Virtual Property/City Tours

Some statistics support that property virtual tours greatly aid in the sale of homes, especially higher end homes. There are a great addition to an agents web site. They boost a site's credibility and many users return when they believe they can find the tours.

Virtual tours are often constructed by taking a series of pictures of a room. Each picture's edge shares the edge of the next picture virtually creating a panoramic view of the subject. Special software called "stitching software" combines these still frame photos into fluid flash or java files. They are then inserted into some navigation engine and the user can view a 360 degree version of the photos. The idea is to help the user feel as though they are somewhat present in the room or area.

Though I have not seen many, I also believe that city tours would draw return users. Agents could make use of the same technology and pan across cityscapes or other local landscapes.

To find a virtual tour company open your email inbox. You will likely have dozens of people soliciting your business. Ask an agent in the office and they can point you in the right direction. Agents can run a simple Google search for hundreds of companies. They will help an agent link to the virual tour they create.

Virtual tours typically cost anywhere from $50-150 depending on the company and complexity of the tour. Some companies will give one or two for free and some give a discount for more than one tour purchase at a time. Be sure to ask about discounts. Also ask for examples. Just like web sites, not all tours are created the same. You may consider paying a bit more for a reputable company.