2020. How ironic that the so-called "Year Of Seeing Clearly" has brought so many unforeseen complications upon the entire world. We have seen the entirety of human experience fall victim to a totally unexpected enemy. Countries have closed their borders. Families have become distanced. Toilet roll stocks have been repeatedly wiped out.
The world of business has been hit hard. Companies of all shapes and sizes have encountered complications, and will continue to do so, with some unfortunately making it through the other side. If there was one single word that was of utmost importance to businesses in a time like this then that word would be… PIVOT!
Ross Geller's voice echoes in my head when I think about what is required of the business owners and entrepreneurs of today.
Which is why I'm delighted that you're taking the time to read over this article. If you are an estate agent, or even just someone looking to sell your own house, then the fact that you are here tells me that you know the importance of pivoting your approach in a situation like the one we find ourselves in.
Camel 360 are keen students of all things property, and we can very clearly see the need for a change in the way that properties are marketed.
Mark my words, 2020 is the year for virtual viewings.
SO WHAT EVEN IS A VIRTUAL TOUR?
Put simply, a virtual tour is a means of experiencing a space in an immersive way without having to leave the comfort (and safety) of your own living room. The same technology that allows you to jump on Google maps and click through the sunny streets of Barcelona can also allow you to wander around that house that's up for sale a few streets away, you know the one with the double driveway.
AREN'T VIRTUAL TOURS GIMMICKY AND DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE?
Once upon a time... yes, they were. And still can be, depending on the hardware/software combination used. At Camel 360 we use the industry standard software: Matterport
If you haven't heard of Matterport then I highly recommend you check out the link below for an example (make sure you check out the "measure" function, think how useful that would be for potential buyers!):
SO WHY DO I NEED A VIRTUAL TOUR?
Well, if your mind isn't already racing with the wealth of benefits this technology offers, then don't worry - there's still time for the penny to drop. I've compiled some of my favourite reasons below:
5 Reasons You Should Be Using VIRTUAL TOURS To Sell Property in 2020
FAR Better Than Photos or Video
Have you ever personally wished a photo of a property was taken from a slightly different angle? Perhaps you want to see what sort of space there is underneath the window ledge so you know whether your table will fit or not. The wide angle lenses used by property photographers to try to cram the whole room into one photo will often warp the shape of a room, and can often lead to false impressions of a space.
Video marketing for a property is great, and something we hold close to our heart here at Camel 360. But even videos aren't as useful when it comes to showing the buyer exactly what they want to see.
Better Quality of Real Viewings
Maybe you'll counter the above point by thinking "but that's what viewings are for" - and you'd be correct… in a way. I wonder how many viewings have been arranged off the back of misleading photos/videos of a property, only for the potential 'buyer' to arrive and immediately decide it's not for them (but still spending 10 minutes looking around pretending to be interested). Virtual Tours act like a filter, meaning that the people that eventually decide to book in a real viewing are serious about buying and ready to talk about figures.
Saving Time = Saving Money
Less time wasted on physical viewings means more time focussed on what keeps your business turning: selling properties! All good estate agents know that property is about people. Your customer relationships, with both buyers and sellers, is what keeps people coming to you rather than going to a faceless national agency. Focus your time on serving these relationships and your business will thank you for it.
The Infrastructure Is Ripe
Rightmove, amongst other portals, has been making moves towards supporting virtual tours on their site over the last couple of years. These slow steps were ramped up into a brisk speed-walk a couple of months ago. When you pair this knowledge with a quick bit of research into what American real estate agents are doing, it becomes quite obvious what the future of property marketing in the UK is going to look like.
Matterport (the software we use at Camel 360) has great cross-platform usability, working seamlessly on mobile, tablet and desktop. The tours can be shared directly from rightmove, broadcast over social media, or even embedded directly into your own website.
A Rarely-Discussed Virus
I don't know how many times I've woken up these last few months with the hope that COVID-19 has all been one strange figment of my imagination. I know it's cliché to say it, but the situation is entirely unprecedented. It's truly bonkers. At the time of writing, property sales in Scotland are still not active. If anything, I think this puts Scottish agents at an advantage. It gives time for us to see what happens with our neighbours down South, and allows us to plan accordingly. Estate agents in England have been advised to provide virtual viewings for their listings wherever possible. A lot of agents think these means pulling out their phone and recording a portrait-oriented wobbly video with their hand half-covering the microphone. For many agents, something as simple and cost effective as that might seem like the perfect solution. But if you're looking for something a bit more professional that will make your listing truly stand out, then be sure to get in touch with us here at Camel 360.