- Proptech: what is it?
- Main types of VR apartment tours
- Six benefits of virtual apartment tours
- Hire a Videographer vs. DIY
- Creating virtual tours DIY
- Seven tips for making captivating VR apartment tours
- Where to share your virtual tour?
- Why is the real estate industry using VR tours?
Proptech: what is it?
Proptech, short for property technology, includes all the tools real estate experts use to optimize renting, buying, selling, promoting, and managing properties. The days of finding tenants with a newspaper ad are long gone. You may have heard that virtual tours are the new way to attract potential tenants and lure attention to your rental property.
The first rule of marketing is to go where your consumers are. Since most people these days begin their property search online, nothing will showcase your real estate to a potential tenant more quickly than a professionally created virtual tour.
A good virtual walkthrough can save you and your prospective valuable time. While a rental listing’s description and top-notch real estate images are irreplaceable, the video tour is indispensable for accurately capturing what life in your rental property would look like.
Furthermore, a virtual tour of an apartment is a user-friendly way for potential tenants to explore your apartment building using their smartphone, computer, or tablet.
Now, various types of tours are available, so you can choose one that aligns with your marketing goals and budget.
Main types of VR apartment tours
The three main types of virtual apartment tours are:
1. Recorded video walkthrough: You can record a video walkthrough of the apartment unit, showing it from a first-person perspective. This way, potential tenants can watch the video and experience what it’s like to walk through the apartment.
2. 3D apartment tour: Another option is to create a tour of the apartment using software and a special 360-degree camera. Potential tenants can virtually “navigate” through the unit, which gives them a deep sense of being inside the apartment.
3. Live video call tour: For those who prefer a hands-on experience, live video call tours are preferable. Unlike recorded virtual tours, this option allows prospects to engage in real-time video calls with the landlord or landlord agents, who walk them through the unit while filming their surroundings.
Six benefits of virtual apartment tours
1. Superior to photos: Virtual tours allow tenants to see your apartment’s layout, size, and features much more clearly.
2. Increased engagement: Virtual tour rental listings get an astounding 87% more views than those without. People click on real estate listings with virtual tours 40% more frequently than those using still photos alone.
3. Perform more tours than you could manage in person: tenants can view your apartment 24/7.
4. Appeal to all kinds of renters: Many would rather take a tour at their own pace and in the comfort of their homes;
5. Enhanced marketability: Stand out in the market by providing an immersive and interactive experience;
6. Cost savings: Saves time and money for both landlords and tenants.
Hire a Videographer vs. DIY
You should be able to determine whether or not to employ someone to film your virtual tour with relative ease. Are you at least somewhat tech-savvy?
Many property owners prefer to shoot their walkthrough videos, just as some landlords would instead handle all maintenance on their rental property alone.
Smartphones have excellent video capabilities these days, so you could definitely record a good quality video tour with just the phone in your pocket. We suggest utilizing a gimbal if you want to take your smartphone videography to the next level. Also, investing in a DSLR camera with an interchangeable lens would be a step up.
When capturing photos of your apartment, consider using a wide-angle lens, like a 15mm lens, on a full-frame camera to showcase the space. Alternatively, you could opt for a GoPro action camera, which is more affordable than a high-end DSLR, has built-in stabilization, and delivers excellent video quality.
For a polished result, go for a 360-degree camera (HDSLR) for shooting footage. If you’re on a budget, your smartphone can also do the trick. Don’t forget to have a tripod with a rotating head for shots.
So, if you are on board with DIY virtual tours, keep on reading.
Creating virtual tours DIY
With a phone
If you want to take a tour using your phone, you can easily do it with either an iPhone or an Android. After capturing your footage, the next step involves refining it and compiling everything using software or mobile apps. Another option is to hire a professional to handle the editing process for you.
Take into account these suggestions before you start recording:
1. Display every aspect of the apartment;
2. Set the scene;
3. Include the apartment’s measurements and floor plan;
4. Ensure ideal lighting;
5. Aim for a two-minute tour;
6. Include music.
With a drone
Drone videos are now more accessible and affordable than ever, with models allowing you to capture aerial views easily. Adding drone footage to your video tour can be really impactful, mainly when used at the beginning or end as an establishing shot. Properties with outdoor areas or picturesque surroundings can look genuinely breathtaking when filmed from a drone’s perspective.
And with 360-degree cameras
360-degree cameras are equipped with lenses on both the front and back, along with software that automatically combines the views. This allows viewers to zoom in and explore the image as if they were physically present in the room.
Matterport
The walkthroughs Matterport cameras create are truly impressive tools and offer an unparalleled experience. Using Matterport to showcase interiors can be a way to give potential renters a virtual tour similar to Google Street View, enabling them to virtually walk through the space from the comfort of their homes.
Nevertheless, if you found the previous information confusing or if it seemed like a lot of effort, don’t stress! A whole group of video experts specialize in creating videos for real estate properties.
Seven tips for making captivating VR apartment tours
In today’s saturated real estate market, renters have abundant options and desire to fall in love with an apartment right away, where virtual tours shine.
Nowadays, most real estate agents include tours in their listings. Why? Well, potential tenants and buyers spend significantly more time exploring listings that offer virtual tours than those that don’t.
So, how can landlords make their virtual tours stand out?
