We all know virtual tours for real estate are here to stay. With that, the number of virtual tour apps on the market can make choosing the right one pretty overwhelming.

Ready for some good news? We can help you sort through the noise and find the one that will work best for you. When it comes to virtual tour apps for multifamily communities, here are some key themes and features to consider before committing.

Built for Multifamily Real Estate

When it comes to selecting the best virtual tour app for your multifamily community, one of the key things to keep in mind is how it needs to be built for multifamily real estate. Multifamily communities are unique. No matter the virtual tour creator or virtual tour app you select, it must be built for those specific needs, pain points, use cases, systems, and processes. Otherwise, it’s just not going to succeed the way you want and need it to.

Simple to Use

A virtual tour app also needs to be simple to learn and use. Most of us don’t automatically know how to create a virtual tour for real estate, much less how to make a virtual tour with an iPhone, Android or other mobile device. Not many onsite leasing and management teams have professional videographers in their midst or professional 3D and 360 tour creators. On top of all that, you and your leasing teams have a lot on your plates. Whatever virtual tour app you decide on must be simple to pick up, learn, and integrate.

Consider the Use

What are you looking to do with this virtual tour app? Yes, you’re looking to create virtual tours. But what type? Are you looking to create 3D or 360 virtual tours for real estate that can live on your community website? That’s a great top-of-funnel marketing tactic. Or are you looking for a DIY solution?

If you are looking to create your own videos, find a virtual tour app for Android or a virtual tour app for iPhones that allows you to quickly and easily record personalized videos. Once you create these pre-recorded videos that are, of course, on brand with your property’s vibe, the app should allow you to easily share and embed that content however you need.

Finally, if you are looking to host live virtual tours and live virtual open houses, look for a virtual tour app with that functionality. But, and this is a key consideration, the virtual tour app you decide to go with should not require your prospect to download an extra app or sign in. Not only should it be easy for you and your leasing team, it should be easy for the end user. The type of virtual tour app required for this use needs to be simple, device agnostic, and allow real-time human-to-human connection.

Key Functionalities

As we mentioned above, one of the key functionalities for any virtual tour app is not requiring additional things from your prospects. They shouldn’t have to sign up for something or download anything to experience the tours. They should be able to click a button and see what you want to show them.

It should also be cloud-based. If you go to the trouble of learning how to make a virtual tour for real estate via this app, make sure your prospect doesn’t have to download a huge file to see it. This is especially true if they, like many of us, are using their mobile devices. They may struggle to download or open the file on their phones and, in today’s world, that’s a lead killer. The end user should be able to click and engage with little to no fuss.

The virtual tour app you choose should also allow for tracking. It should offer analytics and reporting that sync up with your lead management system. That way, you can track the ROI and effectiveness of these tour options. No matter how expensive or inexpensive the real estate virtual tour pricing is, you should be able to prove it’s worth it.

Finally, your virtual tour app needs to be compliant. That means Fair Housing and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant. Unfortunately, there are plenty of real estate virtual tour services that aren’t. If you don’t check that box, you’re putting your property in a very risky spot.

There you have it! If you’re looking at how to make a virtual tour for real estate using a virtual tour app, make sure you pick the right one. Keep these themes, features and key considerations top of mind for any touring experience, and you’ll be in a great spot.

Get In Touch!

Close more leases, market more effectively, engage with residents and, as always, keep it real. Do you have a question or suggestion? Or want to learn more about what you read? Email us at contact@realync.com. We’d love to hear from you!