How much time have you spent scheduling and rescheduling property viewings with prospective clients in the past week? As any real estate agent will know, the answer to that question is probably “too much.”
For this reason, virtual tours have become an incredibly useful and convenient tool in the property sector. They help bridge the gap when schedules or distance are a problem, enabling prospective clients to get a first look and feel of the property without needing to be physically there and assess whether it is the right match for their needs before moving forward. In a constantly growing global property this is invaluable.
This article explores the different types of virtual tours, their benefits, and how to create the kind of tours that will help you attract clients and close deals.
Read on to discover which one is right for your business and how to get started.
Open house days have been a staple of the real estate industry for decades. Because they are in-person, they allow prospective clients to explore a property and look at details that matter to them from up close. Open houses are a great way to let prospective clients ‘experience’ a property and more effectively picture themselves in it, so they can help spark the kind of emotional connection that can quickly lead to a sale.
Meanwhile, the strength of virtual tours lies in their convenience and cost-effectiveness. They are an excellent option for global clients, allowing them to inspect a property that is miles away from where they are physically. They also cater to busy individuals who don’t have the time or resources to attend an open house and can only view a property remotely. Plus, virtual tours are efficient marketing tools, which can help lower the number of open houses needed to close a deal and be used multiple times.
Estate agents and property managers can create different types of virtual tours to show their properties to prospective clients.
These include:
This option consists of a series of images presented in a sequence, often with effects such as fading when transitioning. It is the most basic form of virtual tour and can be helpful for a first-time viewer to get a quick feel of the property before either visiting in person or asking for a more interactive or in-depth virtual tour of it.
These pre-recorded short videos give viewers a detailed tour of a property, showcasing its layout, features, and ambiance. The camera guides viewers through each room, with comments from the agent highlighting specific details and features. This type of tour is linear and doesn’t incorporate any interactive elements.
These tours allow prospective clients to explore the property in comprehensive detail. Created by stitching together multiple images, they offer a seamless view that lets users scroll from floor to ceiling and zoom in on specific areas for a closer look. This format provides a highly immersive experience, enabling clients to examine every angle of the property
This alternative enables users to “walk” through a digital model of the property, selecting specific rooms or areas to explore. Created with advanced imaging software, these tours provide a comprehensive sense of the layout and flow of a property and are perfect for viewers who want to get a very close look but are unable to do so in person.
Live virtual tours allow potential clients to explore a property in real time via video call with an agent on-site to guide them and answer questions. This format combines the convenience of a virtual tour and the ‘personal touch’ of in-person visits. It is also a good option for prospective clients keen on getting a more personalized viewing experience and who want to get answers to their questions on the spot.
AR tours overlay digital elements onto the physical world, allowing viewers to visualize potential changes or improvements to the property. For example, users can see how different furniture or décor would look within the space. This format is especially useful for properties needing updates or improvements, as it enables prospective clients to imagine the possibilities and envision the property as their own.
VR tours offer a uniquely immersive experience by letting users explore a 3D model of the property through a VR headset. This allows viewers to feel as if they are physically walking through the property, with a realistic sense of scale and spatial depth. Particularly appealing for tech-savvy clients, VR tours offer the closest experience to in-person viewing.
💡Pro tip: The same tech-savvy clients who appreciate VR or AR tours will be interested in knowing if the property they are viewing has any tech features. Make sure you highlight things like smart doorbells, connected appliances, or devices such as Minut, explaining their benefits and functionalities.
Virtual tours have become an increasingly important staple of property marketing, thanks to their convenience for both clients and real estate agents.
Some of their benefits are:
Virtual tours allow potential clients to experience properties as if they were physically present. Unlike traditional photos, which only offer a snapshot, virtual tours provide a complete, interactive experience that helps clients get a true sense of the layout, flow, and feel of the space. Depending on the kind of tour, clients can move through the property at their own pace, zooming in on details or exploring rooms that interest them most. This creates a highly personalized experience, where they can have a good feel of the property, even without setting foot in it.
One of the biggest advantages of virtual tours is their ability to attract remote clients. Whether an interested party is across town or across the globe, virtual tours allow them to view properties without needing to be physically present. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted just how important having these options is, and even when lockdowns are a thing of the past, the practicality of virtual tours has made them a staple of property marketing.
Virtual tours are also available 24/7, giving potential clients the freedom to view properties at any time. This round-the-clock accessibility significantly expands reach, helping to attract a broader audience and making it easy for anyone to explore listings on their own schedule.
Virtual tours are a key time saver for both clients and agents. clients can narrow down their choices before scheduling in-person showings, cutting down the time spent on traveling to the different properties for viewings. Similarly, agents spend less time coordinating and going to viewings and more time focusing on serious prospects.
In a crowded market, virtual tours help your business stand out. Offering these tech-forward solutions demonstrates your ability to support prospective clients’ busy schedules or limitations and offer them an easier and more convenient buying experience. They also showcase your tech-savviness, giving you a competitive edge over other more traditional industry players.
Offering virtual tours enhances your listings and positions your brand as contemporary and tech-enabled. By integrating virtual tours into your marketing strategy, you signal to potential clients that your business is at the forefront of innovation in real estate. This can build trust, set you apart from competitors, and reinforce your brand as one that prioritizes convenience and technology.
An engaging virtual tour can help set your property apart and attract more interest from potential clients.
If you are a newcomer to the world of virtual tours, you can follow these steps to create your own:
From simple photo slideshows to sophisticated VR tours, the options are many when it comes to property virtual tours. Examine your portfolio to understand which one works best for the properties on sale, considering factors such as budget and target market. For example, a video walkthrough or live tour may be suited to a luxury property, where you can guide viewers through each unique feature.
Preparing the property and ensuring it looks visually appealing plays a critical role in the impact a virtual tour can make. Start by thoroughly cleaning and decluttering each room to create a welcoming atmosphere.
Arrange furniture to highlight the space and add decorative touches, like fresh flowers or artwork, to enhance visual appeal. Lighting is essential for high-quality shots, so make sure each room is well-lit, and use natural light whenever possible.
From cameras to editing software, the equipment you use can make a significant difference in the quality of your virtual tour. So, while the tech may be pricey, the cost-efficiency of the pieces you create will justify the high price tag, particularly if you have a large portfolio or cater to a more globalized market.
Explore solutions from companies such as Matterport or iStaging and research different hardware such as the Ricoh Z1 camera to see if they offer the features you need based on the type of tours you want to create and your budget.
Even the most attractive properties can lose their appeal with unprofessional filming or editing skills, so this is an area in which you want to invest time and money. If you feel comfortable recording and editing the material yourself, make sure you polish off your techniques.
A videography or video editing course can be a good way to take your tours to the next level and ensure you have a professional, impactful and effective final product.
💡 Pro tip: Amateur-looking tours will not have the impact you expect them to, so working with specialist consultants or agencies can be a safe option if you are just starting out.
Interactive elements can make your virtual tour more engaging and informative. Clickable hotspots, for example, allow users to explore specific details, such as appliance features or materials. Voiceovers or background music can provide additional context and set the tone for the tour, while annotations can highlight key selling points. Integrating these features gives additional information to viewers while enhancing their experience by making it more informative and pleasant.
Convenient and time efficient, virtual tours are a powerful tool to reach a broader market and offer potential clients the flexibility they need to explore properties on their terms.
They are also an excellent way to position your business as an innovative player, so if you are looking for a way to set your business apart from the competition, virtual tours can be an effective first step to take your business to the next level.
Looking for ways to make your portfolio smarter? Minut can help. Book a call with our experts to see what Minut’s AI-powered monitoring technology can do for your business.
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