The Evolution of The Virtual Home Sale

The Evolution of The Virtual Home Sale

When purchasing a home, there are many things home buyers need to consider during the process. Home prices, number of bedrooms, baths, location, proximity to employment and access to amenities are common factors buyers have always considered, but the Covid-19 pandemic has raised a whole new consideration in the home buying process. New methods to shop for and purchase a home have emerged.

Many of today’s home buyers are interested in resort-style amenities, planned activities and a socially-focused neighborhood. But they’re also looking to shop for their next house without leaving the comfort of their current home. So how can all the amenities, features and layout of a home be experienced by prospective buyers without personally visiting the property? Most buyers today begin their search online. That’s why websites such as myMHcommunity.com have transitioned their property listings to leverage use of the latest technology.

Equity Lifestyle

Virtual experiences like video open houses, 360-degree photos, virtual tours, live video walk throughs and electronic closings make it possible to conduct your next home purchase with an entirely virtual process from start to finish. This may even become the norm for the future of home buying. At Pioneer Village near Fort Myers, FL, the sales team is seeing an increase in digital interaction that has made the tech trend a priority when showcasing their homes. The ability to view multiple 360-degree photos online allows buyers to experience each home and gain a perspective of each room without ever having to step foot in a home. The team at Pioneer can also provide a prerecorded video walk through of both homes and the community, giving online shoppers a firsthand experience of what it’s like to live in their community.

When buyers at Pioneer Village take a virtual tour, they join through Facetime or Zoom and experience the community from the front gate, through the community amenities and common areas of the property, into the specific home or homes that have captured their interest. When they’re ready to move forward, the paperwork is completed and the purchase is finalized electronically through DocuSign. This all-electronic experience broadens the scope of potential buyers and has brought in new neighbors from as far away as Minnesota to this Florida Gulf Coast community without them ever having physically been to Pioneer Village before the purchase of their home.

ViewPoint Phase III Pool

Another aspect of the COVID pandemic that has shifted the home buying focus is alternative floorplans and office features that homebuyers are now seeking. To accommodate trends in remote work or home schooling, dens or additional bedrooms are now positioned as a dedicated work or study spaces. Quantities and locations of outlets and availability of Wi-Fi are critical when determining the right fit for working and home-schooling families. Homebuyers are also seeking touchless features, like faucets and smart thermostats to provide a sense of comfort and convenience. All of these features and options can be discussed during a virtual tour where buyers are able to view homes and interact one-on-one with a sales agent via video conference from any computer or smart device at any convenient time.

Find out more: MyMHcommunity.com features a database of nearly 1,000 available homes with a variety of floor plans in more than 200 manufactured home communities across the country.