If you’re starting your home-buying search, you may be wondering about your options when it comes to viewing potential homes. Recently, we’ve seen a significant jump in the number of virtual showings available. While it might feel too far out of the comfort zone to buy a home completely unseen, this can at least be a great strategy to narrow down your options to your top few. From there, you can determine if you need an in-person visit or if the virtual tour gave you all the details you need. For buyers who want to utilize this virtual option, there are several ways they can maximize their tour. Here are a few suggestions:

Plan Ahead

It’s smart to do this before any home showing, virtual or not. But especially when doing a virtual tour, it’s important to have a list of questions ready to go. While in person you might naturally turn on the water to test the water pressure or open up a closet to see the amount of storage inside, these things might not be as naturally in a virtual setting. If your real estate agent is conducting the tour, don’t hesitate to ask to see certain specifics. Having your list of questions already mapped out can help you end your virtual tour with all the information you need.

Be Detailed

If you’re hoping to get a real sense of a home, your virtual showing may take a bit of time. When it comes to the features that matter to you most, don’t be afraid to ask for a more detailed view. Maybe you want to see a close-up of the countertops in the kitchen or the tiles in the bathroom. A virtual showing doesn’t mean you have to skip over these smaller details, it just means you may need to specifically ask to get a good look at them.

Expand Your Radius

While the tour will, of course, cover the interior of the house, it’s smart for buyers to request a tour around the outside of the property as well. What does the house look like from the outside? Is there a yard? A patio? Even beyond the property itself - what do the other homes in the neighborhood look like? Is it a quiet or busy street? Buyers can certainly drive by the property to acquaint themselves, and asking to see some of these outside features on a virtual tour can help fill in some of the blanks.

Get the Numbers

Finally, it can be helpful to get the measurements of each room so you have a real sense of the size. Compare the measurements to your current space to help you determine if you’d need to update all your furniture or downsize on belongings. It’s not always easy to get a feel for the size of a room through a screen, so getting these numbers can help make it more concrete.

Have you been on a virtual house tour? Is it something you’d consider? What are your top concerns? What aspects do you like about the virtual option? I’d love to hear your thoughts!