What Role Do Virtual Tours Play in the Home Selling Process?
RealEstateAdvice.net
What Role Do Virtual Tours Play in the Home Selling Process?
In the evolving landscape of property sales, we've gathered insights from Realtors and Sales Managers on the integration of virtual tours into their selling strategies. From revolutionizing real estate with virtual tours to employing strategies for enhanced virtual experiences, discover the dynamic ways these professionals are influencing their sales. Here are the four transformative methods they've shared.
- Virtual Tours: A Real Estate Revolution
- Virtual Staging Boosts Showings and Offers
- Virtual Tours Shorten Sales Cycles
- Strategies for Enhanced Virtual Real Estate Tours
Virtual Tours: A Real Estate Revolution
Virtual tours have become an indispensable asset in our real estate toolkit at the Papakea Collection. The shift toward digital showings really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a huge impact on the real estate market in Hawaii. As out-of-town buyers sought refuge from crowded cities, the demand for virtual home viewings surged.
At the height of the pandemic, many of our showings transitioned to live video chats. This approach allowed us to connect with potential buyers in real-time, offering a personalized experience even from a distance. However, we soon realized we needed more comprehensive and readily accessible virtual tours.
We started creating detailed video tours for almost every available home in the area. We uploaded our stockpile of videos and kept them private. This served multiple purposes. The process of creating video tours ensured that our team was well-acquainted with every listing. This familiarity allowed us to provide informed and immediate responses to inquiries. Having a video tour ready to share with potential buyers during our first exchange built immediate value on our end. Additionally, video tours served as a reliable record. In cases of disputes over inclusions or damages, these videos provided clear, indisputable evidence.
Creating video tours for our high-end luxury listings also allowed us to get creative. The luxury market offers unique opportunities to break away from traditional tour formats. By thinking outside the box and incorporating innovative elements into our tours, we were able to capture the attention needed to sell homes more effectively.
Incorporating virtual tours has had a profound impact on our sales process. Virtual tours have significantly increased buyer engagement. Prospective buyers can view homes at their convenience, leading to more informed and serious inquiries. Virtual tours have allowed us to reach a broader audience. Buyers from across the globe can explore our listings without the need for immediate travel. These video walkthroughs have changed our world and sales strategy for the better.
During the pandemic, there was a lot of fear about what would happen to our market, which is primarily based on outside travelers. None of us anticipated that the lockdown would create a necessity that would alter the course of real estate interaction forever. But here we are, embracing virtual tours as a vital part of our selling process, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results.
Virtual Staging Boosts Showings and Offers
We have seen not only virtual tours but also virtual staging give us an increase in showings and offers. People want to be able to get a good feel for the home before spending sometimes hours going to look at the home in person. Just make sure the house is clean and tidy before the photographer comes over!
Virtual Tours Shorten Sales Cycles
Virtual tours allow potential buyers to virtually walk through a property and can view the property from anywhere at any time. It shortens the overall sales cycle, as they need not personally visit all properties and can shortlist a few on the basis of these tours. This, in turn, filters out more serious and motivated clients, leading to potentially faster and more successful sales. It has become an essential tool in real estate marketing, contributing to closing sales more efficiently.
Strategies for Enhanced Virtual Real Estate Tours
Incorporating virtual tours into the selling process of residential real estate has been highly boosted and can significantly enhance the buyer experience and increase engagement.
Professional Photography and Videography: Hire professionals to create high-quality images and videos of the property. Use drones for aerial shots to provide a comprehensive view of the property and its surroundings.
3D Virtual Tours: Use 3D tour technology such as Matterport or similar platforms to create immersive experiences. Ensure the tour includes all key areas of the property, with interactive features that allow users to navigate rooms and spaces at their own pace.
Virtual Staging: Use virtual staging to furnish and decorate empty spaces, helping buyers visualize the potential of the property. Include before-and-after views to show the difference virtual staging can make.
Virtual Open Houses: Host live virtual open houses using platforms like Zoom, Facebook Live, or YouTube Live. Walk through the property in real-time, answer questions, and engage with potential buyers.
Personalized Virtual Tours: Offer one-on-one virtual tours using video conferencing tools. Customize the tour based on the buyer’s interests and needs, providing a tailored experience.
Interactive and Engaging Content: Add interactive elements like hotspots in the virtual tour to provide more information about specific features. Include videos or audio descriptions to guide buyers through the tour.
Follow-Up and Feedback: After the virtual tour, follow up with potential buyers to gather feedback and answer any questions. Use their feedback to improve future virtual tours and address any concerns.
By incorporating these strategies, you can make the selling process more efficient, reach a wider audience, and provide a better experience for potential buyers.