Due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the need for social distancing, it has become necessary for landlords to find alternate ways to rent or sell a property, including the use of virtual tours. Not only can virtual tours help to increase awareness in general, but they can also help provide perspective buyers with a better look and feel of the layout, and from the convenience of where they are.
With more activity now taking place online, that also means virtual tours are going to become more commonplace. For those new to these, a virtual tour could be as simple as a section on the realtor's website where videos, photos, and 360-degree images are used to create an immersive look at a property. With this method, a perspective-buyer or renter can click their way through the property. Alternatively, it could be an actual live-stream of a property using Zoom, Skype or any of the other video communication services.
Regardless of which type of virtual tour is on offer, both can be taken advantage of by scammers to trick a victim. Scams are nothing new, but ever since the world moved more online, the number of scams taking place online has also increased, as scammers look to utilize the tools at their disposal and especially when it comes to consumers that are less used to doing business online. This now also includes virtual tours and the best way to avoid these scams is by knowing about them in advance.
Common Scam Tactics To Watch Out For
A very common scam is the bait and switch tactic and people have often fallen victim to this on Airbnb before the outbreak began. Scammers can create fake content online by taking videos, photos and images from a real seller and adding them to their own contact information. Therefore, it is always best to verify the seller and make sure they (and their listings) are genuine. Another common trick is for the scammer to encourage a person to pay for the property (or a deposit) without signing a lease, or any formal contract. A perspective-buyer should also be concerned if the person selling or leasing a property is not that interested in conducting a background check. Never hand over any money (digitally, or otherwise) without ensuring the legit paperwork has been filed and signed by all those involved.
There is also the possibility that a scammer will try to get people to pay more for a property than it is worth. In this instance, a landlord’s guided tour will gloss over missing information or sweep them quickly around the property during a video call. They might talk about water and utilities, maybe even turn on a sink, but then neglect to provide crucial information, such as the condition of the pipes and water. Both of which a buyer would normally get a better feel for when doing an in-person inspection. Speaking of which, it could be useful to have someone qualified join you on the virtual call as well - from their own location to respect social distancing rules - as they will be more equipped to ask the right questions that average buyers might not think of at the time.
These are just some of the scams to look out for, and while it doesn't paint a great picture, virtual tours are not something to be feared. They are useful tools that can help supplement home buying or renting opportunities. A person moving to a different area can use these tours to help find reasonable home accommodation, or at least, narrow down the search, without leaving home. Not to mention, there are plenty of honest landlords, property managers, and other sellers out there, and all of them will likely be happy to provide an extended virtual tour when requested. After all, they are likely feeling the effects of coronvirus just as much as everyone else and will welcome the opportunity to rent or sell a property while social distancing.