Renters often search for apartments online, and the creation of new technologies is transforming the way renters look. First it was 360° images and now it has advanced to virtual tours. To meet this evolving search process and stay competitive, offer virtual tours that let renters experience the space without leaving their home.
There are several different kinds: video virtual tours, 3D virtual tours, and live virtual tours. Providing each kind lets renters experience your property in different modes, increasing the likelihood that they’ll rent from you.
Virtual tours are becoming essential to attracting renters and it is easy as you have a powerful, high-quality video camera right in the palm of your hand: your smartphone. Continue reading to discover how to create each kind of virtual tour using your phone.
How to Create a Video Virtual Tour
Creating a video virtual tour is a great way to make your listing stand out and it’s not difficult. Just follow these simple steps.
Set the Stage
You want to make your rental as appealing as possible. Before filming anything, consider cleaning and staging your rental. This could include:
- Picking up the yard
- Washing and clearing the porches
- Dusting and polishing the furniture
- Cleaning the windows
- Tidying up and putting things away
- Vacuuming
- Staging the rental
Start Filming
Now that your rental looks exactly the way you want it, it’s time to film. Here are some filming tips from John Williams, an architectural photographer with Apartments.com:
- Turn on the lights and consider the time of day and weather
- Shoot as though you are walking through the rental (keep the flow from room to room)
- Hold the phone horizontally when filming — not vertically
- Always pan left to right, then right to left
- In smaller rooms, shoot a little lower (waist height)
- In larger rooms, take shots from two different angles
- Make sure you aren’t showing up in any of the room’s mirrors as you film
- Keep videos one to two minutes in length
- Videos should be a supplement to your photos. To save time, consider taking your still photos at the same time you shoot your video.
Upload Your Video to Apartments.com
You can add video for a property with a premium listing. For new properties, simply select the “add videos” button when you’re going through the flow. If you are adding video to an existing property, access “properties & listings,” select “properties,” and hit “edit listing.” Here, you can upload the video.
How to Create a 3D Tour
A 3D tour is an interactive, virtual recreation of a property that allows potential renters to explore a property remotely. Using the Matterport app, creating a 3D tour is easier than ever! Matterport 3D tours creates a true 3D digital twin that is a spatially accurate model of the property.
Recording a 3D tour
All you need to make a 3D tour is the Matterport App on iOS or Android. Once you’ve downloaded the app check out our Help Center for complete overview on how to create and upload a Matterport 3D Tour. The process boils down to three main steps:
- Get the Matterport app
- Record your 3D tour
- Get your 3D tour ID and link it to Apartments.com
Tips on creating and recording a 3D tour using your phone
When creating a 3D tour on your phone, the key is keeping your phone stable vertically and horizontally. Rotate your camera as if your phone was on a tripod, but you are the tripod. Remember: you rotate yourself around the camera as it remains still. Don’t move the camera with your arms as though you’re taking panoramic image.
Follow these tips to create a high-quality 3D tour:
- Make sure you are shooting with good lighting. You’re going to get better results with more light as darkness can cause issues noise in the exposure or the camera shake being recorded.
- Think of yourself as a tripod, with your front foot as the anchor point. This foot should remain steady, using its big toe as a pivot point for movement.
- Keep your phone aligned with your anchor foot. If your foot pivots to the right, your phone should follow.
- Hold your arms close to your chest. Scanning can take time, so keeping your arms stable and comfortable ensures they won’t tire and helps maintain a steady camera position.
- Use both hands to hold your phone for greater stability.
- Follow the aiming target precisely. Don’t rush — ensure each scan is fully completed before moving to the next position. You’ll know the scan is finished when the image freezes momentarily.
- Be patient. Rushing can cause the targets to "skip" frames. Smooth, consistent scanning ensures each image transitions seamlessly into the next.
- Resist the urge to move your arms. While scanning, it might feel natural to shift your arms to cover higher or lower fields of view but try to avoid this. Instead, simply tilt your phone toward the targets without stretching or reaching.
How to Do a Live Virtual Tour
If you want to take things a step further, offer live virtual tours to potential renters. Also called virtual open houses, these tours allow renters to walk through an apartment without ever setting foot in it. You’ll use FaceTime or another video chat provider to take the person through the rental. Be prepared to answer questions and show potential renters details you didn’t include in your video, such as the pantry or the space under the sink.
Upgrade to Premium Today to Add Matterport 3D Tours
Matterport 3D Tours are only available to those with a Premium listing on Apartments.com. Upgrade today to take advantage of this fantastic way to showcase your rental property.
Going Premium only takes a couple of clicks:
- Go to your Apartments.com account
- Tap “properties & listings” and then select “properties”
- Choose the “go premium” button on the listing you want to upgrade
FAQ
Why should I offer 3D virtual tours?
3D virtual tours can make a huge difference when it comes to the success of your listing. You’ll widen your applicant pool, save time, reduce effort, and enhance transparency and trust. It is a tour that can live on your listing indefinitely, meaning you don’t have do as many in-person tours or open houses while still getting the same benefits.
Do I need any equipment to record a 3D virtual tour?
You don’t need anything to record a 3D house tour besides yourself and your phone. If you are struggling, then getting a tripod can help prevent tired arms and improve the quality by increasing stability.
What devices can I record a Matterport 3D Tour on?
Matterport 3D Tours support both iOS and Android devices. On the iOS side, this includes:
- iPhone 16 family
- iPhone 15 family
- iPhone 14 family
- And more
For Android, the devices supported include:
- Google Pixel 6 Series
- Google Pixel 7 Series
- Samsung Galaxy A23 Series (A23, A22)
- Samsung Galaxy A3x Series (A33, A32, A31)
- Samsung Galaxy A4x Series (A42, A41)
- Motorola Edge Series (30, 20)
- And more
This article was originally published on April 7, 2020.
