7 Reasons Why You Should Try Virtual Organizing

When you think of professional organizing, you probably envision a patient, energetic team that wears matching t-shirts and magically moves throughout your home sorting, editing, and systemizing everything to your heart’s desire. And, to be honest, you’re not wrong! Some of our days look like that, and when they do, we LOVE it.

Throughout the unexpected series of events that occurred within the past year, whether due to safer at home restrictions, household preferences, your distance to us, or maybe even simple scheduling availability, we offer virtual organizing services in order to still be able to schedule you in, no matter where you are in the world!

If you don’t know what virtual organizing is, what virtual organizing professionals can do, or you simply don’t see the value in it just yet, we’re about to open your eyes to the 7 reasons why you should definitely try virtual organizing.

Let’s dive in!

What Is Virtual Organizing?

Virtual organizing is the art of helping people create and maintain systems and processes using basic principles of organization–virtually.

Simply put, virtual organizing is you in comfy clothes in your house, and virtual organizing professionals on a phone or computer using applications like Zoom or Skype, that coach you through the process, offer follow-up resources and it all ends with you having a beautiful, functional space.

How Is the Work Carried Out?

In most cases, one-hour virtual organizing sessions are scheduled once or twice a week. The virtual organizer and client will collaborate to develop a strategy in order to achieve the client’s goals, very much like they would do during in-person meetings.

The virtual organizing professional guides the client through the session, at which time, the client will do the physical work, and the virtual organizer will be there as a helping hand that provides advice.

Virtual organizing is an ideal solution for those who are comfortable with technology, are self-starters, very motivated, and are able to work on their own to get the between-session assignments done.

1. A Virtual Organizer Will Motivate You

There’s nothing worse than wanting to do something, and just not being able to bring yourself to do it. You put everything else first and let your unfinished organizing projects linger in the background. As time goes on, human nature is to get overwhelmed, and so you close the door and ignore the piles.

By hiring a virtual home organizer, they can bring you out of your cluttered shell. They help you to open up those doors, and bring light back into your life through the motivation to ‘get stuff done’ they provide you with.

2. Poor Time-Management Doesn’t Matter

Sometimes, time can get the better of us. Often, you’ll find that you lose track of your day and will need to work in the evening when most organizers are done for the day. With virtual organizing, even an 8:00 pm appointment is possible.

As long as you’re able to get online, and of course, they are too, then you can go ahead and move one step closer to completion in your organizing journey.

3. You Don’t Have a Professional Organizer In Your Area

You may not have a professional organizer in your surrounding area, or, you might just need an organizer with a particular set of skills. Regardless of the reason, you can find virtual organizing just a quick Google search.

4. You’re Looking for Accountability or Support for Your Organizing Project

So you started organizing, but now, it seems that the whole process is on pause, and has been for months! This can happen for a multitude of reasons, and it’s completely OK!

When you hire a professional virtual organizer, they can help you get back on track and measure your progress. They are here to support you throughout your whole journey, and consistently help you move your organizing project forward, aiming for completion each and every week. After all, moving forward is the key to success - you just need somebody to keep hounding you to do so!

5. Not Comfortable With a Stranger In Your Home

Many people out there don’t feel comfortable with the thought of having a complete stranger in their home. It could be down to a contagious virus, because they have small children, a sick family member lives with them, or, maybe they’re a clean-freak and have some white carpet that they would like to stay white, which can only be achieved by having as few people in your home as humanly possible.

Regardless of the reason, anybody can invite a virtual organizing professional into their home, without actually inviting them into their home. It’s the perfect way to keep that white carpet white, and get some much-needed organizing done at the same time.

6. You Appreciate Convenience

Do you find that you're constantly having to change schedules? Do you stay up extra late at night, or do you rise early? When do you have the most energy to do physical work? Signing up for virtual organizing services means that you’re also provided with a bunch of conveniences along the way. They are always there to help you out, especially when you need them most.

7. You Prefer to be Comfortable

Want to know the very best thing that virtual organizing has to offer? It’s the fact that you can organize...in your pajamas! There is absolutely no need to dress up if an organizer won’t physically be entering your house. This means that the hair can go up, you can keep your sweats on, and not have a care in the world about what you look like.

In addition to this, virtual organizers allow you to be comfortable as they swing ideas back and forth with you. If you’re somebody who loves to see things from a new perspective, but not have the idea forced on you, then virtual organizing services are definitely what you need.

organizing makes perfect sense. If you’re somebody that can clearly picture themselves changing their whole environment through speaking to a fantastic virtual organizer, then the services we provide at House to Home Organizing are definitely for you.

We started House to Home Organizing with a belief that our client’s goals are the most important factor in the organizing process, and each day, we continue to transform the lives and environments of thousands through our virtual organizing professional guidance.

If you’re interested in learning more, click here to book your 15-minute phone consultation, and let’s get started!

5 Steps To Buying A House Remotely, Before You Move

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen everyone having to put lots of life events on hold, such as weddings, vacations and graduations. However, if you’ve had your heart set on moving for a long time, you probably don’t want to wait even longer until the pandemic dies out in order to do it.

