COVID-19 has significantly changed doing business today especially that relying heavily on physical interaction. In the real estate industry, online property listings allow customers to browse properties that catch their fancy. However, physical inspection is an essential process for customers to make an informed decision. This is very important since buying a home is a significant investment.
Social distancing is making physical interaction for real estate agents and potential clients impossible. Luckily, incorporating virtual tours of the properties on your website allows customers to view the property while maintaining social distancing. Smart real estate agents should adjust to these changes to help people buying and selling properties regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safety is paramount for everyone
The health and safety of real estate agents, clients, and the public are paramount more than ever. Real estate is an essential service because people have to keep getting accommodation. However, in-person business interaction between realtors and clients is risky today. Relying on virtual tours helps clients check out the property just like a physical inspection. A home is a huge investment and seeing the property allows making an informed decision before putting pen to paper.
Significance of real estate virtual tours
Virtual tours are significant features of top realtor web sites today. These are extremely useful today amid coronavirus lockdown to make the inspection process possible without compromising social distancing. Real estate agents working remotely today rely on virtual tools including Google Street View and drone footage and Matterport 3D tours. These come in handy to identify opportunities during the buying and leasing process. Escalation of COVID-19 saw a growing interest in virtual tours in real estate to curb curtailed travel.
Emphasis on virtual solutions allows escaping the negative impact of the lockdown in the market. Before the pandemic, virtual tours were applicable for commercial investors and occupiers. Overseas investors and corporates developed an interest in virtual tours to view suitable spaces. Increasing positive cases of coronavirus has made potential buyers acknowledge the benefit of virtual tours in favor of in-person viewing.
Impact of COVID-19 on real estate virtual tours
Understanding the significance of virtual tours during the COVID-19 pandemic has promoted their advancement. This has seen the emergence of broader use of VR headsets and 3D in the residential sector to bring spaces to life. These also allow visualizing surrounding areas. Additionally, existing virtual tour tools are now incorporating data and facts during virtual walk-throughs. The emergence of advanced virtual tours speeds up timeframes for making real estate purchase decisions.
Investors and occupiers can identify and view properties meeting their preference in real-time with features including:
- Real-life footage
- Machine learning tools
- Data-visualisation technology
Apart from being safer, this process is faster and more sustainable compared to physical inspections. Innovative technology for virtual tours is driving the market forward while making it easier for clients to make strategic decisions transparently. Using laser-based tools working like facial recognition allows assessing and surveying properties. This gives potential customers a closer look at.
Our virtual tours the new normal in real estate?
Maintaining virtual tours requires sophisticated tech backed by a secure and reliable internet connection. Additionally, the real estate agent needs to have on hand tech support especially when handling a large volume of clients. Restrictions on travel limit the spread of coronavirus and make investing in virtual tours a secure long-term solution.
Customers use the outcome of the tour to make viewing properties possible before making a final decision. The most significant benefit of virtual tours is making long to-do lists to become shorter. Fortunately, investors have quickly realized the need to transact online and are quickly adapting to the digital process in real estate.
Inspecting a property through a virtual tour
Offering clients a virtual tour of a property is a wonderful experience. Potential buyers end up feeling like actually walking inside the home. During the tour, the client can turn around, take digital measurements of the home using a digital tool, and walk upstairs. Those using an iPad see the property in 3D while spinning and seeing it in 360 degrees.
Apart from being a super cool experience, clients are more likely to make their offer for the property afterward. Clients can view properties they are interested in on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The virtual tour allows viewing the property from a range of vantage points with circle markings on the floor. There is an option to click and check out points of interest.
Wrapping up
The real estate industry is offering essential services amid the coronavirus pandemic. Making business go on requires adjusting to match the safety and health guidelines like social distancing. The use of virtual tours allows potential clients to view homes without putting their lives at risk. Now is the right time for you to jump on board and offer your clients virtual tours if you’re to keep your business afloat.