Are Virtual or Traditional Property Tours Best? | Kenna Real Estate -

If you're in the process of selling your house or are planning to at some point in the future, you've probably thought about how you'll have your property shown to prospective buyers.

This would have been a very straightforward decision in previous years—traditional, in-person open house tours are familiar to most prospective buyers. But they are also no longer the only option.

In addition to traditional in-house viewings, we also offer virtual tours. We launched these in 2020 when the pandemic stopped in-person tours, and we needed an alternative that felt just like the real thing.

Virtual tours are simulated digital tours of existing places, offering viewers everywhere the opportunity to view houses from an immersive 360-degree perspective.

Both traditional and virtual tours have pros and cons. So, if you're preparing to sell your property, which tour style is best for you?

Here, we'll examine each option's strengths and drawbacks and offer guidance on choosing the one that best showcases your property.

Traditional vs. virtual tours: the pros and cons of each

Let's look at the main pros and cons of each tour style so that you can make the best decision for your property.

Traditional tours: pros and cons

On paper, a traditional, in-person property tour is hard to beat.

They're familiar to buyers, offer a reliably trustworthy, hands-on experience, and allow people to explore a property from every angle they choose. This can also help encourage an emotional connection.

However, traditional tours have certain drawbacks. In-person property viewings can be time-consuming, and limited availability can make it difficult for many buyers to attend an open house. They also require you and your family or whoever lives in the house to leave for extended periods.

Potential buyers can sometimes feel pressured during traditional viewings, making it harder for them to have an objective tour experience.

Virtual tours: pros and cons

One of the main pros of virtual property viewings is how accessible and convenient they are for prospective buyers. They are an excellent option for out-of-towners, potential property investors, and people who may live in a different country and want to move abroad.

The addition of interactive floor plans and virtual staging allows potential buyers to "view" properties in multiple ways. Virtual property viewings also offer a pressure-free, non-time-sensitive exploration of a property that can happen at the viewer's convenience.

The cons of virtual tours stem from the fact that they lack that tactile, sensory feel people like to get from a property before purchasing it.

Plus, while virtual viewings have been integrated into real estate agency offerings for a while, they can still feel like a novelty experience to viewers, resulting in less severe buyers with no follow-through.

How To Determine Which Tour Style Is Right For Your Property

When deciding how to showcase your property, consider a couple of pointers. Budget, audience, and property style are just some factors that influence whether you want your real estate agent to offer a virtual or traditional tour.

Looking to sell your home quickly and efficiently?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.

Consider your target buyer.

The first factor you should consider is the kind of buyer you aim to attract. Your target buyer will depend on your home's location, style and size, appraisal value, and several other factors.

International buyers will automatically prefer virtual viewings because they allow them to get a feel for a property without physically traveling there. Local buyers will almost certainly prefer in-person viewings, as will an older demographic of prospective clients.

Look at the timeline.

The more time you have to sell your property, the easier it can be to decide. A virtual tour is an excellent option to attract a wider pool of potential buyers on short notice.

If you have time to find the perfect buyer, a traditional tour might be the best option. Real estate agent-hosted viewings can be held at leisure, the space can be maintained beautifully, and you can work with your agency to find a buyer who truly connects with the space.

Ask your real estate agency what they recommend.

Ask your real estate agent if you need help determining which option is best. They will know what type of buyers will look at your property and their preferences.

To help you decide, your real estate agent may ask you to look through some of their virtual tours and photographers' portfolios that showcase other properties. This will illustrate how they can market your property effectively.

Alternatively, you can leave the decision-making up to your real estate professional, who will ultimately handle your open house or create a virtual tour.

Use a mix of traditional and virtual tours.

Why not do both if you need help deciding between virtual and traditional tours?

Setting up a traditional tour will cover your local market, and having a virtual tour available will keep global buyers' interest piqued.

Virtual and traditional tours are structurally different and offer unique pros and cons.

They are both effective strategies for advertising and showing your home and when your real estate agency offers both, why not take the plunge?

Tours That Find The Right Buyers

The way you showcase your property can be a determining factor in whether it finds the right buyer. Traditional and virtual tours have advantages and drawbacks, each worth considering before you open your doors.

Traditional tours have the familiarity, immersiveness, and connection that buyers love. However, they can limit what kind of audience you target and how much time you have to host viewings.

On the other hand, virtual tours can be accessed by a much wider community of prospective buyers, allowing for more flexibility and convenience for viewers. However, they need more personalization and emotional component of real-life tours.

The best approach to choosing a tour route is to consider your property's timeline, budget, and target market. Going through a real estate agency can further streamline the process and ensure your home is marketed and sold with your needs in mind.