Virtual tours should be in your marketing plan
In these days of travel restrictions, social distancing measures and lockdowns, virtual tours allow agents to provide prospective buyers with a tour experience while observing public health measures.
What are virtual tours?
Virtual tours are a series of scans stitched together to form a 360-degree experience of the property. This virtual experience can be viewed online - whether that’s via computer, smartphone or laptop.
Viewers of the house can take a tour through the house, as many times as they like, from the comfort of their own homes. It’s a 24/7 touring experience.
Blankcanvas Production provides 3D walkthroughs (matter port) at a cost of $379.
The benefits of virtual tours
1. Save your time and energy
Virtual tours allow buyers to see if the property is a right fit for them before proceeding further through the buying process. This saves the agent a lot of time and effort as they’re not dealing with buyers who aren’t serious about purchasing the property. That way, you can spend all your time and energy building connections with actual prospects.
2. Remote properties
Some prospective buyers might be from out of Auckland and thus can’t travel into Auckland to view the property. Virtual tours allow buyers to view the property from anywhere in the country. Buyers can click on the kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedrooms or any other rooms in the house to experience a 360-degree view of the room. Virtual tours also benefit properties in remote places as people can get a good sense of what the house looks like before committing to traveling there.
3. Developments
Virtual tours are also great for showing buyers what projects will look like once they’ve finished. It can be hard for buyers to buy something that hasn’t been completed yet or rely on plans to form an impression of the property.
Ask agents
Virtual tours can only provide so much information to buyers. After all, they are viewed online and not in person. That’s why it’s so important for buyers purchasing remotely to ask agents about things they can’t get a sense of through virtual tours, such as the neighbourhood, views from the property, storage and materials. Pairing your virtual tour with a chat to agents, lawyers and other professionals gives you a more complete picture of the house and what exactly you’re getting into.
Real Estate Institute’s Jen Baird says that while virtual tours allow buyers to get a good sense of the property, they should always ask questions directly to the agent.
“Virtual tours enable buyers to view a larger number of properties in a shorter amount of time than if visiting properties in person. It also allows them to get a feel for a property in the first instance.
“People buying remotely should always ask the agent or seller questions that would provide the most comprehensive understanding of the property possible.”