With modern digital house hunting, we have a lot more control than we have had since the inception of house hunting. Gone are the days when you had few options to choose from and you needed your physical presence or a photo from an agent to get accepted. Now, we can search, find and even buy homes really quickly.

So, what should we keep in mind while searching for a home in such a fast changing landscape? We’re glad you asked—here are our thoughts.

what is virtual house hunting

In the age of technology, where everyone is dependent on the internet, making it a smooth and straightforward process for buyers to take a virtual tour of their dream home is of paramount importance, and this is where digital house hunting comes to the rescue.

Using digital house hunting, a person can view their dream home through a 360-degree walkthrough and three-dimensional view, allowing a personalized look at the interior and exterior of the home. The tour can be conducted through laptops, computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices.

Benefits of Digital House Hunting

Every development has its advantages and disadvantages, and so does virtual house hunting. Here we will talk about some of its benefits.

• Facility – Virtual house hunting is more convenient than being physically present at the location. People can easily view the house as per their schedule as a 3D video which represents the complete structure of the house. Alternatively, a virtual video call can be organized to view the interior and exterior of the property.

• time saver You do not need to go to any country to buy property there. You can do this in the comfort of your own home, saving both time and money.

• Extend reach In the virtual tour, you can easily view all the details related to the property and its owner such as their past record and other information like nearest market, school, playground, business center etc.

• Provide real time experience – Digital tours add multimedia, digital and VR effects to the property, increasing authenticity and naturalness for buyers.

• Increase brand recognition Using VR and other graphics can enhance your brand reputation and differentiate your company from others. It can generate more traffic to your website and increase there engagement.

Despite all these benefits, there are many consequences of virtual house hunting which we have discussed below.

Difficulties During Digital House Hunting

• If you are looking to buy a furnished property, it is not possible to check the quality of the furniture, its condition or any wear and tear over a video call.

• Graphics and multimedia effects are used to make the virtual tour visual and attractive. However, in many cases, the buyers do not get the property which they were expecting as VR creates an effect which the buyers do not experience in reality when they visit the property.

• On digital tour it is not possible to communicate with neighbors to get information about property, locality, amenities etc.

• You can’t check out lighting and amenities online, and for final payment, you still have to visit the location.

So, let’s move on to the do’s and don’ts of digital house hunting.

Do: Use saved searches strategically

Most real estate apps and websites will allow you to save your most important parameters, such as the number of bedrooms and the presence of a two-car garage. Whenever a property is available that fits your alert or saved search, you will get a notification, either a push notification or an email.

If you make it a habit to review these regularly, you can be among the first to spot excellent new properties on the market without obsessive scrolling and searching. You will also be able to access saved searches created by your real estate agent.

Don’t: Rely only on online photos to make offers

While tools like 3D tours or walkthroughs of homes can make it feel like you’ve actually seen the home itself, there’s really no replacement for actually visiting the home you’re buying. Even if you manage to find a home you absolutely love online, you’ll want to do what you can get at a showing.

Many real estate agents understand if you’re buying from afar and simply can’t get around fast enough to make an offer – in that case, your agent is your advocate and your eyes.

Many people will tour the home themselves, video their view as they go, and tell you what they see and feel about the home as they walk through it. This gives you an extra layer on top of the perfect looking photos which can help you make your choice.

Do: If You Can’t Find More, Expand Your Categories

Many people focus on getting a very specific home, keeping to parameters such as square footage, decks or balconies, specific sizes of garages, etc. While it’s nice to get these things exactly how you want them, they’re often a bad reason to rule out homes that are being listed, especially if you can’t find many options and are moving soon. need to. Before embarking on online house hunting, focus on your absolute deal breakers and do a very wide open search.

Don’t: Work Alone – An Agent Brings Valuable References

Agents aren’t just there to send you listings, They will do it electronically though, and it can be very helpful. Instead, they can provide context about the location you’re moving to, valuable comparisons to other recent sales to help you make a competitive offer, and help you while you move through the paperwork and make an offer. If you accumulate, then excellent, fast guidance.

Doing any one of these things through your own research would take hours and hours, more than is available at home even if it is in high demand. Let an agent help you make the process seamless.

Do: Your Own Research

Whether you are hiring a broker or an agent to get all the details about the property, it is still important to do your own research. Perhaps the broker forgot to mention specific facts about the location so it is necessary to verify everything beforehand after getting all the details from a third party.

Don’t forget that appearances are often deceiving

We all remember the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”, which means something similar to “don’t judge a house by its design”. To avoid missing out on anything, it is important to take a house tour that includes everything from the outside to the inside. Sometimes, we fall in love with the design, floor plan etc. which distracts us from the important things to pay attention to like furniture, wear and tear, textiles etc.

Do: Remember Your Budget

While deciding to buy a house, it is important to prepare a budget and choose a house accordingly. Otherwise you will be out of pocket.

Don’t be shy when it’s time to buy

It is important to receive updates about any changes being made to the property. Don’t hesitate to ask about cooling, windows, bathroom space, bar area, insulation, smells, etc. before you buy.

Check the authenticity of the property

Make it a priority to cross-check the validity of the license of the property. Many times people are cheated into buying illegal land or houses, which later causes them trouble and loss.