Virtual House Tours: The Shortcut to a Faster Home Sale
Updated: December 2023
8 minutes! That’s how long your property has to impress a potential home buyer when they view it online, according to research from top London estate agent, Foxtons!
In this fast-paced market, virtual house tours become essential, offering a comprehensive and immersive viewing experience in mere minutes. By leveraging virtual property tours, sellers can captivate potential buyers quickly, showcasing their property’s best features effectively and efficiently.
More & more firms are using VR tours to entice customers into using their services
Originally a staple of gaming and science fiction, Virtual Reality (VR) is now a key tool for many of the nation’s leading estate agents – and it’s proving its worth. VR offers a 360-degree virtual tour, revealing details and perspectives that traditional photos can’t match.
How often have we visited properties that, while stunning in photographs, disappoint in reality – perhaps due to an unexpected view of a power station or a kitchen too cramped for comfort? The ability to virtually explore a property before committing to an in-person viewing is a significant advantage for both buyers and sellers, saving time and aligning expectations.
Related: Do estate fees include virtual home tours?
According to EyeSpy360™, a software firm that provides such interactive technology, more than 75% of potential purchasers valued such interactive virtual viewings more than regular images. And when you take a look at these VR tours, the reasons why are immediately apparent.
Whether you’re a vendor or purchaser, an online virtual house tour is massively advantageous. The following roundup details the most forward-thinking of UK estate agents who now provide such 3D virtual property tours, something well worth considering when choosing an estate agent or looking for that to-die-for new home.
It’s fair to say all these agents are top notch, so in no particular order, let’s get started!
1) Foxtons: It’s London Baby!
London behemoth, Foxtons, realised the massive benefits of virtual tours back in 2016, when they began rolling out the tech from their Islington office. They offer intimate 360-degree virtual tours that can be viewed on all devices, with the ability to navigate at your will through the property, any garden or grounds, and the road on which the house is situated.
In addition, if you have a compatible VR headset, you can take the immersive experience one step further, and virtually step inside the house to view from every angle, as if you were actually inside.
If you don’t have your own headset, Foxtons also offer the opportunity to take advantage of virtual viewing in-branch. Compared to the time you’ll spend slogging around London to physically view multiple houses this is massively time saving. Plus you get to revel in the funky Foxtons vibe, whilst narrowing down the list of houses that really hit the must-have’s on your property search list.
2) Jeffery Ross: From the Buzz of the City to the Greens of the Valleys
Cardiff based Jeffrey Ross are the go-to property agent for Cardiff and wider Welsh region. And boy-oh-boy have they proved quite how effective VR property tours really are. Since bringing the technology to their customers they’ve reduced the amount of viewings by an almost inconceivable 57%, according to stats on their website.
And that, in anyone’s book, is pretty damn impressive.
Imagine not having to waste time viewing multiple properties before finding the perfect house? Not to mention reducing the average number of views it takes before you sell your house. Scarily this has now increased to an average of 19 times you need to have strangers traipsing around your house, and is continuing to rise. That’s an awful lot of mithering the kids to keep their rooms tidy or clearing up when Fido tracks muddy footprints thought the living room.
In fact, anything that helps you sell house fast, such as this interactive viewing, will make even the hardiest of vendors heave a huge sigh of relief.
3) Residential JLL: Adding AR into the Mix
The global giant that is JLL Residential has taken the concept of VR and injected some very potent steroids. They’ve also gone one step further by adding in the aspect of augmented reality.
Not only can potential customers use a VR headset to digitally tour a property, they can also use a headset to ‘visit’ a property that doesn’t yet exist. That’s a slam-dunk winning move when it comes to tempting buyers to purchase off plan.
Augmented reality means you can hold up your tablet or phone and check out how a room might look in a different colour. Or place your furniture inside, or see if Great Uncle Quentin’s grandfather clock you inherited all those years ago is too big for that corner alcove. In short, AR allows purchasers to road test their belongings way before they ever get to the making an offer stage.
