Selling in the pre-construction phase has historically been quite difficult. Would-be buyers are wary of purchasing something that isn't tangible. You can show buyers photos and mocks of the building. You can show prospects the land and neighbourhood, but without being able to get a feel for the property itself, the sales pitch winds up being an uphill battle. Selling during the pre-construction phase is crucial to builders, however. It provides the company with the money and confidence necessary to complete the project successfully.
VR technology is the answer to this problem. By digitally modelling the property as an accurate 3D representation, prospective homeowners can take a virtual tour of the home without the company needing to construct it first. They can also see traditional renderings to visualize how the property will look once built. There are three critical ways in which real estate VR will sell pre-construction properties.
Self-Guided Tour
At Nanuk Technologies, we create 3D representations of properties during the pre-construction phase. These representations can be viewed using two primary methods. Would-be homeowners can check out the home online using a web-based viewer. This feature enables a self-guided tour, which allows people to get a feel for the new home without having to leave the comfort of their existing space. It's a great tool for websites to generate leads. We currently have examples of these tours on our website.
The second method for viewing these representations is VR. By putting on a VR headset, prospective homeowners can virtually walk through the home without pressure from an agent. Like a video game, a buyer can use a controller to move. They can also move their heads to look at the property in any direction. Both the headset and controller let them explore the property in a rich, 3D, immersive experience that is sure to captivate.
Buyers Get A Sense of Space
It is tough to convey space in traditional 2D renderings, which is unfortunate as both the size and layout of rooms is critical for buyers. Without getting a feel for how big the living spaces are or where their current furniture would fit, it's tough for buyers to commit. A 3D model with a VR headset conveys that sense of space. The buyer can see how big a room will be, where the windows are, where the light will come from, etc. They can imagine their favourite couch and how it will look. VR gives buyers the ability to tour the property as if it already exists.
The Uncertainty Fades With VR
Seeing the entire building and being able to walk through it, even if it is just virtually, brings the complete picture to life. The pre-construction phase no longer feels uncertain, but rather like a building that exists in real-life.
You have likely already experienced this. Think about how you feel seeing a photo online of a new city. Then consider how you feel when you view Google Street View either online or in a VR device. When you see the town on Street View, it feels more real. You can picture yourself walking on the street in that city, just like a prospective buyer will be able to imagine themselves standing in their new home.
VR Is A Game-Changing Technology
Real estate VR is opening a world of sales techniques that are beneficial in the pre-construction phase of new homes. Buyers can now conduct self-guided tours and soak in all the details of the new property. They can get a sense of space with a VR headset. That VR model also helps diminish some of the uncertainty. Buyers can trust that the home they buy will look like what they experienced in VR.
Realtor.com found that listings with a virtual tour received 87% more views than listings without one. Additionally, virtual tours were found to be "very useful" by 50% of people searching for homes [1]. Imagine getting nearly double the page views and having a feature that 50% find useful. From a marketing perspective, this is simply a no-brainer. If you're trying to sell a home, including a virtual tour is simply the way to go.
Nanuk is proud to be at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology. We are pleased to craft real estate VR solutions for top-tier companies that make it easier to sell pre-construction properties.
If you want a custom VR solution for your development, please give us a call or email us. We'd be delighted to see what we can create for you.