Say you’re about to visit an apartment high-rise or a multifamily complex for the first time. What will you be looking for? In the living space, you’ll check out the floor plan. You may take a close look at the flooring, fixtures, and finishes as well. Common-area amenities may attract your attention too. With virtual tours, it’s possible to do all of these things without setting foot on the property.
As technology advances, virtual tours are becoming the next logical step up from 360-degree photography and video. Now you can visit a high-resolution representation of a property anytime, anyplace, on your mobile device or computer.
Virtual tours also complement in-person tours and make visits to the property that are much more focused. After an in-person visit to a property, you can revisit the virtual tour to get answers to new questions that you think of and to narrow down your prospective new home to a few finalists.
Virtual tours are taking tenants from shopping for their options to “move-in day” without delay. Learn how you can get the most from your next virtual apartment tour.
Virtual Tours More Important Than Ever Before
A recent survey suggests that prospective renters are growing more and more receptive to virtual tours. In April 2020, realtor.com surveyed a national sample of consumers looking to rent or buy.
Even before the COVID-19 era, 14 percent of those renting were willing to do so without seeing the space. In this new reality, far more are willing to do so. According to the survey, 34.2 percent of those 18-34 years of age will sign a lease without visiting the property. The percentage is similar among those 35-54 years of age at 33.7 percent. In the 55+ group, 23.7 percent were open to relying on virtual tours, videos, and photos.
Tips for Getting the Most From a Virtual Tour
The key to the virtual tour experience is state-of-the-art technology that’s well deployed. With the right system, an apartment’s online representation is more useful than ever. It’s easy to get a feel for virtual tours.
Here’s what should you be looking out for when you’re on a virtual tour of an apartment:
Floor plans
Check out the floor plan. Do you prefer a more traditional floor plan with defined spaces, or are you looking for more of an open concept? The latter is more and more common in renovated apartments, for example.
Flooring & finishes
Tastes vary when it comes to flooring. Does the style of the flooring speak to your preferences? As you take your virtual tour, note its quality and consistency.
Furnishings
A virtual tour also tells you how well it will accommodate your favorite furnishings. Get a head start on your interior design ideas. Those considering furnished units can get a preview of what is offered and determine if it fits their taste.
Appliances
Evaluate the appliances in the unit. How big is the refrigerator? Is there a dishwasher? Does the unit include a washer and dryer? Modern stainless steel appliances are a plus, as well.
Amenities
Those searching for an apartment typically seek amenities that complement their lifestyle. Virtual tours often include a look at common-area amenities like gyms, bark parks, and co-working spaces. Finally, get a feeling for the neighborhood by using Google Earth.
During your virtual experience, you can retrace your steps as often as you wish. This may yield even more information than an in-person visit.
Virtual tours make it simple for property managers to promote a property’s amenities without regard to busy times. Some of a property’s facilities may be off-limits at times. Not so with virtual tours. Showcase your property’s important features with minimal impact on residents.
How Virtual Tour Technology Works
Virtual tours make it simple for property managers to promote a property’s amenities without regard to busy times. Some of a property’s facilities may be off-limits at times. Other times, in-person tours of outdoor amenities are limited by inclement weather. Not so with virtual tours. Showcase your property’s important features with minimal impact on residents.
The right camera and software combine to deliver a high-quality interactive experience. Matterport is one of the leaders in the field. The image resolution is such that users can zoom in to take a closer look at finishes, fixtures and more. It’s possible for prospective tenants to access detailed floor plans with a single click. Matterport’s measurement tools allow you to accurately measure walls, doors, windows and more. You can easily determine whether furnishings will fit through doors and develop your own interior design ideas.
Matterport software delivers an inside view, a floorplan view and a dollhouse view. When prospective tenants think “virtual tour,” they typically think of the inside view. Virtual walkthroughs mimic the experience of actually moving from room to room. Two other valuable views are just a click away. The floorplan view delivers a bird’s eye view of living spaces. This visual provides a clear understanding of the layout. Finally, the dollhouse view is a representation of the property viewed from the “outside.” Rotate it along any axis; see the unit from any perspective.
Together, the various views offer a virtual experience that truly speaks to the needs and desires of the tenant-to-be.
Virtual Staging
Property managers might want to consider virtual staging as well. Staging a home has long been embraced in residential real estate sales. Now, property managers can stage an apartment with virtual furnishings. It’s also possible to generate views of an apartment with and without furnishings. Virtual staging inspires would-be tenants with dynamic ideas for furnishing their own unit.
Draper and Kramer’s State-of-the-Art Virtual Tours
Draper and Kramer embraces advanced property management systems and technology to better serve its current and future residents, including using Matterport technology for its state-of-the-art virtual tours. To learn more about Draper and Kramer’s portfolio of luxury properties, or to schedule a virtual tour of any of the properties, visit draperandkramer.com.
