The digital age has changed the game for the real estate business. Finding leads online has been the new trend, which led to giving traditional marketing strategies a more web-based approach in order to keep up with the times. One big change for example is the rise of virtual real estate tours.
A virtual tour is basically an online open house where home-hunting tenants can view a property from their mobile devices. They can explore different parts of a house, apartment, building, or condominium they want to rent without needing to travel there.
As a matter of fact, these tours are no longer just for convenience and accessibility, but also for necessity. Since we’re forced to live a “new normal” in this time of global health crisis, we have to adapt to new ways to continue our business while taking precautionary measures like social distancing. With in-house showings becoming less feasible, the rental business should take advantage of virtual apartment tours as their next best alternative.
However, with most tenants now coming up with different gimmicks for their virtual tours, you have to stand out from the competition.
Simple But Effective
If you are a bit overwhelmed with the idea because you find it tenchnologically complicated, you can start with simple means to conduct virtual tours. With video communicating apps like Facetime and Skype, you can show-off your apartment by scheduling a video call with potential tenants so you can show them around your unit just like how you would in an in-person walkthrough.
Just make sure your phone has good audio and video quality so that it’s easy for your clients to ask you questions as you guide them through different parts of your apartment.
Try to be flexible by familiarizing yourself with different video conferencing applications so that you can provide options to your clients depending on their preferred app.
However, if you have access to 3D technology and high-end cameras, grab the chance to use it to your advantage.
Plan it well
How you usually prepare your leased apartments for in-person open houses and walkthroughs, can also be applied to virtual ones. Strategically plan the flow of the tour wherein you are able to showcase all the best features of your unit. But make sure you also cover the small details like storage space and window views. Try your best to be very thorough.
Prior to the tour, check that appliances and plumbing work perfectly. You need to be the physical extension of your client. Turn on faucets and appliances as you move around to assure them that everything’s working properly.
Scheduling your virtual tours during the daytime or golden hour is also an important thing to consider because good lighting emphasizes the beauty of your unit.
Prepare your rental listing
If your tenants learned of your apartment through referral, be prepared to also give them the rental listing of your unit after the tour. That way, they will have something to review after they have explored other options. This is why it’s important that you already have well-composed listings uploaded on listing management websites like Padleads.com where you can add high-quality photos of your unit in case they forget what it looks like. They can also contact you directly through the site if they have follow-up questions.
Have online contracts and forms pre-uploaded in your Padleads page as well so that you can easily forward it to you prospects for them to review and fill-up.
Even though your clients would most probably still request an in-person apartment tour before they close a deal, the virtual tour would already help you filter your leads down to genuinely interested tenants.