{"id":18220,"date":"2020-05-27T12:50:23","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T17:50:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abodo.com\/blog\/?p=18220"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:06:43","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T18:06:43","slug":"definitive-guide-to-real-estate-virtual-tour-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/definitive-guide-to-real-estate-virtual-tour-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"The Definitive List of Virtual Tour Systems for Property Management Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging businesses across the world. When it comes to real estate and property management, many professionals are working tirelessly to adapt to a new life, including real estate virtual tours. The good news is: these tour options are endless in 2020.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While property managers work to master <a href=\"https:\/\/logomakerr.ai\/logo\/real-estate\">real estate<\/a> virtual tours, renters \u2014 the other side of the rental equation \u2014 are voicing their concerns about finding their next place, while remaining hopeful that virtual tours will give them what they desperately need. According to a recent study, <strong>more than 60% of renters said that coronavirus has negatively impacted their apartment search.\u00a0<\/strong>Additionally, <strong>30% of renters surveyed stated they&#8217;d prefer photos and floorplans in a virtual manner<\/strong>, while<strong> pre-recorded videos of units (27%)<\/strong>, and <strong>live personalized unit tours (21%)<\/strong> rounded out the pressing desires of renters.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During this important shift in how many renters are viewing apartments, we decided to put together a complete rundown on the most popular, efficient and, now, necessary<strong> real estate virtual tours<\/strong> in the industry, along with some tips on how real estate agents can leverage similar technology, specifically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beautiful.ai\/blog\/2023-generative-ai-workplace-report\">AI in the workplace<\/a>, to help them create a more efficient and productive workforce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What You\u2019ll Find in the Guide to Real Estate Virtual Tours<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Where We Stand Today<\/li>\n<li>Renter-Friendly Options\n<ol>\n<li>2D Photos &amp; Floorplans<\/li>\n<li>3D Matterport Technology<\/li>\n<li>Pre-Recorded Video Walkthroughs<\/li>\n<li>Personal Tours\n<ul>\n<li>Facetime<\/li>\n<li>Skype<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Live Open-House Options\n<ul>\n<li>Facebook Live<\/li>\n<li>YouTube<\/li>\n<li>Periscope<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Where We Stand Today with Real Estate Virtual Tour Systems<\/h2>\n<p>The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the real estate industry in a major way. From real estate agents dealing with empty open-houses to property managers to struggling to lease vacant units to renters searching for some sort of relief from monthly payments, it&#8217;s safe to say that everyone is feeling the pressure coming from both social distancing and \u2014 in some cities \u2014 shelter in place mandates.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/virtual-apartment-tours-ultimate-guide\/\"><strong>[RELATED CONTENT] THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VIRTUAL TOURS FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Companies like Redfin and other real estate giants are looking for the most creative open-house and real estate <a href=\"https:\/\/tyronewoodsmhc.com\/virtual-tour\/\">virtual tour<\/a> solutions. And while the larger companies strive to find resources for virtual options, property managers know that showing rentals to prospective tenants each day is a huge piece of business that needs to continue. <strong>With this, comes a new norm \u2014 virtual tours.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Figuring out a way to make potential clients comfortable when viewing new apartments, signing a lease and making a move during these trying times is of utmost importance to management companies nationwide. So, let&#8217;s take a look at some of the most popular virtual tour options for property managers.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Renter-Friendly Real Estate Virtual Tour Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Real estate virtual tours are typically not the preferred method to show an apartment.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000\" href=\"https:\/\/advertise.rentable.co\/\"><strong>[EXLUSIVE ACCESS] Rentable&#8217;s INNOVATIVE RENT REMOTE PLATFORM FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In a perfect world, tenants would be able to view an apartment in-person, take pictures, imagine their furniture in the space and maybe even bring friends or family back for a second viewing prior to signing the lease. Today, this option simply does not exist. But there are a few fantastic virtual tour platforms that are available to everyone, easy to use and renter-friendly.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2D Photos and Floorplans<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While this isn&#8217;t a new, innovative technology, it&#8217;s still a great option when social distancing is of utmost importance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18232 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130231\/RoomSketcher-2D-Floor-Plan.jpg\" alt=\"real estate virtual tours\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130231\/RoomSketcher-2D-Floor-Plan.jpg 800w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130231\/RoomSketcher-2D-Floor-Plan-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130231\/RoomSketcher-2D-Floor-Plan-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130231\/RoomSketcher-2D-Floor-Plan-640x480.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>High-quality photos can go a long way in terms of providing the renter with a first-hand view of what their future home might look like. When paired with a video walkthrough, floor plan details and photos are still extremely useful and incredibly renter-friendly.