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Why Virtual Tours are a Must for Rental Property Owners

Real estate agent doing a virtual showing of a property using a tablet.As a rental property owner in Staunton, you know marketing is critical to finding the right tenants. If you’re not offering virtual tours yet, you’re missing out! Providing potential tenants with virtual tours of your rental properties is a fantastic way to let them see what they’re getting before visiting.

We will explore the advantages of virtual tours for rental property marketing and why every owner should use them.

Virtual Tour Basics

A virtual tour is a digital simulation walk-through of a rental property. Unlike photos, which show the property from a photographer’s perspective, virtual tours provide an in-depth view of each room.

Studies indicate that renters are interested in virtual tours of rental properties. According to Zumper’s data, over 70% of renters would be content to rent an apartment without seeing it in person if they could view it through a 3D virtual tour.

Types of Virtual Tours

Virtual tours offer an engaging way for potential tenants to explore your rental properties. They help potential renters assess the space and see if it meets their needs without a physical visit.

Three main types of virtual tours exist: 360-degree virtual tours, 3D virtual tours, and virtual reality tours.

  1. 360 Virtual Tour. A 360 virtual tour is an extensive panoramic image created by stitching together numerous photos. These tours allow potential tenants to see the whole room in one image and click and drag to explore. 360 virtual tours are easy and affordable to create, making them an excellent option for property managers starting with virtual tours.
  2. 3D Virtual Tours are more immersive than 360 virtual tours. They enable potential tenants to walk through the property as if they were physically present. These tours are generated by taking many photos of a rental property and assembling them with special software. Although this might seem complicated, there are many user-friendly tools and services to assist you. Because they require significant time and effort to create, three-dimensional virtual tours are usually used for high-end rental properties.
  3. Virtual Reality Tour. The latest and most immersive virtual tour type is the virtual reality (VR) tour. These tours allow potential tenants to use a VR headset and explore the property as if they were walking through it. While VR tours are still uncommon, they are gaining popularity as VR technology becomes more accessible.

What are the benefits of virtual tours?

  • Convenience. Virtual tours significantly ease the traditional hassle of property tours. Potential tenants can browse your rental properties from home or during their work hours. This is especially beneficial for out-of-state or international renters who find it challenging to schedule physical tours.
  • 24/Hour Availability. Potential tenants can access virtual tours anytime, 24/7. This allows them to view your rental properties at their convenience, without having to fit into your schedule. It’s a powerful tool that gives them flexible viewing options.
  • Increased Engagement. Virtual tours have been shown to boost engagement. Websites featuring virtual tours retain potential residents longer than those without.
  • Improved SEO. Besides increased engagement, virtual tours can improve your rental property’s SEO. Google favors fresh content, so adding a virtual tour to your property listing is a great way to update content and boost your search ranking.

How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours.

  • Quality Matters. Use high-resolution images and videos, avoiding any low-quality or blurry photos. Quality virtual tour content helps potential tenants understand your rental properties better.
  • Include a Call to Action. Insert a call to action (CTA) at the end of your virtual tour. A CTA is a statement or button prompting potential tenants to take the next step, such as arranging a showing or contacting you for details. A CTA makes potential tenants more likely to rent from you.

Virtual tours let potential tenants explore your rental properties without having to visit them physically. Real Property Management Summit can assist in advertising your Staunton properties and increasing your chances of finding excellent, reliable tenants. Contact us online or call 540-315-8090 today!

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