When most people hear the word "tour," they think of an activity that involves a physical journey to different places. But what if there was another kind of tour that didn't require leaving your office or home?
That's where virtual tours come in! Virtual tours are increasingly popular for Realtors to showcase their listings, reduce the number of unqualified buyers booking in-person showings, and enhance their online presence.
Wondering what a virtual tour is and how it can benefit you as a Realtor? Well, you're in the right place. Keep reading to learn everything you need and why they are such an important marketing tool.
What is a Virtual Tour?
Imagine going to an art museum. You walk into the first room, with a beautiful painting on the wall. You can see the artist's brushstrokes and the different colors they used.
But what if you could also walk around the painting and get a closer look? That's what a virtual tour is like! A virtual video tour is an online experience that allows users to view or explore a place without being in person.
It's like a virtual visit or guided tour that uses images, video, and sometimes even 360-degree views to give users an immersive experience.
How Do Virtual Tours Work?
Virtual tours are created using various technologies, including 360-degree cameras, video footage, and panoramic images. Once the virtual tour is designed, it can be published online and accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
Most virtual tours are created using 360-degree cameras, which allow users to see a place from all angles. These cameras are mounted on a tripod and rotated around to capture every angle of the photographed area.
The images are then stitched or combined to create a seamless 360-degree view.
Different Types of Virtual Tours
There are different virtual tours depending on what you want to show in real estate.
360 Virtual Tours
A 360-degree tour is a type of VR experience that allows you to explore an area from all angles. This may be achieved using a 360-degree camera or a number of angles shot with a regular camera. For real estate, this means that potential buyers can take a tour of the property without even stepping foot inside.
This is particularly beneficial for properties located in remote locations or difficult to access. And, because buyers can control the speed and direction of the tour, this allows them to get a feel for the space and how it is laid out. As a result, 360-degree tours offer a unique and immersive way to view property listings.
This also allows potential clients to see the location, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It minimizes the stress for in-person visits, potentially reducing the risk of exposure to the virus.
3D Virtual Tours
A 3D virtual tour is an immersive experience that allows users to explore a real-world environment from the comfort of their own homes. Using a 3D virtual tour can recreate the look and feel of a real-life location with stunning accuracy.
This makes it an ideal tool for real estate agents who want to give potential buyers a realistic preview of a property. Thanks to the realistic nature of a 3D virtual tour, buyers can get a real sense of the layout and flow of a property, as well as its size and features.
This can help them to make a more informed decision about whether or not it is the right fit for their needs. Best of all, a 3D virtual tour can be experienced from anywhere worldwide, making it a truly global real estate solution.
Virtual Reality Tour
If you're looking for the next best thing to actually being in a location, a 3D virtual reality tour is the way to go. A virtual reality tour is a simulation of an existing house or location provides an riveting and life-like 360 view experience that feels as though you're actually standing in the room or location. You'll be able to control your environment and take in all the sights and sound effects around you.
When you use a virtual reality tour, you're transported to another location where you can explore your surroundings just by turning your head and using the controller that comes with the headset. You'll view or experience all of this while wearing a headset with virtual reality software.
This allows for a much more realistic experience than other methods of experiencing a location virtually. Additionally, the software is constantly being updated to provide an even more life-like experience. For instance, recent versions boast features such as natural lighting and shadow effects. This means that with every technological innovation, the level of realism present in these types of tours improves.
Uses of Virtual Tours in Real Estate
Here are the different ways a realtor can use to showcase their listings:
1. Interior Virtual Tours
Most people know what the exterior of their dream home looks like. The picket fence, the big front porch, and the tree in the front yard. But what about the inside? For many people, the interior is just as important as the exterior, if not more so. After all, that's where you'll spend most of your time. That's why interior virtual tours are a valuable tool for real estate agents.
They allow you to get a look inside the property from the comfort of your own home. You can see how the rooms are laid out, get a feel for the flow of the space, and imagine how you would furniture it.
Interior virtual tours are beneficial for customer who can't visit the property in person. But even if you can see the property, a virtual tour can be a great way to get a preview of what you're looking for.
2. Exterior Virtual Tours
Exterior virtual tours are a great way to showcase the outside of your property. These tours focus on the yard, landscaping, and any special features of the home. They're a great way to give customer a sense of what the property looks like from the street, and they can help you highlight any special features that make your home stand out. If you're thinking of listing your home for sale, an exterior virtual tour is a great way to ensure real state buyers see all your property has to offer.
3. Aerial Virtual Tours
Aerial virtual tours are a fantastic method to explore a property from a new vantage point. They're captured from a bird's eye view by a drone, allowing you to see the home from various angles.
This is especially useful for a potential real estate client who want to get an idea of the layout of the property and its surroundings. Aerial virtual tours are also great for seeing how the property fits into the surrounding landscape.
You can see how the property relates to its surroundings, which is essential for finding the best route to get to the property. Overall, virtual aerial tours are a great way to get a different perspective of a property and its surroundings.
Benefits of Virtual Tours
These are the top benefits of using a virtual tour:
Efficient and Time-Saving
Virtual tours are an excellent way for potential home buyers to explore a property before they make an offer. This is helpful because it allows them to get a feel for the property and see if it's the right fit.
Offers Freedom of Movement
One of the great benefits of taking a virtual tour is its freedom of movement. Unlike a traditional guided tour, a virtual tour allows you to explore a destination at your own pace.
This means you can linger in the places that interest you most and move quickly through the less exciting areas.
You also have the flexibility to return to any part of the tour at any time.
So if you want to go back and get a closer look at something you've seen, or if you're going to revisit a particular spot, later on, you can do so without any problem.
