{"id":105268,"date":"2020-05-15T00:50:39","date_gmt":"2020-05-15T07:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=105268"},"modified":"2026-01-28T05:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:54:40","slug":"pros-cons-of-virtual-tours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/pros-cons-of-virtual-tours\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pros and Cons of Virtual Tours"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the wake of Covid-19<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the real estate industry has experienced significant changes in the way we help\u00a0<\/span>potential tenants and buyers.<\/span>\u00a0This is<\/span>\u00a0largely<\/span>\u00a0a result of the shelter-in-place suggestions enacted in many states and\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>federal level.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Private showings, open houses and\u00a0<\/span>tour<\/span>s have been the norm for showcasing available properties and\u00a0<\/span>screening possible tenant<\/span>s. All of this has come to an abrupt halt. The use of progressive digital 3-D virtual walk-through tours and aerial drone footage historically reserved for luxury properties have become common marketing practices.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

R<\/span>eal estate services<\/span><\/a>\u00a0have been deemed “an essential service” in some areas, so private showings and one-on-one\u00a0<\/span>meetings\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>re possible, but not advised. As such, virtual tours are now the most e<\/span>xplored and implemented options.\u00a0<\/span>Besides the advantages it has for property managers and the industry at large, virtual tours<\/a> are helpful for the tenants as well.\u00a0<\/span>Here are a few pros and cons of\u00a0<\/span>this popular solution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"apartment<\/p>\n

Pros of Virtual Tours<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tour properties anywhere from the comfort of your home<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the old days\u00a0<\/span>—\u00a0<\/span>just a couple of months ago\u00a0<\/span>—\u00a0<\/span>if you were in the market to\u00a0<\/span>look for a new rental<\/span><\/a>, it could take multiple hours to tour around town. You’d be navigating traffic, finding parking, dealing with foot traffic and\u00a0<\/span>clingy salespeople<\/span>. By the end of the day, your head might be spinning trying to remember which house is which.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Touring homes virtually,\u00a0<\/span>everything\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>done\u00a0<\/span>on your terms. You can visit a<\/span>n apartment\u00a0<\/span>as many times as you like<\/span>\u00a0and stay for as long as you want for one tour<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Y<\/span>ou don’t even need to get out of your pajamas!<\/span>\u00a0Virtual tours are comfortable and convenient.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tour many a<\/span><\/b>partments i<\/span><\/b>n<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>a<\/span><\/b>\u00a0short period of time<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>ime is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a valuable resource.\u00a0<\/span>It\u00a0<\/span>can take up to<\/span>\u00a0five hours to tour six to ten properties<\/span>\u00a0in person<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and that\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>if they’re in one neighborhood or in the same part of town. If you’re touring them virtually<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0it could take just minutes! And the best part<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0you can go back<\/span>\u00a0and check certain apartments<\/span>\u00a0as many times a<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>you like.\u00a0<\/span>If\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019re a first-time renter and\u00a0<\/span>a family member\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>helping<\/span>\u00a0you<\/span>\u00a0with the\u00a0<\/span>rent, they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can virtually walk through the\u00a0<\/span>apartment<\/span>\u00a0too<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0from anywhere\u00a0<\/span>they might live<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virtual tours are\u00a0more reliable than pictures<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pictures aren\u2019t always very reliant, and that\u2019s why a lot of people tour the properties before\u00a0<\/span>actually moving<\/span>\u00a0in.\u00a0<\/span>Virtual tours eliminate a lot of th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>uncertainty of a picture\u00a0<\/span>and give you a true perspective of\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he property.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cons of Virtual Tours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Not knowing the neighborhood<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re not familiar with an area<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>a virtual tour\u00a0<\/span>won\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>help. You won’t be able to see the\u00a0<\/span>building<\/span>\u00a0next door<\/span>\u00a0and the surrounding area,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>so extra research will be needed. Even then, you won\u2019t be able to talk to the neighbors and get an idea of the dynamics of the area.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not\u00a0<\/span><\/b>physically interacting with the home<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although you can see the apartment and make accurate evaluations about its condition, its\u00a0<\/span>strong<\/span>\u00a0and weak points, it\u2019s not the same as physically being in the apartment and interacting with its components. A<\/span>lso, v<\/span>irtual tours\u00a0<\/span>sometimes\u00a0<\/span>make it difficult to accurately determine how much natural light a home gets<\/span>\u00a0or how it smells when you enter the home.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not meeting your landlord<\/b><\/p>\n

With a virtual tour, y<\/span>ou\u00a0<\/span>might no<\/span>t have the opportunity to meet the\u00a0<\/span>landlord\u00a0<\/span>in person\u00a0<\/span>and address all the issues you\u2019re concerned with before moving in<\/span>. If you’re not\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>e<\/span>nting<\/span>\u00a0in a state like California where real estate ha<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0been considered an essential business,\u00a0<\/span>a virtual\u00a0<\/span>conference<\/span>\u00a0with the landlord<\/span>\u00a0is your best bet for crossing that bridge.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Virtual tours are an excellent tool for saving time, energy and money. While still very different from physically sitting in the apartment you’re considering\u00a0<\/span>to call<\/span> home, it’s an innovative and very useful solution for convenient touring<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of Covid-19,\u00a0the real estate industry has experienced significant changes in the way we help\u00a0potential tenants and buyers.\u00a0This is\u00a0largely\u00a0a result of the shelter-in-place suggestions enacted in many states and\u00a0at\u00a0federal level.\u00a0\u00a0 Private showings, open houses and\u00a0tours have been the norm for showcasing available properties and\u00a0screening possible tenants. All of this has come to an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":105354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3671],"tags":[38975],"class_list":["post-105268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renting","tag-rental-application","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Pros and Cons of Virtual Tours - RentCafe rental blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"So far reserved for luxury properties, virtual tours are now the go-to solution for everyone. 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