Virtual Reality: The New Normal for Home Selling

Technology is destined to bring major changes to the business of selling real estate; Virtual Reality offers benefits for buyers, sellers and Realtors alike

Virtual Reality: The New Normal for Home Selling Close
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Virtual Reality: The New Normal for Home Selling

Posted by Gary Ashton on Monday, October 8th, 2018 at 9:10am.

High-Tech Home Tours Pack a Virtual PunchThe immersive experience of actually standing in a room and seeing all its features without taking a single step presents a unique opportunity for real estate professionals, buyers and sellers alike.

Sometimes touted as the new normal for real estate marketing, virtual tours take photography to new heights of reality. While visual tours and drone photography have become commonplace for online listings, the development of virtual reality tours offers a new dimension. It is destined to become the "new normal" of real estate marketing, saving time and energy, adding a new level of professionalism and increasing the expectation of financial gain.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

How Virtual Reality is Revolutionizing Real Estate

It's a reality that may revolutionize home selling. Benefits accrue equally to sellers and real estate professionals. While virtual reality is not a substitute for traditional sales techniques, it offers unique advantages and has become a valuable tool in real estate marketing, for both new construction and resales. Architects employ visual reality to view structures from the inside out, and to allow homeowners to see the finished product long before actual construction begins.

Home builders throughout the country use VR effectively to market subdivisions and pre-sell homes by eliminating the need to construct fully furnished models to attract buyers. Busy real estate agents can maximize limited time and minimize the need for on-site showings when dealing with out-of-town buyers; sellers see benefits as well, with fewer intrusions into normal routines when a home is on the market.

The future is bright, and developing technology promises even more options.

A Personalized Experience

A basic visual tour requires no special gear—only a compatible computer or mobile device, and 3D tours are now commonplace. However, the Cadillac VR encounter allows prospective buyers to experience a room by donning a VR headset, viewing its features as realistically as actually being there. The technology is mesmerizing and will only improve with next generation technology, according to 3D and VR developers.

By strategically placing cameras to capture the details of a home's interior from various angles and vantage points, the skilled photographer produces an interactive, viewer-controlled immersive picture of each property. Buyers appreciate the freedom to spend as much time as necessary exploring home features without actually making a personal site visit.

Among the advantages are:

  • Time savings
  • Mobility
  • Ease of use as a selling tool
  • Prestige
  • Client Engagement
  • Adaptability
  • Unlimited Potential

Innovation and Potential

Currently, it is primarily higher-priced properties that make use of visual and augmented reality technology. However, that is certain to change in coming years, according to RealtyShares Founder and CEO Nav Athwal, writing in Forbes. The ability to visualize potential changes—from a different wall color or furniture placement to a remodeled kitchen or a revamped landscape point up just a few of the exciting possibilities. Narwal notes that it is the ability to bridge the "imagination gap" that he finds so exciting.

An increasingly mobile society also is likely to increase the need for initial remote home shopping and the associated value of visual presentations. Because real estate is a dynamic industry, there are as-yet-unrecognized opportunities, Athwal insists, that will help real estate professionals better serve their clients and to sell any property for the best possible price as quickly as possible. New technology, led by virtual reality, is leading the way in Nashville TN.

Also, check out www.AshvtonVR.com for some examples of our 3D technology.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

 

Gary Ashton

The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage

The #1 RE/MAX team in the World!

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