The significance of marketing in securing suitable occupants should be recognized by owners of rental properties. You are missing out on a tremendous opportunity if you haven’t tried to utilize virtual tours! Providing prospective tenants with the opportunity to virtually explore your rental properties can serve as an effective means of acquainting them with the features of the establishment prior to their physical visit. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the advantages of virtual visits for the marketing of rental properties and the reasons why all rental property owners should implement them.
Virtual Tour Basics
A computer-generated simulation of a rental property that allows prospective tenants to virtually explore the premises is called a virtual tour. Unlike photos, which show the property from a restricted angle, virtual tours offer an in-depth, immersive look at every area. Moreover, virtual tours provide potential tenants with the ability to assess the proportions of specific rooms and areas within the residence, as well as envision how their furnishings would be arranged within the area.
Virtual tours of rental properties are preferred by many tenants, according to recent research. More than 70% of renters, according to data compiled by Zumper, were prepared to rent an apartment without physically inspecting it, on the condition that a 3D virtual tour could be utilized to do so.
Types of Virtual Tours
Prospective tenants may examine your rental homes from anywhere without physically being there thanks to virtual tours, which offer an immersive experience. In this manner, prior to viewing the property, people can assess whether the place meets their demands. There are three primary varieties of virtual tours available for selection: virtual reality tours, 360-degree virtual tours, and 3D virtual tours.
- 360-degree Virtual Tour: By combining multiple photographs into a single panoramic image, one can generate 360-degree virtual tours. With the ability to drag and drop, these tours give prospective tenants a comprehensive overview of a room in a single image. 360-degree virtual tours are a great choice for rental property owners who are new to using virtual tours because of how simple and affordable they are to create.
- 3D Virtual Tour: For prospective tenants that want to navigate the property as if they were there in person, a three-dimensional (or “true”) virtual tour offers a more immersive experience than a 360-degree virtual tour. These tours are made by taking a lot of pictures of a rental home and then putting them together with specialist software. High-end rental properties usually use three-dimensional virtual tours because they take a lot of time and effort to get good results.
- Virtual Reality Tour: The newest and most interesting method of viewing properties is through virtual reality (VR) tours. Potential tenants are afforded the opportunity to virtually traverse the premises, investigating each room, by donning a virtual reality (VR) headset. Virtual reality tours were previously uncommon, but as VR technology becomes more widely available, they are showing up more frequently.
The Benefits of Using Virtual Tours
Having reviewed the fundamentals of virtual tours, we can now examine the advantages of utilizing them in the marketing of your rental property.
- Convenience. Virtual tours are extremely convenient, which is their main advantage. Renters who are interested in your properties can visit them without having to leave their homes or work schedules. Renters from out-of-state or abroad who need assistance setting up a time to visit and physically see the home will particularly benefit from this.
- 24/7 Availability. Virtual tours are accessible around the clock, every day of the week. As a result, prospective tenants won’t have to accommodate your availability to view your rental homes on their own time.
- Increased Online Engagement. It has been demonstrated that virtual tours also enhance engagement. Virtual excursions can increase the SEO or digital visibility of your rental property on search engines. Including a virtual tour in your property listing is an excellent way to increase your search engine ranking and provide Google with fresh content.
How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours
Now that you are aware of the advantages of virtual tours, here are some pointers to assist you maximize their use:
- Quality Matters. When it comes to virtual tours, quality is important. Use high-quality images and videos, instead of ones with low resolution or fuzzy shots. In order to enhance the comprehension of prospective tenants regarding your rental properties, employ high-quality virtual tour materials.
- Include a Call to Action. After your virtual tour, include a call to action (CTA). A call to action (CTA) is a phrase or button that nudges prospective tenants to do the next action, such calling you for a showing or asking for further details. Potential tenants are encouraged to take action and move closer to becoming actual tenants when a CTA is included.
With virtual tours, you can give prospective tenants a taste of your rental homes without requiring them to come in person. It is ideal to begin employing virtual tours in your rental property marketing right now if you haven’t already. Contact your local Real Property Management office today to learn more about incorporating virtual tours into your rental property marketing.
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