As a rental property owner in Des Moines, you understand that marketing is crucial for finding ideal renters. If you haven’t incorporated virtual tours yet, you’re missing out! Offering virtual tours to potential tenants is a great way to show them your rental properties before they visit in person.
We’ll talk about the benefits of virtual tours for rental property marketing and explain why all rental property owners should adopt them.
Virtual Tour Basics
A virtual tour is a digital simulation walk-through of a rental property. While photos capture the property from the photographer’s viewpoint, virtual tours offer a comprehensive view of each room.
Research has shown that renters are seeking virtual tours of rental properties. Zumper’s findings show that more than 70% of renters would rent an apartment sight unseen if they could view it via a 3D virtual tour.
Types of Virtual Tours
Virtual tours give potential tenants an immersive way to explore your rental properties. These tours let potential renters evaluate the space and see if it fits their needs without visiting in person.
The three main types of virtual tours are 360-degree virtual tours, 3D virtual tours, and virtual reality tours.
- 360 Virtual Tour. A 360 virtual tour is formed by stitching numerous photographs into a single panoramic image. These tours enable potential tenants to see an entire room in one image and navigate by clicking and dragging. 360 virtual tours are straightforward and cost-effective to create, making them great for property managers new to virtual tours.
- 3D Virtual Tours are more immersive than 360 virtual tours. They give potential tenants the ability to walk through the property virtually, just like they were there. These tours are produced by taking numerous photos of a rental property and stitching them together using specialized software. Even though it may appear complex, there are many user-friendly tools and services available to help. Because they require significant time and effort to create, three-dimensional virtual tours are usually used for high-end rental properties.
- Virtual Reality Tour. The virtual reality (VR) tour is the newest and most immersive type of virtual tour. These tours allow potential tenants to use a VR headset and explore the property as if they were walking through it. Even though VR tours are still relatively rare, their popularity is growing as VR technology becomes more accessible.
What are the benefits of virtual tours?
- Convenience. Virtual tours greatly reduce the hassle of traditional property tours. Prospective tenants can view your rental properties from the comfort of their homes or during work hours. This is especially helpful for out-of-state or international renters who have difficulty arranging physical tours.
- 24/Hour Availability. Virtual tours are available to potential tenants around the clock, seven days a week. This allows them to explore your rental properties at their convenience, without needing to consider your availability. This tool is powerful, providing them with flexible viewing options.
- Increased Engagement. Virtual tours are shown to increase engagement significantly. Potential residents stay longer on websites that feature virtual tours than on those that do not.
- Improved SEO. Besides increased engagement, virtual tours can improve your rental property’s SEO. Google rewards fresh content, and incorporating a virtual tour into your property listing is an excellent way to add new content and improve your search rankings.
How to Optimize Your Virtual Tours.
- Quality Matters. Opt for high-quality images and videos, and stay away from low-resolution or blurry photos. Ensure potential tenants get a good understanding of your rental properties by using high-quality virtual tour content.
- Include a Call to Action. Feature 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. With a CTA, potential tenants are more inclined to rent from you.
Virtual tours help potential tenants get a feel for your rental properties without a physical visit. Real Property Management Excelled can help you market your Des Moines properties and maximize your chances of finding reliable tenants. Contact us online or call 253-275-5999 today!
Originally Published on July 22, 2022
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