Landlords Guide: How to Conduct Virtual Showings

There are two types of virtual tours to consider- live virtual tours and prerecorded tours- both having the same ultimate goal and content. A live virtual tour is a walk-through of a property that can be done via a video messaging service between two or more people. During a live virtual tour, the person providing the tour will essentially be doing a walk-through or “open house” with the interested parties. Live virtual tours are a great alternative to in-person showings, and allow you to personalize the showings for each person and answer specific questions as you move through the property. You will be able to highlight specific aspects of the home that the prospects are most interested in, and address any concerns on the spot. Live virtual tours are also an asset when it comes to working with out-of-state renters who may not be available to see the property in-person prior to submitting an application. 

In addition to live tours, prerecorded video tours- or walk-throughs- are another great tool to use when marketing your rental property. Generally speaking, having a prerecorded video tour as a part of your advertising is always a good idea. The benefit to prerecorded tours is that you can do it one time when the property is vacant, and use the same video over and over again as long as there are no major changes to the home/unit. Having a video tour that prospects can view upfront prior to scheduling an in-person showing, can help you “weed” out individuals that may not end up being interested in the property. For example, maybe the layout of the home is a bit unusual, or the master bedroom is on a different level than the other bedrooms. A young couple may determine that the layout would not work for their family, and decide not to schedule a tour. Although the ultimate goal is to attract a quality tenant, it also helps you save time by avoiding unnecessary showings. 

When conducting a prerecorded video walk-through, you will want to begin the video by stating the address of the property. It is best not to mention the date, or any time-specific comments such as “the walls are all freshly painted.” Because this is a prerecorded video and you may use it more than once, you don’t want to make any statements like this that will set the expectation that the walls/floor/appliances will be brand new each time. Best practice is to hold your cell phone sideways, so that you are getting a fuller, wider shot as you walk through the property. It is also suggested to open all blinds on a nice day, and to turn on all the lights so that your video does not appear dark and grainy. Typically, you will start at the front entryway, working your way through each room of the house and finishing outside. You will want to highlight any attractive features of the home in order to paint it in as positive a light as possible, while also giving prospects a realistic view of the property. A live tour will work in very much the same way, just giving you more of an opportunity to personalize the experience for each prospect. 

When done correctly, virtual tours are an excellent supplement to your marketing efforts, and can assist you in greatly expanding your reach to prospects- all while saving you time and streamlining the leasing process. If you still have questions regarding virtual showings or are considering other leasing options, feel free to reach out to us at any time!