Three ways estate agents can create a virtual tour

Across the UK and Europe, lockdown measures are changing and the markets are kicking back into life as we grow accustomed to the new normal. 

However, for many, the prospect of going out to a property in person doesn’t sit right.

During a time where your customers may still be reluctant to leave their homes and view a property, it’s important to consider how to make a virtual tour for real estate as these make remote viewing possible.

The good news here is that creating a virtual tour is easier than ever before.

Ultimately, there are three main methods of adding virtual tours to your property marketing arsenal:

- Hire a virtual tour service
- Do it yourself
- Automated tour services

1. Hire a virtual tour service

Virtual tour specialists, usually individual photographers or small organisations, are becoming widely available and the technology has advanced over the last decade.

The cost of a virtual tour in a two-bedroom apartment can be as low as £150 across Europe but spool up to £250 for a better service. If you are looking for a tailored and premium quality virtual tour, it will cost up to £1,000.

Usually, the equipment used by these services varies drastically by region and price point, meaning this could be a more viable option for some estate agents than others.

As the service produces everything, this is perfect for those who want to remain hands-off in the process, but leaves a lot to be desired for those wanting to take an active part.

2. Do it yourself

Cameras and virtual tour softwares are needed here. Capture devices range in quality depending on your budget, so many may choose to use their mobile phone; a capture device we all already have.

However, if you want a high-quality virtual tour, you’ll be aiming for a camera with higher resolution and better stability. This will lead you to a high-end DSLR that can be mounted on a rig, which requires a large upfront investment and time to learn how to use these tools.

The core benefits of this approach are the flexibility and customisation gained. The quality of your virtual tour, however, is dependent on the quality of the lens and your proficiency with the software.

3. Automated virtual tours

This is by far the most efficient method of capturing virtual tours for real estate agents. With the automated route, the software does all the heavy lifting - the camera unit is a two in one; that means unlike the DIY option, virtual tour software isn’t needed by the operator.

With automated technology like Giraffe360, there’s no need for any interaction with file formatting or file transfers needed to create a virtual tour.

The cameras here are designed to scan the room then automatically share a high-resolution result in the formats you desire. It’s as simple as taking the camera setup to the property and letting the automated technology do the rest.

For further information, you can request a demo here.

*John Cooper is a digital marketing consultant at Giraffe360