Tips to Prep Your Home for a 360 Virtual Tour

In the midst of a global pandemic there has been a dramatic increase in 360-degree virtual home tours. This gives buyers and sellers the opportunity to view homes remotely and keep everyone involved in the transaction as safe as possible. While there are many services available for creating the virtual tour, it is in the seller's best interest to get the home looking it’s best for the shoot. Here are a few tips to help you prep your home for a 360 virtual tour. 

• Declutter, Declutter, Declutter. 

A 360 tour is a lot different than your typical home photos - when photographing rooms for a listing, the photographer has the ability to manipulate angles and hide unflattering items or clutter. However, the 360-degree camera will capture every room, from every angle so potential buyers can see everything as if they were there in person, making it very difficult to hide anything. As the seller you should be extra vigilant about cleaning every nook and cranny, clearing out personal items, including documents, family photos, or valuables. Making your home as depersonalized as possible will help potential buyers envision themselves living in your home. 

• Staging

On the flip side of decluttering, we have staging. When potential buyers view a property they immediately think of how their family and lifestyle will fit within the home. So a buyer can be turned off just as easily with not enough furniture as they are with too much. If the home is currently vacant, it might be a good idea to look into a staging company. They can bring rented furniture and decor in to help bring warmth and an easily imagined floor plan. 

• Plan to Leave

Since the 360 camera gets every angle of every room, it’s probably best to remove yourselves and animals from the home during the shoot. You don’t want to risk an accidental capture of an animal or seller trying to hide behind corners or in the windows. The photographer will have to reset and shoot the entire room again, which can cause significant delays.

• Review Your Choices

Before you shell out money for a 360-degree tour service, do your research into multiple platforms. There are many that vary in price, features, and quality, so review a few different providers before you settle on one. Your real estate agent can also assist you with a selection process, they even might have some recommendations to share with you. 

In this new normal we all are experiencing some pretty overwhelming change, but together we can accomplish your real estate goals and get your home sold to the right buyer. 

For more information or to find a Verani agent near you, visit Verani.com today.