It should be clear to you as a landlord how important marketing is to attracting ideal tenants. If you haven’t used them, virtual tours will lead you to a tremendous opportunity! Implementing a virtual tour system for prospective tenants can serve as an effective means of acquainting them with the rental properties prior to their physical visit, thereby showcasing what to anticipate. We shall expound upon the advantages of virtual tours in relation to the marketing of rental properties and explicate why each proprietor of such properties ought to capitalize on them in the subsequent paragraphs.
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. In addition, prospective tenants are able to visualize the physical layout of their furnishings and assess the proportions of various rooms and areas within the residence through the use of virtual tours.
Numerous tenants prefer virtual tours of rental houses, according to recent research. More than 70% of renters indicated that they would be ready to rent an apartment without physically seeing it if they could view it online via a 3D virtual tour, by the research compiled by Zumper.
Types of Virtual Tours
By enabling potential tenants to view your rental properties from any location without physically being there, virtual excursions offer an immersive experience. Before visiting the property, they will be able to comprehend the area and ascertain whether or not it meets their requirements. Three primary virtual tour formats are available: virtual reality tours 3D virtual tour, and 360-degree virtual tours.
1. 360-degree Virtual Tour: By piecing together multiple photos to generate a single panoramic image, 360-degree virtual tours are produced. With the ability to drag and drop, these tours give prospective tenants a comprehensive overview of a room in a single image. Rental property owners who are new to the realm of virtual tours should strongly consider 360-degree virtual tours due to their affordability and simplicity to create.
2. 3D Virtual Tour: By enabling prospective tenants to virtually traverse the property, a three-dimensional (or “true”) virtual tour provides a higher level of immersion compared to a 360-degree virtual tour. A rental home is photographed extensively, then compiled using specialized software to make these tours. 3D virtual tours are usually reserved for luxury rental properties due to the time and work involved in producing results that are up to par.
3. Virtual Reality Tour: Taking a property tour through virtual reality (VR) is the newest and most interesting method. Potential tenants have the ability to virtually traverse the premises as if they were physically present by donning a VR headgear, which grants them access to every nook and cranny. As virtual reality VR technology becomes more widely available, excursions that were previously uncommon are now becoming more commonplace.
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. One notable advantage of virtual tours is their exceptionally high degree of convenience. Prospective lessees are able to tour your rental properties from the comfort of their own residences or workplaces. Renters from outside the state or from abroad who need assistance setting up a time to come and have a physical tour of the home may particularly benefit from this.
• 24/7 Availability. Virtual excursions are accessible around-the-clock and every day of the week. This implies that prospective renters won’t have to force themselves to fit around your availability in order to view your rental properties on their time.
• Increased Online Engagement. It has been demonstrated that virtual tours also enhance engagement. SEO, or the digital visibility of a rental property, can be enhanced through the use of virtual tours. Supplementing your property listing with a virtual tour is an excellent way to increase your search engine ranking and provide Google with fresh content.
How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours
Given the aforementioned advantages of virtual tours, the following suggestions shall assist you in optimizing their utilization:
• Quality Matters. Quality is everything when it comes to virtual tours; use high-quality images and videos, and limit the use of low-resolution or blurry photographs. Make sure your virtual tour content is of high quality so that prospective tenants can clearly see your rental properties.
• Include a Call to Action. Towards the end of your virtual tour, incorporate 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 renters can take action and get closer to signing a lease by including a call to action.
Virtual tours enable you to give prospective tenants a sense of your rental properties without requiring them to make an in-person visit. There has never been a better opportunity to begin incorporating virtual tours into your rental property marketing than right now. Contact your local Real Property Management office today to learn more about incorporating virtual tours into your rental property marketing.
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