Flexibility has often been lacking in the real estate industry. Whether in terms of buyer representation or the pace of technological innovation, change came slowly. I saw firsthand how poorly the industry responded to consumer needs and demands. While I’d like to believe we’ve learned our lesson, I remain a bit skeptical. But right now, I find it a perfect time to talk about the looming question what is virtual real estate?

Tech Finally Meets Real Estate

Technology has finally caught up in some meaningful ways. Real estate tech has helped close the gap, giving homebuyers and sellers more ways to search for or showcase properties. There’s been a clear shift in how consumers interact with digital content. Smart devices, streaming services, social media, and videography now create early touchpoints for REALTORS® to engage with clients.

As we brace for 2021, flexibility is key. Virtual home tours and virtual staging are tools I wish we had embraced years ago. Unfortunately, it took a global pandemic to spark meaningful action from the industry.

Virtual Home Tours: A Must in a Post-COVID Market

Virtual home tours offer an excellent way to connect buyers and sellers in our current climate. Under PAR guidelines, holding a traditional open house safely is incredibly difficult. Agents must follow strict safety measures—multiple staff, COVID forms, social distancing, entry limits, disinfection, and more.

The CDC has also shared that the virus may spread beyond six feet through the air. All of this creates major challenges for in-person open houses.

Virtual tours should become standard for most homes on the market, much like product previews in online shopping. These tours need to be immersive and detailed—giving viewers a strong sense of layout, light, depth, flooring, closets, ceilings, and even the condition of the foundation. After a well-done virtual tour, a buyer should almost feel like they were inside the home.

Photography and Mobile Tools Give Sellers an Edge

Thanks to the rise of mobile tech and professional photography, virtual open houses now capture buyer attention in powerful ways. Sellers benefit by showcasing their properties in an increasingly digital market.

Being proactive with this technology is more than just a smart strategy—it’s essential. Preparing a virtual home tour in advance is helpful for buyers who can’t or won’t visit in person, whether due to travel or safety concerns.

Virtual Staging: Another Powerful Tool

Another tool reshaping real estate is virtual staging—either through live virtual sessions or staging software. These methods help agents guide sellers on how to make a great first impression. They offer advice on everything from landscaping to key interior spaces. Whether using FaceTime, Google Duo, or Messenger, agents can walk sellers through the staging process remotely.

These tips give homeowners a competitive edge. Staging apps are also gaining traction. Companies like Compass are using this tech to show buyers something more than empty rooms. Agents can select key rooms to stage virtually, helping buyers visualize a home’s potential in a more compelling way.

Virtual Tools Are Great, But Reality Still Matters

While virtual tools are powerful, they can’t replace the real-life experience of being in a home. Buyers still need to touch surfaces, take in scents, and explore neighborhoods to truly evaluate a property.

Video can help buyers get close—but walking through a home before submitting an offer remains ideal. Even in a tech-forward market, that in-person visit still matters.