In today’s digital-first world, virtual home-selling tools have become essential for attracting buyers.

By maximizing your online presence, you can increase your visibility and create a memorable first impression to help ensure that you have a speedy, efficient, and successful sale. Explore some of the key assets to consider and how you can use them to stand out in the market and sell with confidence.

Virtual tours

According to a 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors®, over 41 percent of buyers start online when searching for a house. This makes a virtual tour an impactful way to showcase your home’s layout and design, giving viewers a feel for each room’s flow and functionality without having to find the time to come see it in person. Plus, it can help filter out buyers who aren’t a good fit, saving both you and them time and effort.

As for the resulting benefits, a 2020 study from spatial-mapping specialist Matterport found that homes with 3D tours can close up to 31 percent faster and sell for up to 9 percent more. And those are prepandemic stats, so you can only imagine how much more effective a quality 3D walkthrough may be now as people have become used to operating remotely.

Virtual staging

Staging is an essential part of selling—per the 2023 State of the Home Staging Industry Report from the Real Estate Staging Association, 85 percent of staged homes sell for 6 to 10 percent more than their unstaged counterparts. However, the traditional process can be pricy and time-consuming, requiring the hassle and expense of physical furniture rentals and decor purchases. Going virtual provides an easy and cost-effective alternative since you can play around with adding, removing, and shifting pieces digitally until you find that configuration that highlights the full potential of your spaces. This approach is particularly helpful for vacant homes and properties with unique layouts.

Professional photography

Even if your home has excellent features, poor-quality photos can dampen interest. Lighting, angles, and composition can make all the difference, so hiring a professional photographer who knows how to capture all the important aspects of your exterior and interior spaces is well worth the investment. In fact, homes with top-notch images receive 67 percent more views (according to the Wall Street Journal) and sell 32 percent faster (according to a Chicago-based study).

Digital ads and social media

Once your home’s virtual assets are ready, online marketing can push your listing to a broad, interested audience. With 68 percent of Americans using Facebook and 47 percent using Instagram per the Pew Research center, targeted ads on these platforms can go a long way toward helping you reach motivated buyers. A well-designed campaign can showcase your virtual tours, highlight specific property features, and drive more interest than traditional listings alone.

Tips to optimize your online strategy

To make the most of virtual selling, here are some ways to ensure that your home shows at its best:

• Use floor plans. Including a floor plan in your listing adds context to the virtual tour, helping buyers understand your property’s layout.
• Maximize curb appeal. Begin with a strong exterior photo. Adding virtual landscaping can be an affordable way to enhance curb appeal digitally.
• Highlight key features. If your home has unique details like vaulted ceilings or custom cabinetry, take care to capture and emphasize them.

Virtual selling not only meets the needs of modern buyers but also makes the home-selling process smoother and faster. Pair the right digital tools with the expert guidance of a real estate agent, and you can better reach your ideal buyer, even if they’re browsing from miles away.