As Many Businesses Go Online, the Real Estate Industry Braces for an Onslaught of Virtual Buys.

Between sheltering in place and a strong buyer’s market across the U.S., the homebuying frenzy that set in early in the COVID-19 pandemic introduced some new and surprising norms. What is often touted as a family’s most significant investment was pared down to a set of virtual walkthroughs and a lot of remotely handled paperwork. While some are of the opinion that virtual home buying is not sustainable, the length and severity of the pandemic will be the accurate indicators of what is possible in many states – and the ability to buy a home sight unseen has undoubtedly been proven to homebuyers. 

Realtors are leveraging all sorts of creative approaches, from using 3D maps of homes in virtual walkthroughs to streaming their available homes on entertaining platforms. like Facebook Live. or TikTok. While these exciting new methods do less than a home visit, they are contributing to a broader shift around how people feel about home. After all, home is no longer just a place to come at the end of the workday – homes are offices, entertainment hubs, workout spaces, lounges, spas – you name it. As long as personal safety requires homebuyers to shop from a safe distance, the homebuying industry would do well to make the most of this renewed, expansive focus on home life and take their marketing online in smart, informative ways.

 If you’re a home builder looking to augment your digital strategy, ASTRALCOM can help. Get in touch today.