Are Virtual Viewings the Future of Lettings? 

Technology is integrated into almost every aspect of our lives, so why should property be any different?

With in-person viewings unable to take place during the pandemic, virtual viewings became commonplace when it came to searching and securing a new home.

Post-pandemic, the convenience and simplicity of virtual viewings continues to prove popular amongst individuals and so many letting agents have begun to invest in specialist technology to improve this virtual experience.

Discover the benefits of virtual viewings and our predictions for the future of lettings in our latest blog post.

What is a Virtual Viewing?

A virtual viewing is a 3D tour of a property which allows prospective tenants to get an accurate sense of the size and layout of individual rooms; aspects which cannot always be gauged through traditional 2D photography.

The depth and distance of each room is captured by specialist 3D software which enables viewers to virtually ‘walk through’ the property, exploring the various spaces of the home with a 360 view, as if they were there in person.

As well as the traditional floorplan, a virtual viewing also includes a dollhouse view of the property and allows prospective tenants to utilise a native measuring tool to determine distances within individual rooms. 

The Benefits of Virtual Viewings

There are many benefits to viewing a property virtually. Not only does it reduce the overall time spent on viewings but can help prospective tenants get an initial feel for the property before committing to the application process. Other benefits of virtual viewings include:

Remote Viewing

Virtual viewings make the process more accessible to prospective tenants, especially for those who are relocating and are looking to secure a property first. Viewing the property virtually reduces the need for travel, making it a more convenient approach overall. 

24/7 Viewing 

Unlike in-person viewings which are often limited to 15 minutes per tenant, a virtual viewing can be viewed for an unlimited period of time and is accessible at any time of day or night, even from a mobile device. 

Accessibility 

For individuals with disabilities or those who must limit social contact with other people, virtual viewings allow them the same opportunities as everyone else, making it a more inclusive approach. 

Capacity 

Traditionally, there are only a limited number of viewings permitted per day and so by introducing virtual viewings, the number of tenants who can view the property is increased alongside the potential for finding the best tenants. 

Efficiency

2D images alone aren’t enough for individuals to gain an accurate feel for the home and so tenants will need to view the property before deciding whether it is right for them.

The issue with this is that in instances when tenants decide the property isn’t a good fit for them, time and money has already been wasted on both the part of the tenants and landlord.

Virtual viewings allow tenants to quickly dismiss a potential property should they feel it isn’t right for them, without investing time and money into in-person viewings. This means that only interested parties move forward and the process is completed quickly and efficiently.

Informative  

With virtual viewings, prospective tenants can utilise an in-built measuring tool which allows them to gauge the size of rooms and determine whether their furniture will fit.

Take a look at one of our own virtual viewings from Abode and experience for yourself the convenience of online viewing. 

Are Virtual Viewings the Future?

The popularity of virtual viewings poses the question as to whether they will become the standard for all lettings in the future.

Here’s what our Managing Director Steve had to say on the subject:

“Whilst virtual viewings are a fantastic development in the lettings industry and are definitely here to stay, it’s unlikely all viewings will ever become 100% virtual.  

Visiting a property in person allows prospective tenants to envision making a home for themselves and this extends beyond the walls of the property.

Whilst new technologies like virtual viewings create a more inclusive approach to viewings and offer benefits to landlords and tenants alike, they do not (yet) allow people to explore other aspects of the property such as the neighbourhood and surrounding areas.

At Abode, we're continuing to remain at the forefront of new technologies to ensure that we can offer both virtual and in-person viewings to prospective tenants."

Virtual Viewings with Abode

At Abode, we have a number of virtual viewings available on our website and use advanced technology to develop a convenient and smooth virtual viewing experience for landlords and tenants alike.

Any landlord using our property management service can choose to have a 3D tour of their property using the latest technology and benefit from the many advantages of virtual viewings.

To find out more about virtual viewings, or to arrange one for your property, get in touch with a member of our team on 0117 973 8866 or fill out our pixlr