Luckily, if you know how, you can safely buy a house remotely and be completely satisfied with the result. Here are five steps to buying a house remotely in 2020.

Take All The Necessary First Steps

Make sure that having to complete your purchase remotely won’t stop you from doing all the necessary research you might normally take on when buying a house, such as carefully choosing a local neighborhood and researching good schools for your children.

These are a good place to start, whether completing your purchase remotely or in person.

Have A Clear List Of Requirements For Your Real Estate Agent

Make sure that your real estate agent is extra clear on everything you want from a new home and is aware that you are buying your home remotely, as this will put extra responsibility onto the real estate agent’s shoulders.

You will need to be more specific with your requirements if buying remotely, as your real estate agent will largely be acting on your behalf and will have to look out for things that you would have otherwise kept an eye on.

Request Floor Plans And Important Documentation

While photos can give you a somewhat good idea of what a home looks like, it can be difficult to really get a feel for your potential new home from photographs alone.

In order to be as sure about the look and feel of your new home as possible, you should always request floor plans from the current owner to demonstrate the layout of the house. You may also wish to request other documents which prove that the home is in good condition, such as documents assessing the good working condition of boilers, air-con, kitchen appliances and the house’s roof.

Request A Viewing Via A Video Platform

As with most things in 2020, if you can’t do it in person then you should at least try to do it via a video call.

Ask your real estate agent to arrange a time when you can be virtually present for a viewing of the house. While this, of course, isn’t the same as doing viewing the home yourself, you will be able to request whoever is holding the camera to give you a closer look at areas you would like to see more of.

Make Sure You Are Covered Legally

It’s important to make sure that you are covered legally when buying a home, but especially when buying remotely, as this could leave you having to deal with issues in your new home that you may have been unaware of due to a lack of visiting in person. 

10 Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

With virtual reality at its peak and everyone finding brilliant new ways to go digital, it makes sense to offer virtual tours on your real estate listings. Providing potential buyers with a rich, immersive experience from the comfort of their own home can lead to a quick sale and a great offer. It’s also a huge win for agents because it eliminates the need for multiple in-person showings and can help cut down on marketing costs.

While it’s easier in many ways, don’t write off the virtual home tour as being zero work. Making some small, simple adjustments can help you create a virtual tour that’s appealing to all kinds of buyers. And it doesn’t have to take a ton of money. With simple solutions like peel and stick wallpaper and a little decluttering, you can transform any home into a space that’s worthy of full ask. Here are some tips to ensure that you catch the eye of buyers before they even set foot on the property.

1. Clean Like You Would for a Normal Showing—The biggest difference between a virtual tour and a real-life tour is that potential buyers can freeze any frame in the home and stare at it—identifying any and all imperfections—for as long as they want. That means you won’t be able to get away with foregoing the deep, professional clean. Make sure you spiff up the place just like you would for any other showing. 

2. Declutter and Go Minimal—Minimalism may be trendy, but top real estate agents have been using it to sell houses for decades. You don’t want any clutter whatsoever in the frame, as this can be distracting to buyers and suggest that there isn’t enough storage space. Be very selective about what décor you keep, making sure to eliminate any highly personalized items or pieces that are very specific to a certain style of interior design.

3. Go Neutral with a Few Pops of Personality—One downfall of virtual showings is that things can blend together if there’s too much or not enough going on in the frame. Hanging wall decals and temporary wallpaper is a great way to delineate rooms and create some dimension. Use stylish peel and stick wallpaper to cover up outdated or unappealing paint or wallpaper and to add a fresh, modern feel. 

4. Enhance Your Lighting—Just like with any photo shoot, lighting can make a huge difference when you’re staging your home. You want to make sure you bring in as much natural light as possible to create the illusion of a bright, airy and welcoming space. Be sure to open up all curtains and maybe a few doors to let the light stream in. While you’re at it, be sure to swap out any harsh or off-colored lights that may distract or cast awkward shadows. Avoid using the blue-tinted lights that are so common with modern LED bulbs. These are often labeled as “daylight” or “cool white” and will only lead to a harsh visual effect. You want warm, natural lighting.

5. Leave No Questions Unanswered—Remember, the goal is to arm potential buyers with as much information as possible to cut down on the number of in-person showings. So you want to make sure you highlight all features of the home. For example, plan your route so it goes into the closets, pantry, basement and storage areas to give lookers the full picture.

6, Make It Warm and Cozy—While you want to aim for a fresh, minimalist feel, the home shouldn’t feel cold or soulless. A good way to warm up a home when staging is to bring in a few throw pillows and blankets to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. While you won’t be able to burn an enchanting candle or serve fresh baked goods, some cozy accoutrements can still give potential buyers that homey feeling that so often leads to a sale.

7. Make a Few Quick Repairs—Again, remember that your audience will be able to deeply inspect every element of the home, even more so than they might when touring in person on a time limit. That means that they may actually spot the problem areas more easily. Make sure to fix up any big issues before debuting the home virtually, including small and large imperfections.