Virtual tours offer an ideal way to learn about a new place and to see it in your own time and pace.
No Limitations
Taking a virtual tour is the perfect way to explore a new place without dealing with crowds. You can take your time and really see everything that you're interested in without being rushed through by a tour guide.
And if there's something you want to see more of, you can always go back and take another look. Plus, virtual tours are available 24/7, providing a panoramic view and interactive image of the location, so you can explore whenever it's convenient.
And best of all, there are no limitations - you can go anywhere in the world without even leaving your home!
A Great Marketing Tool
Marketing your business can be tough, but a virtual tour offers a unique and powerful way to reach out to potential customers. By creating a virtual tour you can give people a chance to see what you have to offer without having to leave their homes.
In addition, virtual tours can be easily shared online, making it easy for people to spread the word about your business. Best of all, virtual tours are relatively inexpensive to create, meaning that you can get started without breaking the bank.
So if you're looking for a new and innovative way to market your business, consider creating a virtual tour. With its ability to reach a wider audience and its low cost, a virtual tour could be just the thing you need to take your business to the next level.
Show More Than is Physically Feasible
The benefits of a virtual tour may include the ability to show more than physically possible, as well as the ability to offer a life-like experience that can be customized to the user's needs.
For example, a virtual tour of a house might be able to show the viewer every room in the house, even if it's not physically possible to do so in real life.
Additionally, a virtual tour can be tailored to the user's interests, such as highlighting the house's most relevant features. By providing immersive images and a personalized experience, virtual tours can offer a unique way to explore and learn about new places.
Vast Potential For Learning
One silver lining of the pandemic has been the rise of virtual tours. These tours allow people to explore new places without leaving the comfort of their homes. From art galleries to zoos, there are now virtual tours available for a wide variety of attractions.
Virtual tours can also be a great learning tool for students stuck at home. With so many online educational resources, students can take advantage of virtual tours to learn about new cultures, histories, and geographies.
In addition, virtual tours can be an excellent way for people with disabilities to experience new places. By providing accessibility options such as audio descriptions and closed captioning, a virtual tour can help everyone explore the world around them.
Creating Virtual Tours for Real Estate
So, do you want to know how to create a virtual tour? There are a number of ways to create virtual tours, but our recommend way of making it is using Matterport software. This software allows you to create virtual tours from your own sequence of videos or still images easily. Best of all, Matterport is a paid software that has other options that are free to use for basic tours, so you can get started without spending much money.
What is Matterport?
Matterport is an all-in-one platform that allows users to turn real-life spaces into interactive digital models. With Matterport, users can capture and connect rooms to create three-dimensional models of any area imaginable.
Matterport provides an immersive experience beyond panoramic scans, allowing users to explore a space as if they were there. This makes it an ideal tool for architects, interior designers, real estate developers, and anyone else who wants to create a realistic representation of a space.
In addition to being highly realistic, Matterport models are also easy to share and navigate, making them an ideal way to show off a space to potential clients or investors. Whether you're looking to create a virtual tour of a property or just want to provide a more immersive experience for your website visitors, Matterport is the perfect solution.
How to use it?
With its 3D cameras, Matterport allows users to virtually "walk through" a space, making it perfect not only for real estate but also for insurance and construction purposes. Using its proprietary camera and an operator, you can capture an enclosed interior space with the help of an app. The camera will spin 360 degrees in six steps, taking just 20 seconds. Each photo has five exposures, giving it a high dynamic range. An infrared sensor also measures the space so that Matterport can produce accurate floor plans.
To get started, just follow these simple steps:
1. Choose a property or room you want to scan for an image.
2. Set up the camera according to instructions.
3. Walk around the property while the camera captures the space.
4. Once the scan is complete, you can then create a virtual tour by uploading the photos and linking them together.
5. Add some finishing touches, such as labels or audio commentary, and then share your tour with potential buyers!
By offering virtual tours powered by Matterport, you'll be able to show properties in a whole new way – and give your business a boost in the process.
Bottom Line
Virtual tours allow you to explore the world without leaving your living room. Virtual tours offer a unique and immersive experience that everyone can enjoy, from checking out houses to learning about new cultures. And with Matterport, it's easy to create your own high-quality virtual tour. So why not give it a try today? Thank you for your time!
Have any other software to create a virtual tour? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
Faqs
Is virtual reality safe?
Yes, virtual reality is safe. However, as with any new technology and gadgets, there are always potential risks. Read the safety instructions that come with your VR headset before using it.
Also, take breaks every 15 to 20 minutes to avoid eye strain. And if you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, stop using the VR headset immediately.
Is Virtual Tours expensive?
No, virtual tours are not expensive. They can be pretty affordable, depending on the type of tour you choose.
For example, Google Street View is a free service that allows you to explore many parts of the world. Other virtual tours may cost money, but they are typically quite affordable.
Do I Need Special Equipment For a Virtual Tour?
There are some cases where you do not need special equipment for a virtual tour. However, if you want to create your own virtual tour, you will need to use special software.
Additionally, if you want to view a virtual tour on your phone or tablet, you will need to download an app. However, on the other hand, you do not need any special equipment to take a virtual tour.
How Do Virtual Tours Make Me Money?
Virtual tours can make you money by showcasing the very best of the property. Here are some ways virtual tours help real estate agents close more deals.
- By providing virtual tours, you know that only the most qualified buyers will book an in-person showing
- You can save time (and by extension--money) by reducing the number of unqualified in-person showings
Do Virtual Tours Replace In-Person Tours?
No, virtual travel does not replace actual tours. While virtual tours can be a great way to see the world, they can never replace the experience of actually being there. Virtual video tours complement an actual tour and are not a replacement.