In this tech-driven era, where attention spans are very short, converting a lead through static real estate images is very tough. Users don’t want to see flat images. They want to see the size of rooms, the layout, and details like the architecture. They want to imagine how the place could look with furniture and changes. Basically, they want an experience similar to visiting the property in person, except on a screen.
That is why real estate virtual tours have become a necessity, more than a trend. Let’s explore how it is benefitting both real estate buyers and sellers and why you should start incorporating virtual tours in your listings.
How Real Estate Virtual Tours are Transforming Buyer’s Experience?
Virtual tours help interested buyers make informed decisions by providing:
Realistic Representation of Property’s Elements
Through advanced technologies (such as AR and VR), virtual tours help buyers explore every corner, every detail in depth. They can examine elements like the placement of windows for natural light, the texture of countertops, or even the condition of fixtures to understand the true value of the property. The experience is so real and interactive that buyers feel they are viewing the property in person, reducing the chances of uncertainty.
Accessibility and Convenience
Exploring multiple properties and finalizing one is always a long and tiring process (no matter if a potential buyer lives twenty minutes from the property or three states away). 3D virtual tours make this process easier by offering the convenience of viewing various listings without going anywhere. Viewers can shortlist some of the best-looking properties online to streamline and shorten the process. This is especially beneficial for distant buyers or those with tight schedules, as they no longer need to coordinate multiple in-person visits.
Cost and Time Efficiency
The biggest benefit of 3D virtual tours is that they save the initial in-person visit time and the cost associated with it.
Many times, buyers are interested in a particular property but are hesitant to visit it in person because it is far from their location or they might have a busy schedule. In such cases, 3D virtual tours prove to be very useful.
The 360-degree images, video walkthroughs, and various customization options in virtual tours allow interested buyers to judge if the property matches their needs. If it does, then they can plan to view it in person.
Personalized Experiences with Augmented Reality
By using augmented reality in virtual tours, real estate agents help buyers build on their imagination.
Through AR, buyers can test different wall colors, modify the interior or even change flooring types to see how the space would look when customized to their preferences. Even if a property is in the design or development phase, virtual tours powered by AR can help buyers visualize how it will look like after completion.
There are platforms like Matterport or Zillow 3D Home that use augmented reality for virtual staging and personalization. They let buyers virtually place a couch, bed, or dining table into the living room of a property to see how it fits and looks. When a buyer gets such a level of clarity through virtual tours, it gets easy for them to make a confident purchase decision.
24/7 Access to Listings with a Live Chat Option
In-person property visits are not possible round-the-clock due to a buyer or realtor’s unavailability or some other reasons. However, that is not the case with 3D virtual tours.
Since these tours are available online, they can be accessed 24/7. Buyers can revisit the property as often as they like. Additionally, these days, virtual tours are incorporating chatbots or virtual assistants to answer buyer queries in real-time. This helps them clear their doubts then and there without further follow-ups or discussions.
Benefits of 3D Tours for Real Estate Agencies and Realtors
Apart from buyers, virtual tours offer several advantages to realtors and agencies. Let’s see how integrating virtual tours for real estate marketing benefits you:
Expanded Market Reach to Remote Buyers
As 3D virtual tours help remote and international buyers view property virtually anytime, you can get expanded reach on the listings. As a result, the selling opportunities automatically increase without investing any additional amount in advertising or promotions.
Competitive Differentiation
Real estate listings that have virtual tours available are, by default, more preferred by interested buyers compared to those having static images only. Several studies in the past have highlighted that buyers don’t prefer listings without virtual tours or 360-degree images [Source]. So, if your real estate listings contain virtual tours while your competitors don’t have that, you already have an edge over them.
Increased Transparency and Better Client Satisfaction
Many times, a realtor loses a potential lead because the provided description of a property doesn’t match the buyer’s expectations when they actually visit that property. Such experiences not only cost you a sale but also your credibility and reputation. By providing a detailed and realistic representation of a property through 3D virtual tours, you can increase transparency (buyers will get what they see) and build better relationships with your clients.
Improved Conversions/Closing Rates
A research by TwentyCi shows that listings with virtual tours helped real estate agents achieve 19.4% higher conversions than listings without one. Not only in the case of buying properties but also in the case of renting properties, the vendors saw improvement in conversions through virtual tours. This clearly indicates that by adding 3D virtual tours, you can improve conversion rates significantly.
How to Implement 3D Virtual Tours for Your Real Estate Business
Now that you know the benefits of 3D virtual tours for real estate marketing, the next step is understanding the prerequisites to create such tours:
Arrange High-Quality Property Photos
High-end virtual tours begin with professional real estate images. So, capture decent photos and process it well. The photos should give real estate buyers a realistic representation of the property. The resultant virtual tour will engage more buyers and increase their confidence.
At this point, post-processing of real estate images matters the most.
The challenge- editing real estate images professionally is not a simple task. You need to know how to use advanced image editing tools and which professional photo editing techniques will work best. You must keep the image natural and authentic but also polished. Property images definitely should not be over-edited.
If you do not have this expertise, the easiest way is to outsource real estate image editing services to a third-party provider. Just hire a dedicated team to work on your photo editing needs and get the results you want!
Choose the Right Technology/Tool
You need to choose the right photo editing tool/software/technology if you wish to create an engaging 3D virtual tour.
There are many virtual tour software available in the market, like Matterport, Kuula, 3DVista, and My360. Each tool comes with some unique advantages and specifications.
For example, if you need more customization options when editing property photos, Kuula is better. If you want budget-friendly options, then My360 is a good choice.
So, depending on your project goals, tech stack, and budget needs, you can choose the appropriate virtual tour software.
Improve Virtual Tours with Annotations and Descriptions
To convert a virtual tour from a simple walkthrough into an engaging experience, you must add interactive elements, descriptions, and annotations where needed.
For example, to highlight and describe important property features, such as custom kitchen cabinets, advanced security systems, and smart home devices, you can add detailed labels through image annotation. This type of detailing helps potential buyers to better understand the property’s interesting attributes and its true value.
You can either use tools like Zillow 3D Home, iStaging, and ThingLink to add interactive elements (such as hotspots or image pop-ups) and labels to real estate virtual tours. However, if you feel overwhelmed by this process, you can consider outsourcing real estate virtual tour services to an experienced and reliable provider. This approach can save you both time and money as your internal resources get free to focus on sales and other business initiatives.
End Note
Virtual tours are not just about saving time and effort – they are also helpful in building trust among buyers and giving them the experience and convenience they crave. Virtual tours bring much-needed transparency to an industry that relies on visuals. In such a competitive space, if you are not using virtual tours for real estate marketing, you are missing out on major growth opportunities. So, start today. Invest in real estate virtual tour services or tools to give your listings the edge they deserve.
Author Bio –
Lara McDaniel is an accomplished blogger with 8+ years of experience. Her love for reading on a wide range of subjects fuels her insightful writing on a variety of topics, from cutting-edge tech developments and eCommerce trends to creative niches like fashion photography and real estate photo editing. She also attends webinars and follows industry leaders to enrich her knowledge about what’s happening in different sectors. Lara’s engaging writing approach makes her content relatable to a broad audience, contributing to her blog’s popularity. These blogs have enabled countless businesses to discover valuable insights, enhance their operational strategies, and thrive amidst increasing competition.
