Renters don’t just want to tour your community in person. Eighty-one percent of renters also want to explore virtually on their own, according to a recent survey from Apartments.com. Conducted in the second quarter, the survey featured responses from over 20,000 people planning to rent their next place.
3D touring has grown in popularity among renters and onsite staff. Here’s how the trend can support your marketing goals.
3D tours help renters get to know your community
Renters are looking to get as much information as possible from online listings. 3D tours give them an interactive way to explore your community from afar.
“I need to have a good idea of what it looks like prior to investing the time in physically going to view the unit,” said one survey respondent, a 43-year-old man living in Minneapolis.
Long before a renter even steps foot on the property, 3D tours can help them narrow down their search, answering questions like: What is the layout like? How many windows are there? Will my couch fit in the living room?
And for renters who can’t easily travel to your property for an onsite tour, this is especially important. This can include renters moving across state lines. 3D tours can also appeal to renters with mobility issues, busy schedules, or health concerns that limit their ability to come on site for an in-person tour.
The inside look provided by a 3D tour can give renters the confidence to rent an apartment sight unseen.
“As long as there’s sufficiently available information, I would feel comfortable enough picking a property using a website,” said a 22-year-old respondent in Aldie, Virginia.
He cited 3D tours, video tours, and detailed descriptions covering amenities and appliances as key factors that would encourage him to lease sight unseen.
A whopping 41 percent of renters say they’re likely to rent an apartment sight unseen, according to the Apartments.com survey.
How 3D tours work
A 3D tour is an interactive tool that is available through your listing. This means renters can view the property on their own time, before they even reach out to your leasing team.
Created using software like Matterport, this virtual experience simulates the experience of walking through the space. Renters can click or tap to move around and explore different rooms and angles.
See an example of a Matterport 3D tour:
Does your listing have 3D tours?
Adding Matterport 3D tours to your online media can help your listing stand out from the competition. Did you know that only 85 percent of eligible listings on Apartments.com actually feature at least one Matterport 3D tour?
Talk to your Apartments.com sales rep to make sure you’re taking advantage of 3D tours. All properties advertising at Gold and up are eligible to add 3D Matterport tours to their listing, but the number of virtual tours available to you can vary by your ad package level.
And new for 2025, Platinum and Diamond clients can opt for even more Matterport 3D tours.
With the new Matterport Max option from Apartments.com, you can maximize the 3D tours on your listing. This new ad package, available for properties on the Diamond ad package and above, lets you expand your library of Matterport 3D tours to include all units and community spaces.
Maintaining a complete “digital twin” of your property can help streamline your marketing and operations. Recorded tours give you accurate floor plans and measurements for planning, maintenance, and tracking property condition.
Learn how Matterport 3D tours have helped apartment communities across the country:
When you showcase virtual technology, you demonstrate to future residents that your community is forward-thinking and technologically savvy. 3D tours can also help you attract younger renters, such as Gen Z and millennial digital natives.
3D tours make it easier for your onsite team
The idea of a 3D tour might sound intimidating, but the payoff can be huge for your property team.
Work more effectively. 3D tours can limit the number of in-person tours your leasing agents need to conduct for uninformed renters. This can free up your team’s time to focus on converting high-quality leads.
Get leads that convert. Renters who view 3D tours have more information to help them decide whether they want to move in. As a result, the renters who end up contacting your leasing team are more likely to sign a lease. 3D tours increase your conversion rate by 14 percent, according to Apartments.com data.
Spend less time answering renters’ questions. Renters can “look around” your property and available units online before they reach out to your leasing team. This can help address frequent questions about your apartments’ layout, finishes, and amenities.
Explore more resources about virtual touring
3D tours aren’t the only kind of virtual tour that renters want. You can also offer real-time guided tours with a leasing agent through a videoconferencing tool like Zoom or Teams. Understand the difference between these two virtual touring options.
Touring is one part of making your digital curb appeal more attractive. Learn what else you can do to appeal to renters searching online.
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