Using Virtual Tours & 3D Walk-Throughs to Fill Rentals Faster

Filling rental vacancies can be a stressful, time-consuming, and expensive process for Landlords. This is particularly true in the current market, where many regions are seeing rental markets cool and increased competition for quality Tenants. 

Good rental marketing tools can help property managers and Landlords fill vacancies faster and attract more quality applicants to their rental listings. Having good listing photos and offering virtual property tours is an increasingly effective way to make your listing stand out. 

Here’s an overview of what virtual property tours are and tips for creating them for your next vacant unit. 

When you’re ready to fill a vacancy, we’re here to help with a free rental application and comprehensive tenant screening services. Send a screening request now with just a few clicks. 

What Are Virtual Property Tours? 

A virtual property tour is a digital, online walkthrough of a rental property. It’s a way to simulate an in-person tour through images and videos. 

There are a few common types of virtual property tours: 

• Video walkthroughs: This is a recorded video tour of a property that offers a guided tour of the unit that applicants can watch at any time. 
• Live video tours: A more personalized experience is a live video tour, where applicants join a video call or Zoom meeting to get a live walkthrough of a unit. This is similar to the experience of watching a recorded tour, but gives applicants a chance to ask questions, request to see specific features, and direct the tour. 
• 360-degree tours: This is a virtual tour created by taking panoramic pictures and stitching them together. It allows viewers to click and drag images to simulate moving throughout the unit. 
• 3D Tour: A 3D tour is a digital model of the unit that can be viewed from a “dollhouse view,” floorplan view, or a walkthrough mode. It is interactive and immersive, and applicants can use it to experience a to-scale tour of the unit. 

What Are 3D Walk-Throughs? 

3D Walk-throughs are quickly becoming the most popular type of virtual tour because they offer some unique features for potential renters. It’s slightly more difficult to create than other types of virtual property tours, but can be well worth the extra effort. 

A 3D walk-through offers a digital replica of a unit that tenants can engage with. Tenants can click on photos to move from room to room and simulate being in the unit. The photos are accurate representations of room sizes to give an authentic representation of the property. 

With a 3D walkthrough, viewers can see different angles or views to improve their experience, including: 

• Dollhouse view: A zoomed-out view without the exterior of the property to make it easy to see the floorplan and all rooms at once. 
• Floor plan view: This is a flat layout of the unit that gives a clear picture of the rooms and flow of the property. 
• Measurement mode: This allows viewers to get measurements of any part of the model – for example, the length of a wall, the height of a counter, or ceiling heights. This can help plan for a move. 
• Walkthrough mode: Where viewers can click and drag images to move throughout the unit. 

3D tours are created by using 3D or 360-degree cameras and then using software to create digital replicas that stitch the photos together to provide a complete digital model. 

Benefits of 3D Walk-Throughs for Landlords & Property Managers

3D walkthroughs are becoming commonplace with real estate agents listing a property for sale. Given their success, more and more Landlords are also using them to market rental units. 

3D walkthroughs are beneficial for Landlords because they: 

• Allow Landlords to market rental units to a wider audience 
• Are convenient for applicants and Landlords
• Serve as a pre-screening of potential renters
• Help rental listings stand out from other similar units
• Save property managers time and money 
• Build trust and establish a professional relationship between the Landlord and Tenant
• Provide an effective way to enter into a Lease Agreement without seeing a rental unit in person

How Virtual Tours Can Help Fill Rentals Faster

In addition to the specific benefits of 3D walkthroughs, all types of virtual property tours can help property owners fill vacancies faster by allowing Landlords to: 

1. Reach remote Tenants
2. Offer tours 24/7
3. Speed up the normal Leasing cycle 
4. Make units more appealing to potential applicants 

All of this means more quality applicants, a more efficient leasing process, and fewer vacancy costs. 

Cost vs ROI of Virtual Property Tours

One of the first questions that most landlords have about virtual property tours is, How much is it going to cost? Many property managers think that rental marketing tools aren’t worth the time.

The reality is that it’s very affordable to create a virtual tour, and it’s almost always a good investment. The cost for creating a virtual property tour can range from nothing to a few hundred dollars. 

There are free apps that allow you to create a 3D tour. For an upgraded experience, Landlords can purchase a basic 360-degree camera for around $200 or use a professional platform like Matterport for around $300.

If you spend $300 on a virtual tour, your unit rents for $2,000 a month, and the virtual tour helps you rent it one week faster than you would’ve otherwise been able to, you’ve already covered the $300 expense and increased your net income by $167. 

Here’s a quick ROI snapshot: 

That said, our suggestion is to start with a free app to create a 3D home tour and see how it goes. You can always upgrade in the future.  

What Mistakes Should Landlords Avoid When Using Virtual Rental Tours

The benefits of virtual rental tours make them worth the time and resources involved; however, some common mistakes can make virtual tours less effective for property owners. 

Some of the most common mistakes that Landlords should avoid with virtual rental tours are: 

• Not adequately preparing for the tour. BEFORE taking photos or videos, you need to declutter, deep clean, and ensure there’s good lighting. 
• Skipping key features of the unit. It’s easy to overlook things like a closet, pantry, new appliances, or garage, but these features are key for attracting quality Tenants. You don’t want to lose out on applicants because you omit important features. 
• Not planning for the flow of your tour. Before you take pictures or start recording, plan the flow of your tour. This avoids choppiness and improves the viewer’s experience. 
• Tech issues. If your equipment is low quality, there is bad wifi or your video keeps breaking up, address the issue before adding the tour to your listing. 

Get the Most Out of Your Residential Real Estate Investments

As a Landlord, you have a lot invested in your rental properties. You want to be strategic about property marketing so you can fill vacancies faster and maximize your rental income. 

And, once you’ve gotten quality applicants, you need to collect a Rental Application and do thorough tenant screening to ensure you only rent to qualified applicants who will pay rent on time and take care of your property. 

Good property marketing and tenant screening lead to quality tenants, increased tenant retention, and better returns. 

ezLandlordForms is here to help you every step of the way. All you need is an applicant’s name and email address to send a free paperless rental application or screening request. Create a free account today to get the most out of your real estate investments.