1. Invest in High-Quality Equipment
It may seem obvious, but you don’t want to capture grainy tours with lopsided furniture. When creating a top-notch virtual tour, you have to invest in the right gear. Consider investing in top-level cameras that can pay for themselves from the start.
This means getting your hands on a high-resolution camera that can shoot in 1080p or higher, along with a wide-angle lens and a stable tripod for filming. Opt for a 360-degree camera with a high frame-per-second rate (at least 90 FPS). Including 360-degree views allows potential viewers to virtually explore every nook and cranny of a property with just a click. And, a panoramic perspective not only showcases the property but also gives viewers a sense of space and layout surpassing static images.
For example, the Insta360 ONE X2 or the Ricoh Theta Z1, favorites of real estate professionals, are sturdy choices for capturing panoramic shots. Also, there is the Matterport Pro2 3D Camera for the highest level of professionalism and detail, and finally, proper lighting equipment like Tripod Softbox Lights or LED Panels.
2. In-person experience
It’s essential to create an inviting, welcoming atmosphere from the start. How an apartment feels for the first time, even online, sticks with viewers.
Some virtual tours may begin abruptly, placing the viewer in a random room. However, try to mimic an in-person experience by starting at the front door. This allows viewers to simulate entering the property for the time as a guest and form their impressions as they navigate through the space at their own pace.
Specific virtual tour cameras, such as Giraffe360’s Go Cam, not only capture panoramas but also measure spaces to create a floor plan in real time. Integrating floor plans into virtual tours gives users a map that helps them understand and visualize the property’s layout effectively.
3. Staging (Focus on the Details and Shoot All Rooms)
How do you stage? We suggest creating a visual narrative. Adding splashes of color and warmth, family photos, plants, flowers, candles, or artwork can give a home that cozy, lived-in feeling, sparking the viewer’s imagination to envision how they would personalize the space if it were theirs. Clean, declutter, and arrange the furniture in the apartment to make it appear welcoming and attractive.
Empty rooms can come across as unwelcoming, so let the little touches ignite their creativity. The little things count when filming a VR tour. A close-up of any unusual finishes, like custom cabinetry or expensive appliances, or highlight the fireplace or any architectural details.
Staging in the setup for your virtual tour boosts the perceived worth of the property and improves its aesthetic appeal. Keep in mind that you are selling the idea of a dream home, not just a physical space.
4. Shoot in bright light and perfect angle
Perfect lighting is the first step toward a perfect shot. Make the rooms as bright as possible to avoid taking shots of harsh shadows. Pull back the curtains and blinds to let the sunlight in, making the room feel more spacious and lively. Place additional lighting fixtures and lamps to set the mood and ambiance and add the warm glow of indoor lights.
The key to framing a still shot that captures the essence of the space is to choose the ideal angle. A wide-angle camera in the corner can capture the entire space, and the lighting will really make everything come to life.
5. Context
Visuals can only tell half the story. Let the visuals draw your audience in; the supporting descriptions will take them the rest of the way.
The tour’s narration with descriptions tells the property’s story, gives context for each room, and draws attention to its unique qualities. Details, like the original marble fireplace or energy-efficient features, can significantly influence how a potential tenant views and values the apartment.
6. Use Floorplan or Visual Navigation
There are two primary ways to navigate 3D virtual tours, and the choice depends on what you aim to achieve with your tour.
One method is floorplan navigation, which lets users move around by clicking on a floorplan and transitioning between rooms.
Conversely, visual navigation involves moving through by selecting hotspots. This method is particularly handy for showcasing specific features of apartments.
7. Software for 3D Virtual Tours
Next, use specialist software and resources to produce eye-catching and professional virtual apartment tours. Here are some well-liked choices to consider:
Reputable for its extensive feature set and easy-to-use interface, Matterport is a top option. Other noteworthy choices are Cupix, renowned for its adaptability and cost, and iStaging, which provides a powerful platform. Also, there is EyeSpy360, Realync, Kuula, etc.
Where to Share Your Virtual Tour?
Fortunately, there are many ways to share your video content these days, and you never know where a potential tenant might find you.
For example:
1. On the second-largest search engine worldwide – YouTube. Vimeo is an additional choice that offers nearly identical sharing freedom.
2. You can also promote your apartment with online real estate companies by including a link to your Vimeo or YouTube video tour.
3. You may publish a virtual tour as a photosphere using Google Maps’ Photosphere feature and share the URL with anyone who wants to view it.
4. With Zillow, you can quickly post 3D house tours and share the link with prospective tenants or buyers.
5. Don’t forget social media like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or website pages.
Why is the real estate industry using VR tours?
VR tours provide clients with convenience and easy access, making it a wise choice to include them in your marketing plan.
Unlike traditional property viewings, virtual tours enable potential tenants or buyers to explore apartments at their leisure, revisit areas, and involve others in the experience. This level of convenience can greatly increase the chances of a rental or sale. Likewise, virtual tours can appeal to international clients, broadening your market reach.
However, virtual tours are not a one-size-fits-all strategy. How they are perceived can change depending on who’s watching, the property type, location, and even the season.
Real estate marketing is currently heading digital, with virtual tours leading the way; VR tours’ significance in real estate will increase further in the future.
Examples of Apartment Virtual Tour
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