As a Katy rental property owner, you are aware that marketing is crucial in finding the right renters. And if you’ve never tried virtual tours yet, you’re missing out! By allowing potential tenants to take a virtual tour of your rental properties, you can show them what they’re getting before they even walk through the door. In this post, we’ll go through the perks of using virtual tours for your rental property marketing and describe why every rental property owner should be using them.
Virtual Tour Basics
By definition, a virtual tour is a digitally rendered walk-through of a rental property. Unlike photographs, which display the property based on the photographer’s point of view, virtual tours can deliver an in-depth appearance into each room of a property. Virtual tours can also allow future renters to measure spaces and dimensions of the home and even digitally arrange their furnishings to see how they would fit.
Recent studies indicate that renters desire virtual tours of rental properties. According to results compiled by Zumper, more than 70% of renters say that they are willing to rent an apartment without seeing it in person if they could take a look at it through a 3D virtual tour.
Types of Virtual Tours
Virtual tours are an immersive way for potential tenants to see your rental properties. They provide an opportunity for potential renters to get a feel for the space and see if it meets their needs without having to visit the property physically.
There are three main types of virtual tours: a 360 virtual tour, a 3D virtual tour, and a virtual reality tour.
- 360 Virtual Tour. A 360 virtual tour is a single panoramic image stitched together from numerous photographs. These tours allow potential tenants to see an entire room in one image, then click and drag to look around. 360 virtual tours are easy and relatively inexpensive to create, making them a great option for Katy property managers just starting with virtual tours.
- 3D Virtual Tour. A more immersive choice than a 360 virtual tour, a three-dimensional (or “true”) virtual tour permits future tenants to walk through the property as if they were there. These tours are made by taking various photographs of a rental property and then combining them together with special software. Due to the time and effort needed in creating them, high-end rental properties usually only use three-dimensional virtual tours.
- Virtual Reality Tour. The modern and most immersive type of virtual tour is the virtual reality (VR) tour. These tours enable prospective tenants to put on a VR headset and explore the property as if they were actually walking through it. While VR tours are currently uncommon, they are turning out to be more and more popular as VR technology becomes more accessible.
What are the benefits of virtual tours?
- Convenience. Probably the greatest benefit of virtual tours is how convenient they are. Interested tenants can tour your rental properties without having to leave their homes or change work schedules. This is particularly advantageous for out-of-state or international renters who might have problems organizing a time to tour the property physically.
- 24/Hour Availability. Virtual tours are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means potential tenants can tour your rental properties on their own schedule, regardless of your availability.
- Increased Engagement. Virtual tours are also proven to increase engagement. A study by Inman News found that properties with virtual tours receive, on average, 42% more website views than those without virtual tours.
- Improved SEO. Aside from increased engagement, virtual tours can also boost your rental property’s SEO. Google wants new content, and adding a virtual tour to your property listing is an ideal approach to add new content and enhance your ranking in search results.
How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours
Quality Matters. Be sure to use high-quality images and videos, and avoid using low-resolution or blurry photos. You want potential tenants to have a clear sense of your rental properties, so remember to use quality virtual tour content.
Include a Call to Action. Remember to include a call to action (CTA) at the end of your virtual tour. A CTA is a statement or button that motivates future tenants to take the next step, like scheduling a showing or contacting you for more information. By including a CTA, potential tenants are more likely to rent from you.
Virtual tours are a great way to give potential tenants a feel for your rental properties without having to physically visit the property. If you’re not already using virtual tours in your rental property marketing, now is the best time to start. Ready to learn more about how to incorporate virtual tours into your rental property marketing? Contact us online today!
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