10 Ways Floor Plans and 3D Virtual Tours Help Sell Homes Faster
As a real estate agent, your primary goal is to sell properties quickly and at the best possible price. In today's competitive real estate market leveraging cutting-edge technology can give you a significant advantage. Floor plans and 3D virtual tours are powerful tools that can help you showcase properties in an immersive and engaging way, ultimately leading to faster sales and higher returns. 1. Increased visibility and exposure By incorporating floor plans and 3D virtual tours into your listings, you can dramatically increase the visibility and exposure of your properties. These interactive experiences allow potential buyers to explore homes from the comfort of their own devices, piquing their interest and driving more traffic to your listings. — 64 of home buyers want to see floor plans on a listing 2. Efficient pre-screening of buyers Floor plans and virtual tours enable buyers to pre-screen properties before scheduling in-person viewings. This efficiency saves time for both you and potential buyers, as only truly interested parties will request physical showings, reducing the likelihood of wasted efforts. 3. Engaging and immersive experience 3D virtual tours, such as those from iGUIDE, provide an immersive and engaging experience that goes beyond traditional photography or video. Buyers can navigate through properties as if they were physically present, allowing them to get a comprehensive understanding of the layout, flow, and atmosphere of each space. 4. Highlight key features and selling points With floor plans and virtual tours, you can strategically highlight the most appealing features and selling points of a property using tags. Whether it's a stunning open concept living area, a luxurious master suite, or a breathtaking outdoor space, you can guide buyers' attention to the aspects that will captivate them. 5. Eliminate geographic barriers Traditional real estate marketing is often limited by geographic boundaries. However, with floor plans and virtual tours, you can showcase properties to buyers worldwide, expanding your reach and increasing the pool of potential buyers exponentially. — 97% of all homebuyers used the internet in their home search 6. Enhance transparency and trust By providing comprehensive floor plans and virtual tours, you demonstrate transparency and build trust with potential buyers. They can fully appreciate the property's layout, condition, and features without the need for in-person viewings initially, fostering confidence in their decision-making process. 7. Facilitate effective communication Floor plans and virtual tours serve as powerful communication tools, enabling you to discuss properties with clients more effectively. You can easily reference specific areas or rooms, clarify dimensions, and address any concerns or questions buyers may have, leading to a smoother and more efficient sales process. — 1 in 10 buyers won’t even arrange a viewing without first seeing a floor plan 8. Competitive advantage in the market By leveraging cutting-edge technology, you gain a significant competitive advantage over other real estate professionals who rely solely on traditional marketing methods. Buyers are increasingly drawn to properties that offer immersive virtual experiences, giving you an edge in attracting and retaining their interest. — 3 out of 5 home buyers are willing to purchase after a virtual tour only 9. Reduced costs and increased efficiency Incorporating floor plans and virtual tours into your marketing strategy can ultimately lead to reduced costs and increased efficiency. By pre-screening buyers and minimizing unnecessary in-person viewings, you can save time and resources, allowing you to focus on qualified leads and closing deals more effectively. 10. Environmentally friendly marketing In today's eco-conscious world, floor plans and virtual tours offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional real estate marketing methods. By reducing the need for physical travel and printed materials, you can actively contribute to sustainable practices while still providing an exceptional marketing experience. In the competitive world of real estate, leveraging floor plans and 3D virtual tours can give you a significant advantage in attracting and retaining potential buyers. By offering immersive experiences, highlighting key features, and facilitating effective communication, you can streamline the sales process, increase efficiency, and ultimately sell properties faster and at better prices. Find an iGUIDE operator in your area to get started with iGUIDE today. To view the original article, visit the iGuide blog. Related reading Best Practices for Creating Floor Plans and 3D Virtual Tours Mastering Technology to Stay Ahead in Real Estate

The Best Time to Sell is Here, According to Realtor.com
