s how they did it: 

Virtual open houses

Pre-pandemic, open houses used to be one of the most popular ways to market a home for sale. But with the current social distancing measures, these are highly discouraged. As a recourse, many real estate agents and home sellers switched to virtual open houses.  Virtual open houses are typically done through live streaming and via video conferencing tools. Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom are among the most-used platforms. Similar to a private house showing, a virtual open house should start from the front door. The entire tour should take around 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the property. During this online tour, make sure to provide detailed information about the property. Upgrades, finishes, storage space, and other must-have features should be shown. Also, talk about the schools, the neighborhood, and the local amenities.  For a successful virtual open house, promote it ahead of time online. Whether it’s through an email blast or through posting an announcement via your social media platforms, it’s important to get the word out and build interest.

Video tours

If potential buyers are unable to watch the live streaming of the open house, they can watch a video tour instead. These video tours can be uploaded next to the real estate listing or on the website of your listing agent. Just like a virtual open house, a video tour entails the seller or their agent to walk through the home and show all of its best features. It also gives buyers a quick glimpse of the home’s layout.  Before recording the video tour, prepare a plan on how you want the video to flow throughout the house. What are the areas that you want to highlight? What do you think is your target buyer looking for? And while expensive camera equipment isn’t a requirement for recording, it’s still important to hold your phone or camera at a good angle. 

3D tours

Another way for buyers to see the home is through 3D tours. This immersive experience allows buyers to move through the house on their own and see if it fits what they’re looking for. The right equipment and software are crucial when creating a 3D tour. A panoramic camera, a 360-degree camera, or a lens attachment for a smartphone are the top choices.

Cleaning and disinfecting the home

Serious buyers may want to see the home in person before making an offer. To keep everyone safe and healthy from the visiting buyer to the real estate agent, it’s important to clean and disinfect the home before and after the said visit. Require visitors to sanitize hands before entering the home and to wear protective gear such as face masks. For minimal surface touching, make sure all closet doors and cabinet doors are open. When disinfecting your home, focus on frequently touched areas such as doorknobs, light switches, faucets, handrails, and table surfaces. You have a number of disinfectants at your disposal like disinfecting wipes, bathroom cleaners, bleach, and surface cleaners. If you can’t find any, it’s easy to make your own – just mix bleach or hydrogen peroxide with water. Remember, though, that many disinfectants like bleach may have corrosive properties. This particular agent should not be used on porous surfaces, metal surfaces, interior hardwood floors, appliances made of stainless steel, and colored fabrics. 

Virtual closings

Instead of meeting with the buyer and real estate agents in person, the closing process can be done online. There are various e-signing programs that allow you to sign contracts remotely. Remote notaries are available in many states now, including Georgia. Also known as Remote Online Notarization (RON), this program allows banks, title companies, and other law firms to get the signatures and notary seals needed to complete the transaction. Mortgage e-closing, on the other hand, involves at least one real estate document being signed electronically. While important documents such as the transfer deed, deed of trust, and the promissory note must still be signed with ink on paper, the escrow and closing disclosure can be signed with an electronic signature.  Looking to sell your house fast and for more? Connect with The Page Morgan Team, your most trusted selling agents in Roswell, Georgia. Give them a call today at 770.509.0700 / 770.579.5650, or send an email to info(at)pagemorgan(dotted)com.