With the pandemic hitting the real estate sector hard, property agents have been struggling to get in sales. Especially with the fluctuating restrictions that have been tightened and eased erratically over the last year, real estate agents in Singapore have noticed that potential buyers are staying away from flat viewings. Even though there are still interested buyers looking for their future home or an investment property, an integral part of purchasing a home is viewing it. In these bizarre times, every industry has had to evolve and adapt in some way and the real estate sector is no different. Instead of holding in-person showroom viewing that may have restrictions, agents can take advantage of digital technology and opt for a virtual open house instead. Having a virtual tour in Singapore can put your agency on the map and stand out from your competitors who are struggling to keep afloat in these difficult times.
As its name suggests, a virtual open house is a showroom tour that is held online. A virtual tour is able to capture the space from a panoramic view and anyone will be able to navigate around the room with just a click. A real estate agent in Singapore will be able to share this tour with their prospective buyers through a screen sharing device. Like any other showroom tour, these property agents will give a walk through of the space with the 360 tour as the main visual piece. Virtual tours are able to add in extra features such as embedded videos to make the presentation experience more engaging.
There are many reasons to switch to a virtual tour in Singapore. The most obvious and pressing reason would be the global pandemic. Every business is trying to stay afloat and have found themselves making the move online to garner digital reach. With the fluctuating restrictions, a virtual open house will ensure a constant and stable stream of clients, without having to cancel tours at the last minute. It also saves a lot of money and time especially when appointments do not need to be scheduled repeatedly but can be done in just one online session. Setting up a virtual tour is a one-time purchase that will continue to benefit you in the long run, making it a cost-effective strategy.
Having a virtual tour in Singapore is a great lead strategy that allows clients to take a look at the property before committing further. Having this convenient option available won’t deter customers especially if your physical showroom is out of the way for them. Therefore, virtual open houses are able to host larger groups of buyers without having to worry about restrictions. As with any digital content, a virtual tour can always be shared with clients who missed the event or were not able to attend it. Property agents who are able to give their clients alternatives are highly praised and sought after, thus elevating your personal brand and business.
1. Shoot property and create 360 tour
The first step is to get in touch with a virtual tour agency. These professionals will be able to create a 360 tour of the property on sale. The 360 tour photographers will spend a couple of hours at the property shooting the needed angles before stitching and editing them together during the post-production process. If added features are required such as audio voice overs, navigation menus or extra embedded videos, the agency will be able to design the entire virtual tour experience within a few weeks.
2. Choose a platform to host your virtual tour on
As a property agent, you will have to present your space through a video teleconference platform that allows screen sharing. Software like Zoom and Google Meets are most popular for presenting tours to clients. When your screen is shared with the virtual tour in the foreground, the real estate agent will then be able to navigate through the rooms on their screen while giving a live presentation breakdown of the property.
3. Practice, practice, practice!
Just like an in-person showroom, property agents will also have to practice and prepare for a virtual open house. In this case, agents will have to be familiar with the technicalities of the teleconference software and be comfortable with toggling between the virtual tour while engaging with the clients online. It is also important to check your microphone, speakers and lighting before the actual day.
4. D-Day
On the day of the open house, make sure to log in early and engage with clients who have questions before the tour. This helps with agent reputation and customer service as it presents you as an approachable and friendly agent. In terms of structure, it’s always best to begin the virtual tour at the front door of the property, just like you would in a physical showroom. You can explain the different features in each room using the embedded elements and even take a break from speaking by playing a short video! The beauty of virtual tours is that they are also able to tour the surrounding properties, whether built or still in their development stage. Always end off the tour with a question and answer session as buyers will always have enquiries on the property.
5. Share on social media
Even though the virtual tour is live, it can always be recorded and shared with buyers who were not able to attend. Property agents can also embed the recorded tour on their website or social media channels to garner more interested prospects.
Despite the pandemic affecting the real estate industry, some agents have found loopholes such as setting up a virtual tour for their clients without allowing the changing restrictions to affect their business. For enquiries on virtual tours and their features, get in touch with us or browse through our portfolio to view our past projects.
