About the profitability of virtual tours in the real estate sector

To succeed in a constantly dynamic property sector, real estate professionals need to innovate to optimise their business and stand out from their competitors. One of these innovative tools is the virtual visit, which not only enhances the customer experience but also boosts the profitability of estate agents.
Let’s take a more detailed look at how this technological investment can turn into a real financial benefit for your business.

It’s a fact that setting up virtual tours requires an initial investment. This includes the purchase or rental of specialised equipment (360° cameras, processing software), staff training and, most often, the use of external service providers. However, it is important to consider this investment as a growth lever rather than a simple expense.
Virtual visit technology is evolving quickly, making solutions more affordable by the day.

Among the many options available, VR360 Studio offers a range of solutions from ready-to-use packages to bespoke solutions, giving each agency the opportunity to choose a package that suits their budget and specific needs.

One of the main benefits of virtual visits in terms of profitability is the significant optimisation of the agent’s time and resources.

• Reducing unproductive visits: By allowing potential customers to pre-visit properties online, a large proportion of unnecessary physical visits are eliminated. Only those prospects who are genuinely interested will visit, saving agents considerable time.
• Increased efficiency: Agents can manage multiple virtual visits simultaneously, boosting their productivity. The time saved can be reinvested in other high value-added activities, such as prospecting or negotiating.
• Travel time savings: Fewer physical visits means less travel costs, less wear and tear on vehicles and less time on the road. While these savings are difficult to quantify, they add up over time.

Virtual tours are not just a presentation tool, they are a powerful sales generator.

• Attracting a wider audience: Virtual visits enable you to reach potential buyers beyond traditional geographical boundaries. Foreign investors or distant buyers can now see your properties without having to travel.
• Better qualification of prospects: Customers who request a physical visit after they’ve already had a virtual tour are generally more serious and more advanced in their decision-making process. This increases the number of sales from visits.
• Shorter sales process: By providing comprehensive and immersive information at the very start of the process, virtual visits speed up buyers’ decision-making. A shorter sales cycle means that more transactions can be processed in a given period.

Virtual visits don’t just catch the eye, they also help to enhance the value of the property shown.

• Optimal promotion: A well-designed virtual visit highlights the property’s best features, in its best light and at any time of day. This can justify more generous pricing.
• Property distinction: In a competitive market, properties on offer with a virtual visit naturally stand out from the others. This difference may allow properties to be sold more quickly and potentially at a better price.
• Solution for difficult properties: For atypical or hard-to-reach properties, virtual visits offer an ideal solution for creating interest and attracting buyers who might not have considered a physical visit at first.

By using virtual visits, you can create a modern and innovative image for your agency, which wil have a positive impact on your brand image and your ability to attract and retain new clients.

• Winning new business: Sellers are more interested in placing their property with an agency that offers modern, effective marketing tools. Virtual visits can therefore become a key argument to get new mandates, and especially exclusive mandates.
• Increase client satisfaction: By offering potential buyers flexibility and convenience, you can significantly improve their experience. Satisfied clients are more likely to recommend your services or use your services again for future transactions.
• Premium positioning: Offering high quality virtual visits can justify higher fees and position your agency in a premium segment of the market.

The recent pandemic highlighted the importance of digitalisation in the real estate market. Agencies using virtual visits were able to maintain activity even during periods of lockdown, demonstrating the resilience of their business model.

• Business continuity: In time of crisis or travel restrictions, virtual visits enable business to stay up and running, ensuring a continuous flow of revenue.
• Adapt to new expectations: Consumer behaviours are evolving towards a greater need for digital solutions. Agencies offering virtual visits are better positioned to meet these new expectations.

Virtual visit platforms often offer analysis tools to track the behaviour of online visitors. This data is invaluable for fine-tuning your sales strategy.

• Customise your offering: By analysing virtual visitors’ areas of interest, you can better understand buyers’ expectations and tailor your offers accordingly.
• Optimise your advertising: Visitor statistics enable you to identify the properties that attract maximum attention and adjust your communications to maximise the impact of each ad.

Investing in virtual tours is much more than just a technological expense for real estate professionals. It is a real growth and profitability lever in the short, medium and long term. By optimising processes, increasing transaction volumes, enhancing the value of the property portfolio and reinforcing the brand image, virtual visits offer a significant return on investment.

In an environment that is constantly changing and accelerating digitalisation, the adoption of this technology is no longer a simple option for improving competitive performance, but has become an essential condition for remaining relevant and successful. Estate agents who know how to effectively integrate virtual visits effectively into their overall strategy will be well positioned to capture a greater share of the market and succeed in an increasingly competitive environment.

The initial investment may seem substantial, but the long-term benefits in terms of operational efficiency, commercial appeal and customer satisfaction make virtual visits an essential tool for any estate agency aiming for excellence and sustainable growth.

Remember, VR360 Studio is your best partner for creating breathtaking virtual tours!