Virtual tours: a powerful marketing tool for today’s property market!
Many clients ask us why we have chosen to offer virtual tours as a marketing tool. Yet this service provides a real advantage for all parties involved in a property transaction.
It can sometimes be difficult to understand how virtual reality, and virtual tour services in particular, can impact a property transaction. This article will shed light on the subject and awaken the marketer within you.
What is a virtual tour and why use this service?
The concept of a virtual tour is fairly broad and varied. Indeed, several techniques have emerged with the same objective: to allow users to immerse themselves partially or fully in a space.
A virtual tour presents a location using virtual reality. The aim is to immerse visitors in the space. They can therefore move around and look about them in 360°.
What are the different types of virtual tours?
- A 360° virtual tour consists of 360° panoramas between which users can switch. However, this approach remains rather limited in terms of the overall view and movement between spaces, with poor integration of different floors and a less intuitive experience. This is known as a “panorama-to-panorama” tour
- A 3D virtual tour captures the entire space, allowing visitors to move around much more fluidly. The level of precision is quite breathtaking, and the details therefore take on their full importance, as they allow visitors to immerse themselves completely in the space.
The greatest differences between these two types of virtual tour lie in the equipment used and the production process. A 360° virtual tour is created by stitching together 360° photographs, whereas a 3D virtual tour is produced using a scanner that digitises the space in 3D, generating millions of points to recreate a 3D representation. Thanks to this process, visitors can view the building in 3D from every angle.
Once the space has been digitised, the 3D scanner software allows measurements to be taken, 2D or 3D plans of the space to be obtained, and files to be exported in formats such as obj, XYZ and mesh for use with leading 3D design software including Autocad, Revitt and others. This capability offered by the 3D scanner is valuable for all types of construction project, including architecture, interior design, renovation and property development.
What are the benefits of virtual tours for property?
Firstly, offering this service influences owners when choosing an estate agency and therefore makes it easier to secure instructions. Owners will be impressed by the additional resources you use to showcase their property… This is a significant competitive advantage that will reinforce your marketing identity! 74% of property professionals[1] state that virtual tours have enabled them to secure more sole agency instructions.
The second major advantage is the ability to offer prospective buyers and tenants an initial virtual viewing from home. This strategy saves a considerable amount of time, as the estate agent can make an initial selection from the properties to present to their client. This process enables the client’s requirements to be identified more accurately and reduces viewings by those who are merely curious.
Potential buyers abroad? By using virtual tours, you can showcase your properties worldwide at any time of day. There are no longer any geographical barriers or time-zone issues. Your client abroad will appreciate this initiative and immediately gain a feel for the property.
Property development projects?
Contact an agency specialising in virtual tours to showcase your show homes to their best advantage. You can also save considerable time when selling off-plan. Keep track of the construction work with a 3D virtual tour showing the project's progress.
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[1] Survey of Matterport customers in 2016
J&J Properties
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