Virtual reality real estate: Can it help your business?

More buyers are making an offer on a house without seeing it in person first.

And some will find themselves disappointed, that even professional photos and videos just didn’t give them the right view of the place.

Well, Realtor® Lauren Taylor has found a solution. She has embraced virtual reality real estate, and has seen her business boom.

“Working with clients, sometimes I would hear that the house is not the house they saw online. It’s not always depicted properly. So, let’s strip away this filter, let’s go through and give them raw footage of what this home is really like. It helps clients save time with house hunting,” she said.

Taylor and team film footage of the homes via their phones, and provide clients with goggles so they can tour homes from wherever they are. And Taylor said it has been effective with both remote and local clients. “Clients are really appreciative of it,” she said. “Buyers see the benefit of full dimension. Typically, the average house hunter sees about 13 properties. Our average clients see the same amount, with only two in person. It takes up way less of the consumers’ time.”

“I believe that we, as Realtors®, are very critical to this hunt. Virtual reality house hunting gives us back the power. The average consumer doesn’t understand what a buyer’s agent does, they think they can go directly to the seller’s agent. We need to educate them what our value is.”

She also pointed out that most customers are at work Monday through Friday, and then can do virtual tours whenever they please. Additionally, once a virtual tour of a home is done, it can be used for multiple clients to view.

“Before, I was limited on how many doors I could open,” she said. “This is helping agents enhance relationships with clients, and it’s really changing their entire business business model. It’s convenient to both agents and clients.”

While you may assume it’s millennials that are all about virtual realty real estate, Taylor said that isn’t necessarily so. “We have not seen one demographic been more drawn to it than others. All have understood the time value change. Some clients don’t feel comfortable to purchase a home they haven’t seen, and that’s fine. This helps buyers better assert what they want and what they want to see in person. Our communities are asking for it. We as Realtors® need to react and respond.”

Taylor insists the process is “easy,” and changes the industry’s dynamic, and agents’ values.

“It’s changed my business and changed my life. I am excited to spread the word to agents across the country,” she added.