VR isn’t just for video games anymore, it is now a part of any listing agent’s marketing strategy. Virtual tours have allowed prospective buyers to feel attached to a listing long before they step foot in the door. Transplant buyers are some of the best leads generated from virtual tours and we are breaking down the best virtual tours for real estate in 2019.

One of the best things the real estate industry has done in recent years has been to make online listings more interactive. This is thanks to the many technology breakthroughs that have helped push the real estate industry forward. Virtual tours are leading the pack to engage homebuyers online.

What’s a virtual real estate tour?

There are so many definitions for virtual real estate tours. This is because technology is developing so rapidly. Some virtual experiences are more immersive than others. Some consist of a composite of fish eye lens photographs of a listing. Others contain interactive, digital floor plans. Still, others contain drone videography. For our purposes, we will define a virtual tour as the capability for homebuyers to experience a listing in the digital world.

Homebuyers view virtual tours as their own, personal showings.

What used to require a physical presence is now available online. Again, this has been invaluable as more homebuyers relocate with the increase of globalization. It is a great way to snag relocation leads. A virtual tour should act as an online showing of the property being listed. It gives those on the search for a new home a complete look at what they can expect with each property. Below, we are going to be breaking looking at some of the best software for virtual tours in 2019.

iStaging

This is one of the most advanced options currently available for providing a 3D rendering of listings. What makes iStaging unique is that allows agents to add objects in the renderings. It literally allows you to virtually stage a property! You can also add embedded notes or features about each part of the property that populates throughout the virtual tour.

iStaging is also very user-friendly. All it takes is pictures via your smartphone or tablet. Simply upload them into the iStaging platform to build your tour. Another value is that it saves time by mapping floorplans online as it reads data from photographs. The best part is you only need a smartphone camera to get started.

VPIX 360

Serving a total of 17 countries, VPIX 360 enables you to embrace high-quality images and engaging video to provide prospective buyers with digital tours. The company boasts that users spent five times the amount of time viewing listings with their products, and 7 times the amount of shares for their listings.

By providing the opportunity to craft some of the best virtual tours, it’s clear that they continue to innovate and provide other opportunities as well. They are also one of the few companies that integrate both video and photography. VPIX 360 also offers the added bonus of custom side-riders with QR codes for their virtual tours.

VPIX 360 also services many industries. But agents should note, using VIPX 360 requires not only the purchase of their software but also some of their hardware as well. It is a solution best suited for large brokerages and groups.

Matterport

If you ever liked playing The Sims or SimCity, you are going to love Matterport. Their virtual tours are intuitive and fun. Looking at their 3d floorplans is literally like looking a high-res layout of your favorite house in the Sims. It allows you to fly/zoom into each room of your choosing. It is definitely the most fun out of the bunch.

Their metrics boast a 95% increase in leads and its easy to tell why. Matterport’s virtual tours are more comprehensive and fun than anything else on the market. Users literally feel like birds, easily flitting from room to room, zooming out to see the entire floorplan, or zooming in to view the smallest detail of a single room. Virtual notes are incorporated throughout the entire tour to highlight features of each listing. It looks slick and plays well.

Matterport does require the purchase of one of their cameras or hiring one of their pros to scan each listing for you, depending on the agent’s preference. If an agent is serious about adding virtual tours to their listings, this is the one to buy into.

Pano2VR

Just like the VPIX 360, Pano2VR specializes in offering panorama views. It has been optimized to ensure their virtual tours fit with just about any mobile device out there. This includes websites, kiosks, etc.

Pano2VR does not come with all the bells and whistles of brands like iStaging and Matterport. It is stripped down, but it is a good, cost-effective way for beginners to jump in the virtual tour game. They offer simple, panoramic views of one room at a time. It is stripped down, simple, but clean. Just a scrolling view of each room, that allows users to look in every direction.

Pano2VR does not require users to buy into any hardware, either. If you have access to DLSR camera or a simple camera with a tripod, you are good to go.  The software license is for a single computer, so it’s not bad if you use the same computer. However, multiple licenses will end up costing you more money.

Roundme

Roundme is a great middle of the road option. It is not as stripped down as options like Pano2VR, but doesn’t require the effort of the Matterport and iStaging. Roundme plays cleanly offering panoramic, stitched environments but also offers embedded notes and custom branding. Roundme also offers a limited-time demo so one can explore their capability before purchasing it.

Using Roudme’s drag and drop editor makes it easy to update websites and listings. The ease of use alone makes it a great beginner option. You also can create an entire VR portfolio with Roundme.

Bonus Tip: showcase every virtual tour, drone video, photo, video, and listing media in one place.

Single Property Sites is proud to introduce our new Media Showcase. We have seen how virtual tours, drone videos, and new technology are transforming listings. We set out to create one, simple place to show off every drone video, virtual tour, photo, video, and every piece of media for every listing. Our custom listing websites now support all of these features, plus agent information, open house information, and so much more. The best part is getting started is totally free.