What do you dread most about hosting an open house? Making sure that it is in pristine condition? Finding some where for the entire family to go during the showing? Or, the thought of having all those people traipsing in and out of your home with no serious intention of buying? If any of the aforementioned scenarios makes your stomach churn you may consider hosting an open house online.
Hotels offer them, convention centers offer them, and now virtual Web tours are the hot new marketing tool being used by homeowners and realtors trying to sell various properties. Web tours offer potential buyers the chance to “stroll” through the inside of your home, which means you eliminate having a steady stream of strangers wander through your rooms.
When I first heard about the Web tours, I thought: “Brilliant!” It sounded great in theory, but the more I thought about the idea the more I wondered about the risks involved in showing off my home and personal items to millions who surf the Internet. Think about it. While the Web is a great tool to capture the attention of a broad range of people, it also allows anyone with a computer to look into the nooks and crannies of your home.
Some Web tours reveal an amazing amount of detail with the intent of giving a consumer a sense of “I could live here.” But, conversely, it could be putting your family and your valuables at risk. For example, virtual tours can reveal your security system, the types of windows you have, even expensive items like artwork and electronics.
Experts suggest if you opt to go the Web tour route it’s wise to remove your valuables before videotaping. Also, make sure there are no family photos in your tour. I would also suggest hiring a professional company to put together your first Web tour. In most cases consultants will come into your home and determine how much should be revealed. What’s more, they are able to control the resolution on individual items so that those with the highest value are not clearly visible. The best part—they are able to do so without detracting from the overall product.
Experts say don’t let the risk of potential thieves scare you from giving Web tours a try—-after all, a recent survey showed more than three-fourths of new homeowners say they used the Internet to help them find the home of their dreams.
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