REAL ESTATE

Will Virtual Tours Replace In-Person Home Showings?

The use of virtual tours has been steadily growing over the years, with both buyers and sellers seeking the use of this helpful tool in the home-buying process. Companies like Phixer with their unbeatable service are transforming the home buying process for investors, realtors, and home buyers.  

Before you decide to put yourself up for sale and make do without a realtor, it is wise to determine the pros and cons of using these services. Real estate investing provides the perfect opportunity for a web presence, and virtual tours are a great way to showcase your property to potential investor.

What Are Virtual Tours?

Virtual tours, also called 360-degree walkthroughs, allow home buyers to take a tour of a home from the inside out. These tours allow prospective buyers to get an idea of how different rooms and areas are laid out and help them visualize the interior spaces they may be interested in purchasing. This information can also help create an effective marketing plan for a newly listed residence.

10 Pros of Virtual Tours

  1. The cost is minimal. Virtual tours are a great tool to use if you do not want to pay for a traditional home tour and do not have the time or resources to maintain a professional marketing plan. It is especially true for a property that does not change hands often, as costs can become relatively high with the extra staffing and professional services needed for the traditional home tour.
  2. Creates a sense of belonging for potential buyers. With a tour, buyers will feel they are in an actual home if it is their first time viewing the property. They will also see that their home has been well maintained, which will help to reassure them that this is likely to be a good investment.
  3. Creates a sense of tranquility. Virtual tours allow potential buyers to see their home in the manner they would typically view it in person. It helps create a sense of tranquility, which can help alleviate nervousness and stress that may have otherwise prevented them from buying the home.
  4. Easy to manage and update. The virtual tour is a simple file format that any computer can manage with internet access. It makes it easy to manage and update, even without using a third-party marketing service.
  5. New technology is always evolving. New virtual tour tools are constantly being developed, which allows you to keep up with the latest technological advancements that can streamline your homebuyer’s shopping experience.
  6. Builds trust with buyers and sellers. The tour can be an excellent way to build trust between both parties to facilitate a smooth buying process. It is especially true for sellers, as the virtual tour can be an excellent way to demonstrate that their residence has been well maintained.  Buyers may also feel more at ease when they can get a better glimpse at buying.
  7. A quick way to show off your home. A virtual house tour can be a quick and easy way to show off your home and, in turn, get potential buyers interested in seeing more. It will help you to reach a wider audience of prospective buyers.
  8. You are not showing your personal belongings. You are not stripping your house of valuable personal objects when you do a virtual tour, as you would with a traditional home tour. It can save time and damage resulting from preparation for the realtor’s visit.
  9. Sellers can still be present during the experience. Sellers can still be present during the home tour, which can help them feel more at ease with the process and increase their chances of selling their property.
  10. Good marketing tool for buyers. A virtual tour can be a valuable tool for potential homebuyers, as it gives them a better idea of what they will be purchasing and how they will fit into your lifestyle. According to The Kay-Grant Group, a top-producing real estate team in Scottsdale, Virtual Tours provide an extra touch-point that both sellers and prospective buyers appreciate.

Virtual Tour of home interior

7 Cons of Virtual Tours

These disadvantages include the following;

  1. May not be able to sense size through a computer screen. If you are trying to sell a more prominent home than others in the area, it may be more challenging to market your property with a virtual tour effectively. It is especially true if the buyer cannot get a good sense of the overall layout and size of your home through a computer screen.
  2. Not as effective in marketing homes that are million-dollar properties or larger. To effectively market these types of homes, it is necessary to have a professional realtor come into your home and do a traditional home tour. There are many amenities that you cannot show through a computer screen.
  3. When done improperly, the result can be intrusive for viewers. If the virtual tour is not effective in marketing your home, you may receive numerous calls from homebuyers who want to schedule a personal visit. It can become disruptive to everyday life and potentially misrepresent your residence.
  4. Additional cost if you want your listing placed in other areas on the internet. You will likely be forced to pay for additional listings if you want your property to be placed on other websites for viewing, as most of these sites require third-party marketing services to be listed.
  5. It Can be time-consuming if you do it yourself. Some people may choose to create their virtual tour to understand better how much work is involved. While creating one for your home is easy, the process can become more time-consuming the more rooms and areas you want to include in your tour.
  6. Potential buyers may not be able to experience a sense of space and scale of your home through a computer screen. It is especially true if your home is a large two-story house with multiple levels, as you will not effectively show how much space people will have in your home.
  7. Viewers may feel uncomfortable seeing personal things. If you are not careful, viewers may get the wrong idea that they can see into your personal life through your virtual tour. It can harm the reputation of your home, as it may give away more than you believe necessary.

Conclusion

Virtual house tours are a valuable tool for realtors and home sellers, especially those trying to get their homes off the market as quickly as possible. The virtual tour allows you to show off your home in the best possible way and give you a better chance of working with potential home buyers that could be interested in your property.

Real estate investing can be done on a tiny scale with many things you can do being in your control and not paying an agent to help you.

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