4 reasons home sellers and landlords should use interactive floor plans

I own rental properties and find that interactive floor plans cut down on both phone calls and showings. The people who do call have a good feel for the property because they've already walked through it online. And the chances of them renting (or buying) when you take your valuable time to show the home in person are a lot higher than for people who are seeing the property for the first time.

Interactive floor plans actively engage viewers, allowing them to see how rooms relate to one another and what the view is from the street or out the window. Whether you are a realtor, for-sale-by-owner seller, or landlord, here are four reasons to consider using interactive floor plans in your online real estate listings or as links in classified ads.

Interactive floor plans:

1. Give potential buyers or renters a real sense of place

Interactive floor plans are the next best thing to being there. Combine floor plans with photos and text to give viewers a sense of place and perspective. Buyers can explore interiors, landscapes, and neighborhoods as they mouse around.

2. Make your listing stand out from the rest

Interactive floor plans are in a class by themselves. They set your listings apart from other listings that only show photos and slide shows.

3. Better than 360º virtual tours

Buyers can view a property in a more natural way using an interactive floor plan than with conventional 360º virtual tours. There's no waiting for tours to load and you don't get that queasy feeling that can come from spinning around in a virtual room!

4. Control what buyers see

An interactive floor plan lets you highlight favorable property features and downplay others. Show off special amenities, built-in cabinets, appliances and other details in addition to rooms, landscapes and neighborhood features. You can also include links to related web sites such as schools, parks, and other amenities. You can even add an area map showing the location of the property and its proximity to major employers, hospitals, and shopping areas.

The next time you have a property to sell or rent, try using an interactive floor plan as a real estate marketing tool. If your experience is anything like mine, you'll be glad you did. To see how easy it is to create an interactive floor plan visit MapsAlive (http://www.mapsalive.com).