If you spend even a few minutes looking at listings of homes on a site like Zillow, you’ll soon find plenty of virtual tours guiding potential buyers through the home via video. The real estate industry is finally adapting to technology. When getting ready to sell your home, you’re likely wondering if having a video-guided tour is worth it. Maybe not all homebuyers like videos.
Today, we’ll explain exactly what a virtual tour is and what it should do, the pros and cons of a virtual tour, and why they’ve become so popular.
What is the main purpose of a virtual tour?
In most cases, a virtual tour is a video created by the real estate agent or a professional videographer that gives the watcher a POV guide through the home. In other words, it’s designed to walk them through the home as if they are there.
“Virtual home tours have transformed the way we buy and sell houses, providing an unparalleled level of convenience and accessibility. These immersive experiences allow buyers to explore properties in remarkable detail, helping them make informed decisions from the comfort of their own homes.” says Pavel Khaykin of Pasha Funding.
A virtual tour is designed to give people a guide through the home mimicking as closely as possible the in-person viewing experience. While they have been around for years, the pandemic made them much more popular since people were much more reluctant to go into other people’s homes and have people in their homes. The virtual tour meant that only seriously interested people would request a viewing. They’re also beneficial for those looking for a home that is hours away from their current home.
Are virtual tours worth it?
The short answer is yes, virtual tours are absolutely worth it. According to a study conducted by Realtor.com, listings with a virtual tour get significantly more views than those without, and reported that 54% of buyers will not look at properties unless they offer a virtual tour. That’s over half of the potential buyers in the market! Their 2022 report suggests that virtual tours are of interest to all ages of home buyers, but are slightly more successful with older generations than younger.
Advantages of Virtual Tours
- 24/7 open house: your home can be “visited” by anyone, anywhere, anytime. This massively increases the exposure of your property, potentially attracting a larger pool of buyers.
- Saves time and energy for both sellers and buyers: They allow potential buyers to narrow down their choices before scheduling physical viewings, meaning you’re likely to host showings for genuinely interested parties. Often buyers have a few specific non-negotiables and a video tour allows them to view the entire home and know if a property ticks the right boxes.
- Virtual tours offer an immersive, interactive experience: Virtual tours go beyond static images and give an immersive experience, giving viewers a more realistic experience. They can highlight unique features and provide a more accurate representation of space and layout, giving buyers a better feel for the property.
- Easy to produce: Provided it is created on a bright day, a realtor can create a quality tour with their phone thanks to technological advancements offering HD video and stabilization.
- Helps the property stand out: Properties with a virtual tour can stand out from the competition when potential buyers are searching for homes.
- Allows you to better market to out-of-town buyers: A virtual tour provides out-of-town buyers with a more immersive experience that can either entice them to come and view the property, knowing they are genuinely interested, or even consider making an offer without stepping inside the property.
Disadvantages of Virtual Tours
- High-quality tours can be expensive: As mentioned above, tours can be cost-effective to produce and can be effective without the touch of a professional photographer, as is often necessary for the property images. However, high-quality video tours or 3d virtual tours created by professional videographers can be costly and are only often worth considering for high-value properties.
- If they aren’t well thought-out, they may not sell your home: The person taking the virtual tour should do it at a time when as much natural light is flooding the property as possible to (literally) show the home in the best light.
- The perspective can be off: In some cases, settings on a person’s phone may make the home appear smaller than it really is – especially if they get the angle wrong.
Success of Virtual Tours
The success of virtual tours can be seen in their rising popularity and adoption rates. Numerous surveys have indicated that properties with virtual tours tend to sell faster and often at a higher price, and they are particularly useful for buyers looking for homes in a different town or state.
Will a virtual tour help me sell my home?
They can – if your home is in good condition including a virtual tour is certainly worth doing for all the reasons we’ve covered above. However, it’s worth remembering that they are only showcasing what’s already there, they can’t enhance the sellability of your home.
If your home needs some work and you need to sell quickly, it may be worth looking into alternative options to listing your home with a real estate agent.
Using Virtual Tours for Home Sales
In conclusion, virtual home tours have revolutionized the way houses are sold. They offer convenience, efficiency, and accessibility to both buyers and sellers, making the entire process smoother and more effective.
For homes without a wide range of market appeal, selling a property to an investor will prove the fastest way to sell your home. Real estate investors offer solutions for homeowners looking to sell their property quickly, regardless of condition.
Embracing virtual tours as part of your real estate strategy can attract serious buyers, enhance the selling experience, and ultimately lead to a successful sale.