Virtual Tour Basics
By definition, a virtual tour is a digitally rendered walk-through of a rental property. As opposed to photographs, which share the property based on the photographer’s point of view, virtual tours can grant an in-depth peep into each room of a property. Virtual tours can even enable possible renters to measure spaces and areas of the home and even digitally set in place their furnishings to see how they would fit.
Existing studies have stated that renters seek virtual tours of rental properties. According to results compiled by Zumper, greater than 70% of renters say they would be willing to rent an apartment without seeing it in person if they could see it through a 3D virtual tour.
Types of Virtual Tours
Virtual tours are an immersive way for possible tenants to check your rental properties. They grant a way for possible renters to get a feel for the space and get to see if it meets their needs without having to go to the property physically.
There are three main types of virtual tours: a 360 virtual tour, a 3D virtual tour, and a virtual reality tour.
- 360 Virtual Tour. A 360 virtual tour is a single panoramic image made up together from a lot of photographs. These tours permit potential tenants to see and check an entire room in one image, then click and drag to look around. 360 virtual tours are convenient and very cheap to create and use, making them a good option for Key West property managers just starting with virtual tours.
- 3D Virtual Tour. A more immersive choice than a 360 virtual tour, a three-dimensional (or “true”) virtual tour enables potential tenants to walk through the property as if they were there. These tours are developed by taking some photographs of a rental property and then piecing them together by applying special software. However, because of the time and effort, it entails in producing them, high-end rental properties usually only use three-dimensional virtual tours.
- Virtual Reality Tour. The most recent and most immersive type of virtual tour is the virtual reality (VR) tour. These tours permit potential tenants to put on a VR headset and explore the property as if they were actually walking through it. While VR tours are still fairly new and rare, they are becoming more and more popular as VR technology becomes more accessible.
What are the benefits of virtual tours?
- Convenience. Perhaps the major advantage of virtual tours is that they are exceptionally convenient. Would-be tenants can tour your rental properties without having to leave their homes or work schedules. This is suitable for out-of-state or international renters who might have a great deal of difficulty arranging a time to tour the property physically.
- 24/Hour Availability. Virtual tours are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means potential tenants can easily tour your rental properties on their own schedule, without having to work around your availability.
- Increased Engagement. Virtual tours are also proven to increase engagement. A study by Inman News reported that properties with virtual tours receive, on average, 42% more website views than those without virtual tours.
- Improved SEO. Other than higher engagement, virtual tours can moreover boost your rental property’s SEO. Google enjoys fresh content, and attaching a virtual tour to your property listing is the best approach to put up new content and enhance your ranking in search results.
How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours
Quality Matters. Keep in mind to use high-quality images and videos, and refrain from using low-resolution or blurry photos. You hope potential tenants get a hold of a clear sense of your rental properties, so make certain to use quality virtual tour content.
Include a Call to Action. Make sure to include a call to action (CTA) at the end of your virtual tour. A CTA is a statement or button advising potential tenants to take the next step, such as scheduling a showing or contacting you for more information. By integrating a CTA, probable tenants are more likely to rent from you.
Virtual tours are the best means to impart to prospective tenants a feel for your rental properties without having to physically visit the property. If you’re not already maximizing the use of virtual tours in your rental property marketing, now is the best time to start. Ready to learn more regarding how to add and use virtual tours in your rental property marketing? Contact us online today!