Are you planning to buy your future home? Nowadays, you can have two main options when checking out potential properties: visiting display homes and online house tours. Traditionally, potential homeowners check the house in person, where they’re allowed to walk through the property. On the other hand, an online house tour also allows buyers to check the entire property through your screen.
Both types of house tours are essential, but it usually depends on the personal circumstances of the buyer. For instance, there are cases when an online house tour is a better option than visiting display homes, and vice versa.
In this article, we’ll discuss the differences in visiting display homes and navigating online tours to help you make an informed decision when buying a new house.
1. In-person vs. Virtual Experience
When you visit display homes, you can have a tangible experience, such as opening doors, stepping inside the property, and feeling the textures of the decorations and furniture. In addition, you can see whether the lighting is enough to make the room light up.
On the other hand, although virtual tours don’t let you have the same experience, it’s still allow you to imagine the whole property since they usually have high-quality visuals and interactive features.
2. Convenience and Accessibility
Online house tours provide convenience and accessibility, especially if you’re currently far from the location of the property. In addition, there’s no need to schedule the tour or free up your schedule during the designated open house.
On the other hand, if you live near the property, it can also be convenient to visit in person, and you can access the property anytime you want.
3. Accuracy and Realism
Checking out display homes can help you see the actual materials used, finishes, and the space proportions. However, one thing you should keep in mind is that display homes can also use staging, which can alter the main feel of the property.
Meanwhile, although virtual tours can still be altered and staged, the details of the house can easily be accessed on the website.
4. Emotional Connection
Although there can be an emotional impact when being present in the space, and imagining how you’re going to decorate it, your feelings can also be altered depending on the current situation in the property. However, if everything’s in the right place, in the right moment, you can easily imagine yourself living there.
On the other hand, although online tours may not provide the same emotional impact, you can utilise them for narrowing down your options. At the same time, imagining how you’ll decorate the place can also be possible due to the high-quality visuals presented.
5. Cost and Practical Considerations
Looking into online tours is free, and you can visit as many properties as you like without spending money, while your time will not be wasted during these virtual tours. Meanwhile, visiting display homes may require travel costs and time investments.
So, if you’re still browsing for options, you can try online tours, while visiting display homes is perfect when confirming your choice before taking the next steps.
6. Other Factors to Consider
While virtual tours are easy to navigate, there are things that you can’t experience when visiting display homes. Here are other factors to help you decide whether you should opt for online tours or display homes:
Feel the Atmosphere
As mentioned, when you step into the actual space of the property, you can easily access the atmosphere, well-being, and other elements that make up the whole property. Although you can also feel something while exploring online tours, especially of the decorations are homey and make you want to live there in the future.
Talk with the Agent
Whether it’s online or when you visit display homes, talking with the agent is a must. In some cases, online agents may be easy to talk to, just like when they’re present during the open house.
So, no matter which one you prefer, ensure that the agent is easy to talk to and reliable enough to establish connections and get the specific information and help you need.
Assess the Neighbourhood
The neighbourhood is an essential factor when choosing a new house to buy. Although there may be some details about the neighbourhood, there are some things you can’t do when having a virtual tour and while visiting display homes.
For instance, you may be aware that most houses in the neighbourhood are filled with families, but you may not check their attitudes and lifestyles online. The best way to check the neighbourhood is in person, unless you’re not interested in connecting with them.
Initial Screening
Although it’s great to see the house in person during your initial screening, virtual tours can significantly help you narrow down your options. Once you’ve checked whether the property on the virtual tour is to your liking, you can proceed with checking it in person.
Final Thoughts
Both display homes and online house tours are great ways to look for the best property where you can spend your future. However, one can be a better option than the other depending on your current situation. But if you have enough time and other resources, utilising both of them can be the best way to find your ideal home.
