Buying a new home is a major financial decision, and many buyers want plenty of time to compare options before making a choice. Self-guided home tours give shoppers greater flexibility, allowing them to visit homes on their own schedule, revisit features that matter most, and take a closer look before moving forward.
Instead of following a traditional guided walkthrough, self-guided tours allow buyers to explore homes without a sales representative present, creating a lower-pressure environment for evaluating their options.
"Especially in this market, people are taking longer and really trying to make sure they’re making the right decision," said Tara Whiteley, digital marketing manager at Eastwood Homes. "Having the freedom to tour a home, really look at the quality, maybe bring their father or mother along and ask what they think of the layout, and have that time without a salesperson there gives people an opportunity to feel more comfortable with their decision."
After receiving interest from sales teams in its Charlotte and Greensboro divisions, Eastwood Homes began offering self-guided tours through UTour, an on-demand platform that uses smart-lock technology to provide independent home access to shoppers. Following positive results, the program was expanded across nearly all of its divisions.
Eastwood isn't alone. CBH Homes launched its Tour Now program in 2019 and has since expanded the offering across hundreds of available homes throughout Southern Idaho.
When asked what attracts buyers to self-guided tours, CBH Homes vice president Ronda Conger pointed to three key benefits: freedom, convenience, and zero pressure.
"People expect convenience now. They order groceries from their phone, check into hotels digitally, and manage huge parts of their lives online. Home buying isn't exempt from that expectation," said Conger.
She added that self-guided touring appeals to a wide variety of shoppers, including first-time buyers, relocating families, and experienced homeowners. Although some buyers are initially surprised that they can access a home without scheduling a traditional appointment, she emphasized that support from CBH’s team remains available whenever questions arise.
“When we first launched, we thought it might primarily appeal to the more tech-savvy buyers. What we've learned is that convenience doesn't really have a demographic,” said Conger.
Taking a Self-Guided Tour: Step by Step
Wondering what happens once you decide to schedule a self-guided tour? Using UTour as an example, here's how the process typically works from start to finish:
Find a participating home. Search for UTour-enabled homes through a builder's website or on listings sites such as NewHomeSource. In some communities, you can even scan a QR code outside a home to get started.
Register and verify your identity. Create an account and complete identity verification using a government-issued photo ID or a credit or debit card. Once verified, you'll receive tour instructions and a unique access code by text and email.
Unlock the home and explore. When you arrive, enter the access code into the home's smart lock and tour at your own pace. Take measurements, revisit rooms, and focus on the details most important to you.
Connect with a sales representative if needed. Throughout the process, you'll have access to community information and contact details for a sales representative who can answer questions or discuss next steps. After the tour ends, access automatically expires and follow-up information is provided.
The result is an experience designed to make it easier for buyers to explore homes while still providing access to support when they're ready for it. Rather than acting as a substitute for conversations with sales representatives, self-guided tours give buyers another way to gather information and narrow their options during the early stages of the home search.
“We've always believed buying a home should be exciting,” said Conger. “If we can remove some of the friction and pressure from the process, buyers can focus on the fun part: ‘Could I see myself living here?’”
Whether they're exploring communities for the first time or narrowing their list of potential homes, buyers can benefit from having a more comfortable way to evaluate their options. With platforms like UTour and Tour Now making the process simple and secure, more shoppers are discovering that finding the right home may start with unlocking the front door themselves.
