How To Help Clients Buy A House They’ve Never Seen In Person

Buying a home without actually seeing it in person might sound crazy but it has become quite popular in this age of technology and online shopping. According to a survey conducted by the national brokerage firm Redfin, over 60% of homebuyers surveyed made an offer on a home without stepping foot on the property in 2020. While it’s always best to view a property in person, the reasons behind the increase in buying  “sight unseen ” make sense. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit over two year ago, many home seekers have avoided travel and meeting up in person. 

Another reason for the uptick is eager homebuyers looking to buy quickly in booming states with tight inventory such as Texas and Idaho. Plus, the ability to house hunt virtually can save time and money. As a real estate professional, you can ride the wave of this new home buying trend and close more sales with top notch customer service and the savvy use of technology. Here’s a few tips to help keep you ahead of the game with those clients who are house hunting from afar:

Trust Comes First

As a real estate agent, you know that building trust with your clients is everything. But when it comes to spending six figures on a property that they’ve never stepped foot on, your trustworthiness as an agent is more important than ever. Without a high level of trust, transparency and a solid rapport with your clients, sight-unseen home sales simply won’t work.

Step Up to The Platform

You should be able to use a variety of social media platforms and other methods to communicate with your clients throughout the home buying process. Whether it is FaceTime, Facebook Live, Zoom or even a private video to YouTube, make sure you are able to use whatever platform your client prefers or you could lose them. If you don’t understand all of the high tech methods of communication that are out there, it will be well worth it to take a computer class or have a tech savvy friend help get you up to speed.

Videos Rule

Get yourself and the properties that you represent in front of the faces of your remote buyers! Whether recorded in advance or live-streamed, your clients are counting on you to provide them with video walk-throughs and other current footage so that they can adequately view the property. The iPhone FaceTime app is a great way to do a live walk-through with a client. Having yourself in the videos is a good way for your clients to get to know you and help you build trust and rapport.

Keep Your Buyers In The Loop

Respond to all questions and concerns promptly and professionally whether it’s by phone, text, email or social media. Make sure your buyers are aware of important dates and deadlines. Get all time sensitive documents sent over well in advance. Keep everyone updated on the status of home inspections, repairs, appraisals, etc. It’s common courtesy and your professionalism will be appreciated. Make your buyers feel as if they’re insiders to something special by choosing you as their realtor while purchasing a property “sight unseen.”