Articles News and Insights How Virtual Reality is Transforming Real Estate

How Virtual Reality is Transforming Real Estate

The future of real estate is here. Tech meets real estate with new virtual reality initiatives taking over the property market. Read more now.

Virtual reality (VR) is the creation of a three-dimensional picture or environment that can be interacted with using technology. Users might have a virtual reality experience that is comparable to or wholly distinct from reality. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, virtual reality has been dubbed "the next big thing in tech" for some time and is now making ripples in real estate.

People interested in purchasing a home no longer have to travel hundreds of miles to see the property because they can now do it remotely. Buyers may explore any space using virtual reality to experience the magnitude of the rooms and much more. We'll talk about how virtual reality has changed real estate marketing in this post.

Man combining virtual reality goggles and physical 3D models to help with architectural design

SHOWCASES OF VIRTUAL PROPERTY

When someone wants to buy a house, they usually call a real estate agent, and the two of them agree on a day and time to visit the property. While this method achieves results, it is time consuming and inconvenient for both sides. When the property is hundreds or thousands of kilometers distant from the client's home, things might get much more problematic. In that instance, going to the property is not only time-consuming but also costly. You can, however, use technology to fix these issues.

Automation saves your firm money and your clients' time, according to Paperless Pipeline, a transaction management software provider. The same may be said for virtual and augmented reality. Homebuyers may virtually tour the house from anywhere using virtual reality. Clients may experience realistic, three-dimensional walkthroughs of the properties by just putting on VR headsets. Buyers may visit the area and measure the scale of the rooms, as well as the height and texture of kitchen counters, among other things. Most significantly, purchasers may tour various residences without leaving their homes. Virtual tours may help real estate agents sell their properties more successfully. Agents can utilize two different sorts of 3D virtual tours to sell their property.

Man in suit using virtual reality VR googles to experience buildings and skyline

Guided Tours

Guided tours are similar to the advertising films that you see all over the internet. Guided tours in VR, on the other hand, are either totally virtual or 360-degree movies. Guided tours are ideal for advertising real estate since they are easy to create—you can even do it with your smartphone. However, for the greatest results, a panoramic camera capable of capturing 360-degree films is advised.

Visits with interaction

Clients may pick how they wish to engage with space in these virtual tours. By clicking on distinct hotspots in the field of vision, prospective buyers may determine where they wish to go within a house. While developing interactive tours is more difficult than generating guided tours, interactive films allow purchasers to get a better and more immersive sense for the property than guided tours.

STAGING VIRTUALLY

Consider the following two real estate agents attempting to sell a home in a competitive market:
1. Real estate agent A: Offers the home for sale as-is, with no furnishings.
2. Real estate agent B: Promotes the house after staging it with fine furniture and other accents to make it appear warm and inviting.

Which of these two real estate agents do you think will sell more homes for more money? Many purchasers would choose to work with agency B. Why? We have the data to illustrate that photographs and videos of well-furnished interiors are more appealing to homebuyers than those of vacant areas. A staged home sells for 17 percent more and 87 percent faster than a non-staged property, according to Betsy Wilber, a professional home stager with Artisan Staged Homes & Room Redesign. By staging a home, you allow potential buyers to view it in its finest light. This enables them to envision how their new house will seem once they have moved in. This is where virtual reality comes in. An empty house is transformed into a well-furnished residence that appeals to the human eye using virtual reality. Virtual staging is now being used by many real estate brokers to increase sales.

VR virtual reality goggles with virtual reality house tour

VISUALIZATION OF ARCHITECTURE

What if the property in question is still under construction? It's difficult to sell a property that hasn't been built yet. Buyers may easily picture a piece of land as a full architecture utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality technology, and the outside and inside of the property can be made visible. Buyers may get a better sense of what the property will look like by picturing it before it is built. This can assist them in determining if the property is worthwhile. The best thing is that it may assist real estate brokers in reaching out to more buyers and closing agreements.

VIRTUAL BUSINESS

Virtually arranging a home allows potential buyers to visualize their dream home by viewing it in its entirety. Virtual staging has another, lesser-known effect besides helping purchasers realize their dream home: it promotes V-commerce. What exactly is V-commerce? V-commerce (virtual commerce) refers to sales that are directly influenced by the virtual environment. Let's imagine you're taking a virtual tour of a home and you're considering making some alterations to the inside. Simply browse to the online store, choose the items you wish to edit, and then add them to your tour. You'll be able to alter everything in the simulated environment. If you want to purchase something from the virtual tour, you can do so by going to the virtual store. As a result, real estate brokers can work with home décor furniture vendors to form a fruitful alliance.

Woman with VR goggles


The real estate market has been altered so profoundly by virtual and augmented reality technology that virtual walkthroughs have become the industry standard for leading firms. Virtual reality saves time for both real estate brokers and homebuyers, which is one of the reasons technology has acquired such interest in real estate. Furthermore, a home's immersive, 3D virtual tour will be available to see around the clock, allowing purchasers to explore the property at any time of day or night.