Homeowners have more realistic market expectations this year with only 15% expecting to get more than their asking price, down from 31% in 2023. Nearly 8 in 10 recent sellers think listing sooner would have meant entering a hotter housing market. SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 15, 2024 -- The Best Time to Sell is here, and most prospective sellers have been sitting on the sidelines for a while. According to a new survey from Realtor.com® and Censuswide, homeowners planning to sell in 2024 have been thinking about selling their homes for an average of 2 years, with 85% considering a sale for between 1-3 years. At the same time, most recent sellers (79%), feel that if they'd listed sooner, they would have been able to take advantage of a hotter housing market. "Plenty of homeowners have been eagerly waiting for mortgage rates to come down so that they can sell their current home and more affordably upgrade to a new one," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "With mortgage rates expected to ease slowly throughout the year, some potential sellers are planning to get off the sidelines in 2024 and make a move, with the majority expecting to buy a new home at the same time that they sell their current one." Fewer seller-buyers feel locked in by rate Realtor.com's® housing forecast for 2024 estimates average mortgage rates of 6.8%, with rates edging down to reach 6.5% by the end of the year. While rates and the market will stabilize as we go through 2024, homeowners who are planning to sell are aware of ongoing affordability headwinds. 73% of homeowners who plan to sell their home this year plan to buy another at the same time, down from 85% last year. 79% of prospective sellers who plan to buy a new home say they feel locked into their current home due to a low interest rate, down from 82% in 2023. Of those who feel locked into their rate, 50% say they plan to wait until rates come down, while 29% say they need to sell soon for personal reasons. In 2023, 56% said they'd wait for rates to come down, while 25% said they needed to sell. 64% of potential sellers who also plan to buy expect the mortgage rate on their new home to be the same or higher than their existing rate. 81% of sellers who think their new rate will be higher say they're concerned that the higher rate will impact how much home they can afford. Would-be sellers have more realistic expectations for their home sale than last year While still optimistic about the market, potential sellers are approaching their sale this spring with noticeably more realistic expectations than sellers in previous years. With the market cooling in many areas, 12% expect a bidding war to take place, compared to 27% in 2023, and only 15% expect to get more than their asking price, down from 31% last year. A less frenzied market from years past means 15% expect to have an offer within a week, down from 37% in 2023, and 15% expect buyers to be willing to forgo contingencies like inspections and appraisals to make the deal, down from 35% in 2023. On average, homeowners planning to sell this year say they want to sell their home for around $462,000, with one-third saying they are hoping for between $400,000-500,000. Around 24% say they are hoping for $250,000-400,000, while 24% are looking for $500,000-$750,000. Finances top list of reasons to sell Many homeowners who are thinking of selling this year cite finances among the factors behind their decision, with 24% saying they want to make a profit and 21% saying they want to take advantage of recent price gains. Changing family needs are also driving the decision to sell. Reasons included the need to move for family (24%), the need for more space (23%), to downsize (23%) and because of life changes such as marriage, children or divorce (18%). Some sellers are looking to alternatives for their next home With timing challenges around selling and buying another home at the same time, especially in the current low inventory market, some sellers are getting creative with alternatives to buying their next home that could give them greater flexibility for buying again in the future. Of the 27% of homeowners who don't plan to buy another home when they sell theirs, 31% plan to rent, 33% say they already own another place to live, and 26% say they're planning to move in with family or friends. Homeowners thinking about entering the market this spring can visit realtor.com/sell for the information, tools and support they need to get started, including how to get proposals from multiple agents in their area, with RealChoice Selling, who can help them make the most from their sale. Survey methodology The research was conducted by Censuswide among 1,003 respondents in the U.S. who are planning to sell their home in the next year, and 1,000 respondents who sold their home in the last year. The fieldwork took place February 22 – March 4, 2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® is an open real estate marketplace built for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago. Today, through its website and mobile apps, Realtor.com® is a trusted guide for consumers, empowering more people to find their way home by breaking down barriers, helping them make the right connections, and creating confidence through expert insights and guidance. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted partner for business growth, offering consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.