Virtual tours for real estate listings: How to get started?

Published by Vinzenz Ager - 8 November 2023

The popularity of virtual tours for real estate has skyrocketed thanks to technological advancements in the real estate industry. Statistics from Realtors.com state that more than half (54%) of home buyers skip over property listings that don't include virtual tours. While there may not be specific EU-specific stats available, it's reasonable to assume that the success rate is similar in Europe. By offering a virtual tour of the property you are listing, you give potential buyers a better sense of the property. You also increase your chances of selling at the right price. Offering virtual tours also helps you win over seller leads as you showcase your ability to market their property in the best possible way.

But how do you get there exactly? Let’s discover the most essential steps for creating virtual tours.

What is a virtual tour for real estate?

A virtual tour offers an immersive interior walkthrough experience, simulating how a person would view the house if present. These tours come in different formats: video tours, virtual reality or 3D tours, each offering distinct advantages tailored to a home's unique features. They are a convenient tool to showcase a home's condition, selling points, and distinctive traits, all in a single accessible platform for potential buyers.

Do real estate virtual tours help to sell?

Yes, virtual tours help sell houses and flats. They offer unparalleled convenience and accessibility to potential buyers, enabling them to explore properties from the comfort of their homes at their convenience. According to a study conducted by Matterport, properties that feature virtual tours receive an impressive 49% more qualified leads than those without. By incorporating virtual tours into your listings, you can attract more potential buyers, including those who cannot attend physical viewings. Increased engagement and buyer interest can lead to faster sales and higher chances of closing deals.

How can you create impressive virtual tours for real estate?

To create an impressive virtual tour for real estate, follow these seven steps:

1. Select the right equipment

You don't need an expensive setup to start creating virtual tours. You can, for example, use your iPhone or Android phone with an affordable fisheye lens adapter to capture wide-resolution panorama photos for a few hundred euros. Yet, consider upgrading to a full DSLR camera for high quality, although it may be more expensive.

2. Choose your virtual tour software

Selecting the right digital tools to stitch your captured images together is crucial. Finding the software that best fits your case depends on various factors. Fundamental factors include your business size, budget, essential functions, etc. Thus, we recommend researching the web for further information, talking to other experts in the industry and making use of trial periods to find the real estate software that fits you best.

3. Plan your visuals

Before recording, plan your walk-through and identify the best camera placement in each room. Position the camera at the centre of each room to capture the entire space. Test different locations in asymmetrical rooms to find the most suitable angles. Plan your route to ensure a seamless virtual tour miming a natural walk-through. Avoid disjointed connections, such as transitioning from upstairs bedrooms to the basement, as it can confuse viewers. Cover all essential spaces, including closets, bathrooms, and attic.

4. Prepare the property

For an appealing virtual tour, ensure the home looks immaculate, like in listing photos. Encourage the homeowner to declutter the space and consider renting a temporary storage unit for excess belongings. Thorough cleaning is essential, particularly for lived-in homes. Scrub windows, trim, and floors, and ensure fireplaces are clean. Staging is also vital, as it enhances the overall presentation of the property. If there is no option to stage the home, consider virtual staging services. They can add virtual furniture, decor, and even new wall paint without the hassle of physically redecorating.

5. Test out your equipment and lighting

On the day of your photoshoot, test your camera, equipment, and angles thoroughly. Ensure your tripod is level to avoid crooked or distorted photos. Adjust for any natural warping of floorboards if present in the house. Test the lighting in each room, and if necessary, bring extra lighting to brighten up darker areas. Also, be mindful of reflections from mirrors or windows to avoid unwanted interference in your shots.

6. Upload your images to your software

With your equipment and plan ready, begin capturing the photos for your virtual tour. Take multiple photos in each room to have options during the editing process. After capturing all the images, upload them to your chosen virtual tour software. Follow the software's instructions to create the tour, and use additional features such as music, room descriptions, interactive links, and more to enhance the user experience.

7. Add the virtual tour to your real estate exposé

Once you have uploaded your virtual tour to one of the software of your choice, don’t forget to embed the virtual tour in your digital real estate exposé. To do so, create a shareable link to the tour you made. Then, add the link in your compatible platform to your digital property report. When using PriceHubble’s Property Advisor*, including virtual tours in your exposé only takes a few clicks. With Property Advisor, you can also create an interactive property page, which creates an individual custom webpage for each property whose link can be shared with potential sellers and clients.

Want to know how you can profit even further from using Property Advisor? Book your free session with one of our real estate experts:

What are the benefits of creating a virtual tour for real estate?

Beyond the high value placed by buyers on virtual tours, there are several additional benefits to creating a virtual tour to sell homes:

Safe home tours: Even as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, many buyers still prefer to browse homes from a safe distance, and virtual tours offer them that option.
Reduced in-person showings: Virtual tours provide a comprehensive view of the property, reducing the need for multiple in-person showings on-site and saving time for both real estate agents and buyers.
Attract serious and more qualified buyers: Virtual tours allow buyers to assess the floor plan thoroughly, attracting those genuinely interested in the property.
Potential for higher sale prices: Studies have shown that virtual tours can increase the sale price of homes by more than 9% (source: Matterport), potentially leading to greater client satisfaction and more agent referrals.
Convince sellers more easily: Virtual tours also support your strategy for acquiring potential sellers. What could be more valuable than adding appealing visuals to your property valuation report?

Bottom line: Are virtual house tours worth it?

In conclusion, virtual tours are undoubtedly worth incorporating into your real estate marketing strategy. With the increasing demand for immersive and convenient property exploration, virtual tours have proven highly effective in attracting buyer interest and generating qualified leads. Home buyers appreciate the opportunity to explore properties from the comfort of their homes, and the added convenience of virtual tours can impact their decision-making process.

Moreover, virtual tours benefit not only buyers but also sellers. By showcasing properties in a visually appealing and interactive manner, virtual tours impress potential sellers and demonstrate the agent's commitment to cutting-edge marketing techniques. This can help realtors win more mandates and stand out in a competitive market.

*Property Advisor supports the integration of your virtual tour into your exposé via a shareable link. The creation of virtual tours is not possible with our solution. We refer you to our partner Nodalview for this.