Homebuying has almost always been an in-person experience that included appointments, real estate agents and a lot of paperwork. However, these traditional methods cannot keep up in our current fast-track world.
The events of this year have inspired homebuilders and real estate agents to rethink traditional selling practices and make a quick shift to virtual technologies. Digitalization is rapidly shaping the future of homebuilders, agents and consumers.
Traditional Homebuying Methods
In-person interactions have always been a cornerstone of the homebuying experience. Many customers desire the opportunity to walk around and feel the space to help them make a decision on buying a new home.
During the in-person visits, New Home Consultants were able to learn more about their Customer, establish trust, and prove themselves as a reliable and valuable source for their Customer’s new home needs.
Digital Homebuying in 2020 and Beyond
One trend seen this year is that there was a spike in renters motivated to buy a permanent home. Zillow shared their web traffic regarding for-sale listings, and requests have actually risen since the beginning of the pandemic. They stated that by mid-April, overall visits to for-sale homes had rebounded by 18% year-over-year.
Recent stay-at-home orders called for a shift in how potential buyers and sales associates work together. In a matter of weeks, homebuilders and agents advanced to no-contact virtual tours in order to accommodate buyers’ needs and safety. Buyers across the nation were able to view homes they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to thanks to quick adjustments from the real estate community.
Every Lennar community offers digital homebuying solutions, but it’s even more important at 55 & Better communities like Avalon Trails in Delray Beach. Here, single-family homes are specially designed to accommodate the varied needs and lifestyles of today’s 55+ community. Plus, an array of resort-style amenities located on-site provide countless social and recreational activities to make your days as active or restful as you prefer.
The New Future of Homebuying
Today, companies who use virtual homebuying solutions offer their clients a safe and seamless homebuying journey. It’s important to adapt quickly to these unprecedented times. Lennar has done just that, by giving homebuyers convenience and peace of mind with virtual tour and virtual closing options, with all digital paperwork.
This digital transformation is expected to continue spreading throughout all areas of the homebuying experience over the next few years. Above all, today’s (and tomorrow’s) homebuyers will be expecting digital convenience in each step of the process. Buyers will be increasingly evaluating a brand’s online presence, demanding tools and information to be right at their fingertips. Sellers must be ready to reach these up-and-coming buyers across all channels.
Of course people will still crave in-person interactions when finalizing home purchases, so it will also be essential for companies to safely unite traditional and virtual experiences to create a modern approach for buyers of the future.
