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Bridging the Gap between Reality and Imagination
In today’s digital real estate landscape, grabbing buyers’ attention online is more critical than ever. With home search increasingly starting on platforms like Zillow and Realtor.com, real estate agents need to differentiate and showcase their listings visually to stand out. This is where virtual tours come in.
Real estate virtual tours allow potential buyers to digitally explore properties for sale from the comfort of their own homes. With detailed 360° views, interactive hotspots, and supplementary media, virtual tours take listings beyond static photos to the next level.
In this post, we’ll dig into how real estate virtual tours engage buyers, convert leads, and bolster agents’ digital marketing. Read on to learn how virtual tours can take your listings to the next level!
Key Benefits of Real Estate Virtual Tours
Let’s explore some of the top reasons real estate agents are embracing virtual tour technology for their listings:
Provide an Inside Look at Properties
With virtual tours, buyers can explore every inch of listings remotely and get an authentic feel for layouts and flow. Walking through virtually helps buyers determine if a property suits their needs.
Highlight Architectural Details
From gorgeous crown molding to soaring ceilings, virtual tours showcase unique architectural elements that photos can miss. Home design and finishes make more impact when experienced digitally.
Increase Excitement and Engagement
Humans are visual – we engage more with spaces we can see versus read about. Virtual tours pique buyer excitement and get them invested in visiting listings in-person.
Reach More Potential Buyers
Listings with virtual tours stand out on aggregators like Zillow, where most buyers begin their search. Virtual tours expand a listing’s digital reach and visibility.
Speed Up the Sales Process
According to Redfin, listings with virtual tours sell 9% faster on average. Virtual tours help buyers feel more confident about purchasing a home they can pre-experience digitally.
Simply put, virtual tours are a must for listing homes in a digital-first real estate landscape.
Best Practices for Real Estate Virtual Tours
To maximize impact, keep these virtual tour best practices in mind:
Capture Wide Variety of Spaces
Don’t limit tours to bedrooms and bathrooms. Be sure to capture approach and curb appeal, kitchens, living areas, yards, and more to showcase the full property.
Showcase Architectural Details
Use tours as an opportunity to highlight special features like high ceilings, wood floors, tile work, layouts, banisters, and more. This level of detail brings spaces to life.
Optimize Tours for Mobile
Most buyers will view tours on mobile devices. Ensure tours are optimized for mobile screens with responsive design, reasonable file sizes, and readable caption text.
Incorporate Hotspots & Navigation
Embed interactive hotspots for buyers to click through to see listing details, schedule showings, view neighborhoods, and more. Don’t just make passive tours.
Keep Tours Updated
If listings are staged or renovated, capture fresh virtual tours to showcase the spaces accurately. Outdated tours may turn buyers off.
Promoting Real Estate Virtual Tours
Once you’ve created amazing virtual tour content, be sure to promote it across platforms:
MLS Listings
Upload tours to MLS listings so they appear alongside your listing photos and details. This makes them accessible to all agents.
Your Website and Listing Pages
Embed tours prominently on your real estate site alongside listing descriptions, photos, and details.
Social Media
Share tour clips and teasers on Instagram Reels and Facebook to generate buzz among followers.
Digital Advertising
Run ads on Facebook and Instagram featuring virtual tour clips to reach targeted buyer demographics.
Email Outreach
Follow up on buyer inquiries with emails featuring links to the full virtual tours for listings they’re interested in.
Property Signage
Add a QR code to yard signs that links directly to the home’s virtual tour for easy mobile access.
Making Real Estate Tours Interactive
Today’s virtual tour platforms provide engaging interactive functionality:
Hotspots
Link hotspots on appliances, fixtures, and more to product details, local vendors, and related resources.
Dollhouse Models
Let buyers view exterior home layouts and floor plans from adjustable dollhouse models.
VR Integration
For next-level immersion, enable buyers with VR headsets to view tours in interactive virtual reality.
Spatial Audio
As buyers pan around, spatial audio adjusts soundscape to match the viewing direction for added realism.
Accessibility Features
Include closed captioning, audio descriptions, and other options to make tours accessible for all buyers.
Weighing Virtual Tour Production Options
Creating great virtual tours requires an investment of time or money. Here are the most common approaches agents use:
Hiring a Pro
Real estate photographers often offer virtual tour add-ons for $200-$500 per listing.
DIY Capture
Invest in 360° camera equipment and software to capture and stitch tours yourself. Expect a learning curve.
Outsourcing Production
Specialized virtual tour companies can handle end-to-end tour production for premium quality.
UGC Tours
Some agents crowdsource tours by offering gift cards for clients to submit smartphone tours of their homes.
No matter the approach, virtual tours require an investment. But they deliver immense value through increased buyer engagement, time on site, and faster sales.
Key Takeaways
To recap, here are the key benefits real estate agents see from embracing virtual tour technology:
- Provide remote inside access to listings
- Highlight details that drive excitement and engagement
- Differentiate listings from static photos alone
- Expand reach and visibility on digital platforms
- Drive quicker sales by building buyer confidence
As real estate marketing continues trending digital, adding virtual tours to listings is a smart investment in showcasing properties in the best possible light online.
Have you explored a real estate virtual tour that made an impression lately? Share your experiences in the comments below!