Buyer tendencies have changed during the pandemic. It’s time to adapt.

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2020 sure was a heck of a year. We’ve all had to learn how to do things remotely that we wouldn’t have had to do before. Instead of seeing a doctor in person, many of us had to rely on telemedicine. Instead of going to school, many kids had to school from home virtually. Instead of going to the grocery store, many consumers opted to have their groceries delivered.

Home buying is no exception to this rule, and the digital tools that have allowed us to live our daily lives remotely have been a blessing during this difficult time. I can’t imagine going through this pandemic without them. When you look at what’s happening in the real estate market, buyers are out in full force alongside their agents using these digital tools to make the purchase process easier.

This is why understanding the changes in buyer behavior since the pandemic started is important if you’re a seller. On average, buyers have been looking online for homes for eight weeks, and the average number of homes they view is nine. Of those nine homes, they usually only view four in person. In 2019, buyers averaged nine in-person home visits. In true 2020 fashion, buyers narrowed their online search and made sure they didn’t have to set foot in any houses unnecessarily.

“A winning game plan involves knowing what buyers are looking for so your home isn’t eliminated from their short lists once they decide to do in-person visits.”

What do you need to know moving forward? First, make sure your agent is leveraging all the best digital tools and knows exactly what’s most important to buyers. Here’s a useful stat: 89% of all buyers say that professional digital photography is very helpful in their online home search. They also appreciate detailed information about the home and the addition of a personal touch in its description from the homeowner. Whatever you love about your home, buyers will probably love too.

Here are some more useful stats regarding your home’s online profile:

• 67% of buyers thought floor plans helped them decide whether they could live in a home or not.

• 58% of buyers believed virtual tours were critical in their decision-making process.

The bottom line is that you must put together a winning game plan and adjust to the way buyers have behaved during the pandemic. A winning game plan involves knowing what buyers are looking for so your home isn’t eliminated from their short lists once they decide to do in-person visits. You’ll probably have fewer showings than you normally would, but that’s not a bad thing. On the contrary, the showings you receive will only come from serious buyers.

If you want to get started putting together a winning game plan that will enable you to sell quickly and for top dollar, feel free to call or email me anytime. If you have any other real estate questions, feel free to reach out to me as well. I’d love to hear from you.