4 tips for eye-catching virtual tours

There are many ways you can give buyers a virtual look at a home.

• Use a camera or your phone to film a walk-through of the home. You can add the video link to your listing or share with clients through a file sharing service.
• Film a 3D tour using a special camera or software such as the Matterport app.
• Livestream a one-on-one showing for an interested buyer. The advantage? You can answer questions, linger at the spots that interest them, and even zoom in on details.
• Set up a virtual open house on FaceTime or Zoom. This is another way to encourage the same kind of interaction you usually get in person.

With video, as with still photos, proper lighting and quality equipment are crucial to getting a great result. So choose a bright day, add light if needed, and take the time to review and adjust your final images. If you’re including sound, consider recording your voiceover separately to avoid background interruptions. And if possible, include a transcript or captions for people with hearing issues or who browse online with the sound turned off.

Even without narration, your tour should invite buyers in and help them imagine themselves in the space. Showcase the features they'll enjoy every day, whether it's the gourmet kitchen, the luxurious bath or the view from a big picture window. You can even use virtual staging software to edit still images, "paint" rooms in neutral colors or declutter to create more of a blank canvas your clients can fill.

Great photos are still important — buyers will go back to them to check out details. Buyers also love to see a floor plan that includes the dimensions and location of each room. By providing all this key information, you can help buyers stop searching and start planning an offer.