Virtual reality is a hot topic right now, with companies like Facebook and Google investing millions in the technology.

But virtual reality is nothing new. In fact, you've probably already experienced it — if only indirectly.

Virtual reality has been around for decades, used primarily in the video game industry to provide an immersive experience. It's only recently that we've started to see this technology being used outside of gaming to create marketing tools such as virtual tours.

So what is a virtual tour? A virtual tour is a 360-degree panoramic photograph (or set of photographs) taken from different angles that can be viewed on a computer or mobile device from any angle or direction. You can think of it as an interactive photo gallery where you can move around and explore every nook and cranny of the space without actually being there.

According to the National Association of Realtors 2021 Profile of Home Staging, buyers’ agents stated that photos (83%), virtual tours (73%), and videos (74%) of the listing have become much more important since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These are significant numbers, and they get even more surprising when you factor into the data compiled by Redfin that shows that a record number of homebuyers made an offer on a home sight unseen in 2020, a whopping 63%.

This trend is likely to stay as Redfin reports that 3D walkthrough tours went from “a futuristic fantasy to an everyday part of the home-buying experience.”

The data shows that 360-degree virtual tours are a truly great way to advertise your property. They give a prospective buyer the chance to explore your home without having to make an appointment or even leave their couch.

The question that remains is how do you create the most immersive virtual tours on the market? These tours will not only need to fully satisfy the homebuyers’ curiosity and answer all of the questions they might have about the property, but they will also need to make your listings stand out in a competitive market?

Recently, we’ve come across the iGuide 3D Tours, and we’ve wanted to see how much value they can bring to the real estate market. 

To start with, iGuide 3D Tours is a virtual tour software that allows you to create professional-quality 360° panoramic virtual tours (VR and/or traditional). You can also create interactive 3D floor plans with iGuide 3D Tours.

iGuide 3D Tour technology has been designed by experts in the field of real estate photography and virtual tours, who have been working in this industry for over 10 years. They have developed this product based on their knowledge of what works and what doesn't when it comes to creating quality real estate virtual tours.

With iGuide 3D Tours you can display your images as interactive 3D panoramas or high-quality 2D panoramas. The software also allows you to add hotspots to each image so users can navigate through each scene with ease.

If your goal is to create a truly gripping and engaging experience for your viewers, the iGuide 360° Planix camera can help you create virtual tours with stunning visual depth and clarity that far surpasses traditional home tours. 

If you want to see for yourself the quality of their virtual tours, take a look at their gallery and explore the properties listed there interactively. 

The best part is that you can use virtual staging to flesh out the vacant properties in these virtual tours, so that the finished product looks quite seamless. That way you can define the scale and dimensions of the property more easily, and help the potential home-buyers visualize their future homes in a more comprehensive way. 

According to NAR, 41% of the buyers are more likely to walk the home if they saw it online. That’s why a strong online presence is essential for generating more interest for the listed property. 

We’ve already seen that many homebuyers will put in an offer for a home they’ve never seen in person. The main reason for this is the increase in remote work, with many people choosing to relocate now more than ever. 

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions a person makes in their lifetime, and prospective homebuyers want to make sure that they are making an informed decision.

If they are looking for homes out-of-state and simply can’t make time to go touring homes in person, then there is no better way of getting a sense of what the property looks like than with interactive 3D Virtual Walkthroughs.

After going through this article, if you’re interested in working with iGuide skilled service providers, who can help you achieve a fully immersive virtual tour experience, you can click here to find out if there are any available in your area.

Moreover, if you have an iGuide tour that you would like to virtually stage, our 360-degree Virtual Staging service can help.

‍Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about staging your iGuide tour with us and we can help you get started immediately and complete your tour in 24 to 48 hours.