Home > Blogs > Joe Beane > Round The Room Virtual Tours And Photography Blog

Are Virtual Tours Necessary?

By Joe Beane

Services for Real Estate Pros with Round the Room virtual tours

June 13, 2007 09:15 AM

I have recently viewed some marketing statistics stating higher than seventy percent of all buyers use the Internet as part of their search when finding a real estate agent or home. Similar percentages have taken virtual tours of properties for sale. Realtor.com offers the option of displaying search results of homes with virtual tours first. Virtual tour technology has advanced to the point that a well produced virtual tour can display nearly all aspects of a home for sale. Programs such as Real Tour Vision include contact information, interactive navigation, branding, maps, school information, music, and more. Images can now be produced to quality similar to that of still photography or video. Tours can easily be linked to websites, mls services, burned to cds, and e-mailed. Agents not using this technology will find themselves at a real disadvantage.

Comments(5)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Blue Ridge Ga Real Estate >> Real Property in Blue Ridge Georgia

United Country Landmasters - Ellijay, GA

Great Point Joe. I agree Virtual tours are great way to get pictures.

Jun 13, 2007 09:20 AM

Patrick Martin

Re/Max Edge - Chicago, IL

Joe, I think you're right about the importance of virtual tours. I've spoken with some young buyers, and they start their searches on line, and if the listing doesn't have many bells & whistles, they just pass it over.

One place I've wondered about. I had a Studio Condo listing. I tried to have a virtual tour, but after one "shot" (placement of the camera), there really wasn't much else to shoot. I have since wondered about the value of having virtual tours done for Studios (though numerous pictures are a MUST!)

Jun 13, 2007 09:23 AM

Abe Loper

Nobility Partners, LLC - Lynchburg, VA

As a mortgage proffessional, I believe in the power of technology and virtual tours, specifically. But, as an investor with multiple properties, who does most of his looking online, a virtual tour is no more useful to me than a set of well-take photos. Either of those mediums can get me to set up a time to walk through a house. And that's their job. But I don't find one more effective than the other.

Jun 13, 2007 09:24 AM

Robert Rees - Austin Real Estate

Robert Rees Realty, Inc - Austin, TX

If there are not a lot of well taken pictures then I want to see a VTour. As a Realtor I know it's something that my Sellers would like to have so I provide it. In fact, I'm in the process of searching for a new Virtual Tour Software or company. My last one is going out of biz on the 22nd. They offered FREE hosting for up to 10 Virtual Tours and the software was Easy and Great to work with. They were http://www.virtualtourmaker.com/

I've used Flyinside a couple of times but they are more difficult to work with and the tour isn't as fluid. You can't do 180 degree tours because it just loops. So if anyone has a suggestion for a low cost, FREE preferably, Vtour, let me know.

Jun 13, 2007 09:33 AM

Joe Beane

Round the Room virtual tours - Destin, FL

Patrick, When I produce a virtual tour of a small condo, I may only use one 360 degree spin of the interior and include close up stills of any selling points. I would also include any appropriate spins or stills of community facilities or nearby points of interest.

Jun 13, 2007 09:36 AM

Are Virtual Tours Necessary?

Comments(5)

Joe Beane

Recent Posts

Additional Information