8. Arrange the Furniture Openly—To give a room a large and airy feel, consider arranging the furniture in a way that opens up the room. Usually that means placing pieces a bit further apart than you might normally in order to create more open, walkable spaces. Remember to declutter furniture, too, only keeping what’s necessary. Opt for neutral-colored furniture in solid colors. If you’re working with existing furniture that’s too colorful or busy, you can always use a slip-cover to dial things down.

9. Show How Space Could Be Used—An important part of staging is making suggestions to help potential buyers envision how they would use the space. It may be worth your while to create a small home office space in an unused bedroom. This is especially important to buyers now as many workers are making the big shift to remote work. If you live in an area attractive to families, it’s a good idea to create a fun space where parents could envision a playroom or hangout space for the kids.  

10. Send the Pets Out for a Walk—If the seller has pets, it’s important that you keep them—and every sign of them—out of the virtual home tour. Be sure to go through the entire house and get rid of any toys, bowls, litter boxes and other indications that a pet lived there. It’s also a good idea to do a thorough vacuum right after the pets are gone to eliminate any fur that may linger in your shot. 

There’s no denying the appeal of the virtual home tour, especially right now. It can help you attract attention among buyers, including ones who are looking from afar. But just like a standard home tour, a virtual home tour can be made a lot better with the right staging. These tips will help ensure that you knock it out of the park and score that big sale!

Guest Post - Self-Guided or Virtual Tours? What Buyers Should Know

Touring a vacant property safely is not easy, especially given our current situation.

The requirements of social distancing get in the way of property buyers and investors, potentially holding them back from finding their dream investment(s). It also stifles potential tenants signing on the dotted line. This is where technology and new methods of apartment touring come into play.

Two of these options include self-guided property tours and virtual property tours. 

If you are a prospective buyer exploring convenient property touring options, it’s a good idea to become acquainted with both of these. Self-guided tours deliver an immersive experience where potential tenants can avoid the high-

pressure sale and explore on their own, at their own pace. 

Let’s review the merits of each of these options.

Virtual Tours vs Self-Guided Tours

Today, buyers & renters are presented with self-guided and virtual tours out of necessity. Oftentimes, the option that ends up working best is the one that best aligns with the viewer’s personal preference and availability. The primary purpose of both options is to address the buyer’s concern and deliver a convenient and comfortable property tour.

What Are Virtual Apartment Tours?

Virtual tours enable interested parties to “experience” a community that they are interested in without having to be present. Its collection of 360-degree images can be the magic bullet that convinces a prospective buyer or tenant that a rental community is the right fit. Virtual tours are also timely given the current realities of COVID-19. 

How Do Virtual Tours Help Property Buyers?

Convenience

The biggest benefit virtual tours offer is the convenience of being able to be in the comfort of your home while also getting to tour a property. It enables you to avoid having to sit in traffic to get to a location and skip the hassle of meeting up with an agent.  This frees up your time to tackle other important tasks.

Money Saved

You may need to visit many properties before finding the one that is best for you. All that commuting adds up to added expenses and virtual property tours help you to avoid these too. 

What Else is There to Consider?

Virtual tours are great, but they do come with certain limitations.

For instance, there is only so much that a virtual tour can reveal. If you want to assess a multifamily property as a whole or explore nearby neighborhoods, there is no replacement for being there in person.  Poor lighting can also obscure things within a unit that you would need brought to your attention. Luckily, self-guided apartment tours can step in to overcome all these concerns. 

What Are Self-Guided Apartment Tours?

A market insights survey reports that 83% of home buyers prefer self-guided tours over virtual property tours. This suggests that the ease of online scheduling, digital access, and flexible tour durations are highly valued by today’s home buyers and renters. 

These tours lend themselves to a comprehensiveness that cannot be achieved with the virtual option. Through self-guided tours, interested parties can literally picture themselves in their new property or home, simplifying the decision-making process. 

How do Self-Guided Tours Help Buyers?

Convenience

Self-guided tours remove the element of having to wait for a leasing agent to either book or confirm a time for a tour with you. Instead, you can select a time that fits best with your own schedule, since you will have access to the unit via a smart programmable keypad. All the property manager needs to do is create a temporary access code that they would then email to you. 

Privacy

It is completely normal to feel intimidated on an apartment or property tour, as someone is typically accompanying you and thus watching your every move. However, with self-guided tours, you can open cabinets, inspect power outlets and more without having someone looking over your shoulder. 

Higher Conversion Rates

Studies show that people who book a self-guided tour are likely to convert to lease-signers at almost twice the rate; this is far better than any other property touring methods available today. Many property managers are tracking this trend and offering self-guided tours to get more leases in less time, and we can’t blame them.

What Else is There to Consider?

While taking a self-guided tour of a promising multifamily property and its units, be sure to write down your questions, as there will not be anyone available to give you an immediate answer. 

This was all about virtual and self-guided property tours, we hope you found it useful. Stay tuned with Arize for more information on smart apartment technology.

Author Bio

David Liang a successful Co-Founder of an IoT startup venture, and Product Manager at Arize.

He currently manages the development of smart apartment technology products that focus on increasing efficiency, sustainability, and user experience. 

Favorite quote: “Life is like driving a car, you use rear mirrors to reflect but wipe your windshield to continue to drive forward.”