How To Navigate A Virtual Open House

During these unprecedented times doing things the “normal” way has been thrown out the window. Although we might not be ever going back to the whole “pre-COVID” way of doing things so until things change for the better we may have to be getting used to a new way of viewing a home that you are looking into buying. Gone are the days of roaming from open house to open house on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Looking at a home virtually may be your only option at this time. Thankfully with the help of the internet you can be on your way to seeing properties in no time.

After doing a slew of searches and narrowing down of your wants and needs you might come to a few properties that are worth a closer look. With the help of your agent you can begin the process of trying to set up a virtual visit. This can help you make the decision if you really want to start moving forward with this particular property. Pictures and video can only do so much so it is important to ask the right questions when going through a home virtually with an agent acting as your in person eyes on the ground.

One of the first questions that you should ask is if there are any areas in the home that will need updating or renovated. Although a home inspection can help highlight some of these problem areas seeing a home in person can often give a person an idea of what they are getting when it comes to a house. If any recent home renovating has been done don't forget to inquire how those changes were made and whether it was done by the homeowner or perhaps a contractor. Asking who executed the work and what type of materials went into any recent addition or renovation will help you make your decision as well. Using sub-par finishing touches in areas may not be visible when you are looking at pictures and video but having an agent there will give you these types of observations and determinations that you can’t make for yourself.   

Perspective can be easily misleading when it comes to a room's actual size and shape. Depending on where the camera is placed can give you a view that makes it hard to imagine yourself in the space. Ask for the direct measurements of the room so that you can see for yourself how the space can translate to a more sound reality. If you are able to get access to a 360 degree view of the room on the internet that would be a useful tool but not everyone can provide that service so be sure to ask for those measurements.

Knowing whether or not you can expect to replace any appliances that are staying or major items like the furnace/AC and roof is extremely important. Ages or purchase dates of anything that is included in the home can give you an idea what might have to be done to the property in the future. The absence of any of this information from the listing means it is a priority to ask when interacting with a home virtually. You or your agent should be asking these questions on your behalf so you can have a good view of what your responsibilities may be in the future.

Although it seems like all this has been thrust upon us just now viewing a home virtually may be just one of those things that becomes more common in the future. This new way might be different but our experienced agents will do their best to help you get through either buying or selling during these strange times. Check out our offices and agents page to get in contact with someone who can help guide you through the process.