5 Reasons to Use Virtual Tours for Real Estate

In this article, we look at five reasons to use virtual tours in real estate.

There are countless properties for sale, and almost as many platforms to sell them on. Competition among realtors is fierce, and they have to keep finding new ways to give a property the visibility it needs to reach the right buyer. New tools and technologies keep emerging that improve the buying and selling experience and help you stand out from the competition.

What is a virtual tour?

A virtual tour, or 3D walkthrough, is a simulation of a real place, usually made from a sequence of videos or still images shot with a 360° camera. This VR technology lets users experience a location remotely: with a virtual tour, you can walk through a property without actually being there.

Reasons to use virtual tours for real estate

1. Stand out from the crowd

With an endless number of properties on the market, you want yours to shine. Using the latest technology and offering a virtual tour gives your listing a wow factor. Potential buyers will be intrigued and impressed, and your property will get more attention.

With a virtual tour, people from all over the world can visit your property in detail, and some may even buy it without ever having seen it in person.

2. Save time

A virtual tour lets people experience the house without travelling there. Visits are narrowed down to people who have already explored it virtually, so they are more likely to be genuine leads. For buyers, a virtual visit makes it easy to decide whether a property is worth the trip for a real viewing.

A virtual tour also gives potential buyers a much better idea of the property than photos do, and they can often answer most of their own questions.

3. Engage potential buyers

Being able to visit the house virtually sparks curiosity and interest in potential buyers, and gives them a real feel for the property. The tour is playful and interactive: users enjoy moving through the property and going wherever they want.

4. Reach more people

Today’s buyers would rather consider a property with a virtual tour than one without, so a virtual tour means more people will see your listing. A study by Realtor.com found that listings with a virtual tour get 87% more views than those with photos only. As the technology becomes mainstream, buyers increasingly expect to be able to visit properties through a virtual tour.

5. Convenience

A virtual tour is like a permanent open house: buyers can visit your property 24/7, and it always shows the property in its best condition. You can also add photos and text to highlight its most interesting features and make it even more attractive to potential buyers.