Far preferable to that heart-stopping moment on moving day when you realise your beloved leather sofa just won’t make it round that corner, no matter what you do
4) Charters: Flexible Viewing Availability
Hampshire and Surrey based Charters Estate Agents have recently added the 360 degree virtual tour to their repertoire, allowing viewers to, “click in and around your home at any time of day or night”. And no, this isn’t some creepy stalker tech that allows weirdos to sneak a peek of you in your PJ’s! It’s pre-filmed and utilises the latest technology so those valuable prospects can take their own virtual wander around, whenever they want and as many times as they choose.
And being as so many now work unsocial hours, it means those who’re awake during the wee hours, or indeed in a different time zone, can be feeling the love for your property, not to mention making sure that your house genuinely does tick all the boxes before they commit to a (time-consuming for all) physical viewing.
5) Seddons: Engaging on a Digital Scale
Leading independent estate agent, Seddons, might well have been marketing property in the West Country since the late 1970s, but don’t be fooled into thinking they don’t use anything but the latest tech to get their houses sold.
Their dynamic team uses the power of social media and, of course, all the mainline online portals and digital channels such as Right Move and On The Market et, and with daily views of over 40 million, it’s essential that your property is marketed this way. But they’ve recently taken the additional step of including VR tours to engage with potential buyers. These allow viewers the option to see a property in three different and unique manners:
- The Doll’s House View: A 3D structure so you can understand the layout of the entire property.
- The Floor Plan: As it sounds, this gives a visual of the exact layout.
- The Inside Walk Through: Navigated via a keyboard, mouse or finger from a device of your choosing.
6) Avard: Providing a Welcome Helping Hand
Describing themselves as, “a truly dynamic and forward thinking estate agency,” Avard market properties in the hugely popular areas of Brighton and Hove and their VR property tours attract house buyers both in branch and from the comfort of their own home.
In addition, and with a nod towards those who’re perhaps not quite as tech-savvy as Gen-Z’ers who’ve never known life without a device in hand, they also include a rather handy instruction tab in the bottom left hand corner. There’s also a floorplan to help you navigate throughout the property.
7) Jan Forster: Buying into the Lifestyle
North East agent, Jan Forster Estates, don’t simply use virtual reality viewing technology for their more upmarket properties. It’s refreshing to see that they plough just as much effort into their less expensive bricks and mortar as well.
As they say, VR allows potential purchasers to totally immerse themselves into the lifestyle a property brings. And it’s true. If you love hosting dinner parties, then that open plan kitchen/dining area won’t just tick an essential box, but you can literally count out the steps it’ll take to bring your culinary masterpiece to the table. Or if you yearn for your own little bit of Zen-space from the mayhem of family life, then embracing the vibe as you head to that perfectly located room at the end of the hallway can give you an idea of how your life will fit into the property – and to do so before you take the plunge (and the time off work) to go for a real-life visit.
8) Bridgfords: Prestige Promotions
The largest estate agent in the north of the country, Bridgfords give their higher value properties the virtual upgrade. Not only do prospective viewers get the digital walkaround either in branch or at home, but they get a dedicated personal service specifically designed to market the property to buyers of higher net worth.
After all, being as they specialise in properties in the so-called Golden Triangle of Cheshire, home to some of the most affluent villages and areas in the country (and have a branch in the village where the Beckhams used to life – Alderley Edge), you’d kinda expect them to offer the utmost in property viewing tech now, wouldn’t you?
8) Fine & Country: Technologically Beautiful Property at your Fingertips
With over 300 offices around the world, and specialising in the marketing of, as the name suggests, finest of properties – many of which are in glorious countryside locations – it makes sense that this network of independent estate agents has taken on board the ultimate in tech for VR viewing.
Fine & Country utilise the utmost in cutting edge technology, cloud processing and immersive digital experiences by using an AI (Artificial intelligence) powered platform called Matterport. Climb stairs, explore round corners, peer out of the windows. This really is almost as good as actually being in the property.
How do Estate Agents Create Amazing VR Tours?
