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How to Host a Virtual Open House This Winter
With less favorable temperatures, the potential for inclement weather, and buyers being busy around the holidays, it can be challenging to host an open house in person during winter. Luckily, there's another option that saves time and attracts more buyers: a virtual open house.Â
Virtual open houses are becoming increasingly popular as homebuyers search for more convenient shopping methods online. They let you show properties to buyers anywhere worldwide, as long as they have an internet connection. In addition to putting a spotlight on your listings, virtual open houses allow you to demonstrate your real estate expertise to everyone watching, helping you gain future business.
Here's a comprehensive guide for how to host a virtual open house this winter:Â
1. Choose a Platform and Get Familiar With It
To set up your virtual open house, you'll first need to choose a platform like Facebook, Instagram, Google Hangouts, or Zoom. Take the time to learn how the details of your preferred platform work, and test it to make sure you're ready when it's time to go live.
2. Promote Your Virtual Open House in Advance
Like a traditional open house, getting the word out about your virtual open house is crucial to success. The more people who know about your virtual open house, the larger your audience will be. Always promote virtual open houses on your real estate website and social media pages in advance. You can also promote them through email. Prominently mention the date, time, platform, and other info audience members need to tune in.
3. Collect Registrations and Share Links
Collect registrations in advance to get a head count for the event and integrate calendar invites so people receive a proper link whenever they sign up. Having attendees sign up ahead also ensures you collect their contact information so you can follow up and stay in touch after the open house.
4. Scout the Home and Prepare Your Talking Points
Before a virtual open house, walk through the home and look at each room in detail. What are the most prominent features of the home, which areas do you want to highlight during your tour, how will you progress through the home, and what are some things you can point out about each room? While fully scripting a virtual open house can make the process look unnatural on-screen, preparing basic talking points that you can expand upon ad-lib is a great way to go.
5. Arrive Early to Prepare on the Day of the Event
On the day of your virtual open house, always arrive early to test your technology, refresh yourself on the home's features, and prepare for your time on camera. Ensure that the home is well-lit and that the settings on your camera produce a clear, crisp picture for your audience.
6. Take Your Time as You Show the Home
Remember that many buyers in your audience may not tour the home in person, so they want to see as much detail as possible. As you move through each room, take your time and highlight all the areas buyers care about most.
7. Using an Interactive Platform? Be Sure to Answer Audience Questions
If you're using a platform allowing audience members to post questions, keep an eye out for good ones. Answering questions is a great way to generate engagement with your audience and help buyers decide whether the home is right for them.
8. Repurpose Virtual Open Houses for Clients Who Missed the Live Event
While virtual open houses offer great convenience, not all buyers can log on for the live event. Fortunately, you can repurpose your virtual open houses as virtual tours after the fact so that all buyers can see the home at a time that works for them.
Whether you're hosting a virtual or in-person open house, Delta Media's Open House Connector® app is here to help you manage the event from start to finish. Open House Connector® makes it simple for customers to register and discover important event details. Plus, integrated with DeltaNET®, attendees' contacts will automatically enter into your CRM for follow-ups and future lead nurturing campaigns and initiatives.
