Following Covid-19, the real-estate industry has seen significant changes in the way we assist potential tenants and buyers. This is largely due to the implementation of shelter-in-place recommendations in many states and at the federal level.

For showcasing available properties and screening potential tenants, private showings, open houses, and tours have been the norm. All these things have come to end. The use of advanced digital 3-D virtual walk-through tours and aerial drone footage, which were previously reserved for luxury properties, has become standard marketing practise.

Private showings and one-on-one meetings are possible but not recommended in some areas because real estate services have been designated as "essential services." As a result, virtual tours have become the most researched and implemented options. Aside from the benefits it provides to property managers and the industry as a whole, virtual tours are beneficial to tenants as well. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of this popular solution.

Pros of Virtual Tours

Tour the property from the comfort of your home

In the past — just a few months ago — if you were looking for a new rental, it could take several hours to tour around town. You'd have to deal with traffic, parking, foot traffic, and pushy salespeople. By the end of the day, your mind may be racing from trying to remember which house belongs to which.

When it comes to virtual home tours, everything is done on your terms. For one tour, you can visit an apartment as many times as you want and stay as long as you want. Virtual tours are convenient and comfortable.

Tour many apartments in a short period of time 

Time is a valuable commodity. It can take up to five hours to physically tour six to ten properties, and that's if they're all in the same neighborhood or part of town. It may only take a few minutes to tour them virtually! The best part is that you can return and check out specific apartments as many times as you want. If you're a first-time renter and a family member is assisting you with the rent, they can virtually walk through the apartment as well, from wherever they live.

Virtual tour is more reliable than pictures 

Pictures aren't always reliable, which is why many people tour the properties before deciding to move in. Virtual tours remove much of the uncertainty of a photograph and provide a true perspective of the property

Cons of Virtual Tours 

Not knowing anyone in the neighborhood :- A virtual tour will not help you if you are unfamiliar with the area. You won't be able to see the building next door or the surrounding area, so you'll have to do some extra research. Even then, you won't be able to talk to your neighbours and get a sense of the neighborhood dynamics.

Not interacting with the house physically

Although you can see the apartment and make accurate assessments of its condition, strengths, and weaknesses, it is not the same as physically being in the apartment and interacting with its components. Furthermore, virtual tours can make it difficult to determine how much natural light a home receives or how it smells when you enter it.

Failure to meet with your landlord

 You may not be able to meet the landlord in person and address all of your concerns before moving in if you take a virtual tour. If you're not renting in a state like California, where real estate is considered a necessity, a virtual meeting with the landlord is your best bet for crossing that bridge.

 Conclusion

Virtual tours are a fantastic way to save time, energy, and money. While it is still not the same as physically sitting in the apartment you want to live in, it is an innovative and very useful solution for convenient touring.