In the competitive UK property market, virtual reality (VR) tours are emerging as a game-changing tool for estate agents. These tours offer an immersive and interactive way to showcase properties, helping to capture the interest of potential buyers in a way traditional methods can’t match. This guide outlines the step-by-step process that estate agents follow to create these compelling VR tours, from initial planning to final distribution. That’s why picking the right estate agent is very important!
- Planning and Preparation: The first step involves planning the tour. This includes deciding which areas of the property to highlight, understanding the property’s layout, and ensuring each space is well-presented and free of clutter.
- Photography Equipment: Estate agents or professional photographers use 360-degree cameras to capture the property. These cameras can take panoramic images that cover every angle of a room. High-quality images are crucial for an immersive VR experience.
- Shooting the Property: Photographers take multiple shots covering all angles of each room and area of the property. They ensure consistent lighting and quality to maintain realism in the virtual tour.
- Image Processing and Stitching: The panoramic images are then processed and stitched together using specialized software. This step is crucial to create a seamless 360-degree view of each space.
- Virtual Tour Software: The processed images are uploaded to a VR tour software. These platforms allow for the creation of interactive elements within the tour, such as clickable hotspots to move between rooms, information points, and sometimes even embedded videos or audio descriptions.
- Navigation and User Interface: The navigation of the virtual tour is set up to be intuitive and user-friendly. This includes creating a logical flow through the property, ensuring that users can easily move from room to room and understand the layout of the property.
- Integration and Hosting: Once the VR tour is ready, it’s integrated into the estate agent’s website or property listing platforms. The tour might be hosted on a cloud server to ensure it’s accessible from different devices and locations.
- Quality Check and Feedback: Before launching, a thorough quality check is conducted to ensure the tour is glitch-free. Feedback may be gathered from a test audience to make any necessary adjustments.
- Marketing and Distribution: Finally, the virtual tour is used as a part of the property’s marketing strategy. It’s shared on various platforms, including social media, to reach potential buyers.
Estate agents in the UK are increasingly using VR tours due to their effectiveness in engaging potential buyers and providing them with a realistic sense of the property before they visit in person. This technology is particularly beneficial in today’s market where buyers expect a rich, interactive online experience. This approach often makes homes sell faster.
Virtual Reality Helpful in More Ways than you Think
Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming increasingly instrumental in the real estate industry, offering a variety of benefits that extend far beyond the initial wow factor typically associated with this technology.
- Virtual Property Showcases: VR technology allows potential clients to virtually visit properties from the comfort of their homes. This is particularly useful for clients who are considering properties that are far away, as it saves both time and travel expenses. Users can experience immersive, three-dimensional walkthroughs of properties, quickly visiting multiple locations to decide which are worth an in-person visit.
- Virtual Staging: VR can transform how properties are presented. Imagine showing a property that is empty versus one that is fully furnished and styled. Virtual home staging makes properties more appealing with minimal investment, significantly enhancing the marketability of the property.
- Architectural Visualization: Marketing properties that are yet to be constructed is a challenge. VR offers a cost-effective and immersive way to showcase both the exterior and interior of upcoming properties, helping potential buyers visualize the finished project.
- Facility Management: In facility management, VR aids in planning maintenance, repair, and renovation tasks. It allows the creation of 3D models of buildings to plan out work and simulate how new furniture or equipment will fit into space before purchase or installation.
- Virtual Instructions for Tenants: VR technology can efficiently communicate with tenants, especially in short-term vacation rentals. It helps in showing off property features and amenities and providing instructions, thereby enhancing the customer experience for both guests and landlords.
- Virtual Commerce: VR enables potential buyers to make changes to the interior during a virtual tour. This provides a unique, interactive experience where clients can style the property according to their preferences, and even purchase showcased items directly.
- Improved Sales and Marketing Strategies: VR has revitalized traditional sales strategies in real estate. It allows for detailed property showcases, faster decision-making, and improved customer conversion rates. Real estate professionals can showcase properties in intricate detail, contributing to faster decision-making and improved customer conversion rates.