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">3D Matterport Technology<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Matterport&#8217;s 3D media platform lets you create, navigate, modify and share interactive 3D and virtual reality spaces for any rental unit on the market.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18231 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan-1024x597.jpg\" alt=\"virtual tours real estate\" width=\"1024\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan-1024x597.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan-512x299.jpg 512w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan-640x373.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130137\/matterport_scan.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This software makes it extremely easy to give potential renters a feel for a unit while providing them with a much more detailed view of their future home \u2014 a view that they&#8217;d never be able to gather simply through photos. Online training is provided for first-time users and set up for &#8220;less technical&#8221; users is typically not so painful.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pre-Recorded Video Walkthroughs<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Pre-recorded video walkthroughs are another great option for long-distance (or social distancing) real estate virtual tours; however, renters have recently voiced concerns over the non-organic and overproduced feel of pre-recorded tours. To enhance these pre-recorded tours and make them more engaging, property managers can utilize AI-driven\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/ai-video\/text-to-video\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/ai-video\/text-to-video&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1717062401205000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Micj7hQmwxXn5oxXLqpxt\">text-to-video tools<\/a>\u00a0to easily convert property descriptions into captivating video content. Additionally,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/add-subtitles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/add-subtitles&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1717062401205000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2m9f6YZupk3u9MFm9OURvr\">adding subtitles<\/a>\u00a0can cater to a diverse audience, including those with hearing impairments or non-native speakers. For even greater accessibility and a seamless viewer experience, consider an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/auto-subtitle-generator-online\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.veed.io\/tools\/auto-subtitle-generator-online&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1717062401205000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xj7WXLfBdAUw4MskLXkol\">auto subtitle generator<\/a>\u00a0to provide accurate and synchronized captions.<\/p>\n<p>What we do know is that renters are in constant search of trustworthy and authentic tours, specifically, tours that give them the vibe of daily interactions they&#8217;re having on social media, such as Instagram stories.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18233 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-1024x591.jpg\" alt=\"real estate virtual tours and video\" width=\"1024\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-1024x591.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-512x295.jpg 512w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-768x443.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-1536x886.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour-640x369.jpg 640w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130403\/Video-Tour.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That said, leasing professionals can still provide potential tenants with recorded videos to show them how the rooms in an apartment connect, where the common areas and amenities are located and they can truly showcase the unique features of an apartment. In certain instances, videos might include background music, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justinhavre.com\/blog\/how-can-drones-help-you-sell-your-home.html\">drone footage<\/a>, and other new-age techniques. The video walkthrough is helpful for a time like this, as it can be easily shared among roommates or family members and can provide additional context beyond what photos might showcase \u2014 still a quality option.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Facetime<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Individual, personal real estate virtual tours have long been the standard (preferred by renters) in the industry. And Facetime offers that exact scenario, while simply using video conferencing.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1577864662891-c7b77f10f638?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"shallow focus photo of man in gray collared top taking selfie\" \/><\/p>\n<p>According to industry studies, property managers are turning more toward Facetime tours as their top option. How well is this working? Well, management companies have <strong>reported an 18-20 percent leasing rate strictly from Facetime tours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The above data tells us that while renting an apartment without seeing it in-person has long been a major concern for renters, that concern isn&#8217;t as prevalent as in years past. Most of us are very familiar with Facetime for use in our personal lives, which makes this platform a tremendous option for showings. Leasing professionals can walk tenants through an apartment at any time of the day simply by making a call to their phone. With no Internet access required, Facetime tours can be informal, timely and can be conducted from anywhere. And this is a great way to limit face-to-face contact while providing the most convenient and &#8220;real-life&#8221; tour as possible.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Skype<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Much like Facetime, Skype is a video conferencing platform that provides endless options for property managers who want to provide individual, personal tours to potential tenants.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1457682524032-465ef406d105?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"blue Android smartphone on gray laptop computer\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Skype has been used for years for out-of-town apartment tours, making cross-country moves much easier for the renter. Today, this platform provides renters the ability to speak to property managers in a matter of minutes to schedule personal tours with high-quality video capabilities.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Facebook Live<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Throughout the past several years, Facebook has worked tirelessly to create a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/marketplace\/learn-more\/business\/real-estate\/\">marketplace for renters<\/a>. Renters have been able to send a message through Facebook Messenger to schedule apartment showings in-person. Today, with renters in dire need of virtual tours, Facebook Live video capabilities have come to light as an option for virtual tours.<\/p>\n<p>Facebook Live provides property managers with a way to easily connect with both residents and prospects. This form of video is casual \u2014 usually preferred by renters \u2014 and allows you to hop on a video call within minutes. You can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emailvendorselection.com\/email-newsletter-software\/\">email newsletter software<\/a> to share the link of this video to your subscribers or followers. Imagine a news broadcast, but instead of talking about the weather (or coronavirus) you can show behind-the-scenes footage of a brand-new apartment or a unit that has just come to market. All you need is a smartphone, the Facebook app and you can start a live video with just a single tap of a button.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-18234\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live-1024x684.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live-512x342.jpeg 512w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live-640x427.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/blog-assets.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/20130513\/FB-live.jpeg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On top of that, Facebook Live tours provide property managers the opportunity to save tour videos, share them widely within their social media network and even embed them on their property website. Moreover, many property managers are using Facebook Live as an effective way to <a href=\"https:\/\/customers.ai\/blog\/xray-lead-nurturing\">generate leads<\/a>, qualify truly interested renters and to share self-scheduling opportunities leading to personal tours as well.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">YouTube<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>YouTube, much like Facebook Live, is a great platform for hosting a virtual open-house to showcase your entire apartment community, along with specific units. With the ability to host large virtual gatherings, property managers can reach wide audiences with pertinent information, while eliminating the need for renters to actually trek to available pads.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1541877944-ac82a091518a?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&amp;ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=1000&amp;q=80\" alt=\"Youtube in smartphone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As the second-largest search engine in the world, only trailing the almighty Google, YouTube processes more than 3 billion searches per month. So, along with virtual open-houses, ensuring that apartment communities and specific units are available for viewing on this platform, can help property management companies drive interest and leads, as well as self-scheduling opportunities for renters.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Periscope<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Much like YouTube, Periscope \u2014 a video streaming app \u2014 allows property managers to showcase their community to hundreds of potential customers in a virtual manner.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/04\/periscope.png?w=1034\" alt=\"Image result for periscope app\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Long ago, this seemed like an outside-the-box idea, but today, it has become a necessity. In addition to showcasing apartment communities on Periscope, agents have had success in sharing local attractions and points of interest near their properties to give the renter a feel for living in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n<h2>Rent Remote by Rentable<\/h2>\n<p>For more information on how you can best meet the needs of renters, please check out our new rent remote product. <strong>You can gain access by <a href=\"https:\/\/advertise.rentable.co\/\">clicking here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rent Remote App Demo | Powered by ABODO\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/czXq19ykBLY?start=6&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging businesses across the world. When it comes to real estate and property management, many professionals are working tirelessly to adapt to a new life, including real estate virtual tours. The &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"The Definitive List of Virtual Tour Systems for Property Management Professionals\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/definitive-guide-to-real-estate-virtual-tour-systems\/#more-18220\" aria-label=\"More on The Definitive List of Virtual Tour Systems for Property Management Professionals\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":18651,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[461,464],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18220"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18220"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21483,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18220\/revisions\/21483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}