Augmented Reality “AR” is a burgeoning industry with frequent advancements and a promising future. AR technologies have impacted nearly every industry, and real estate is no exception. The technology has gone from a futuristic way to a realistic way of showing a building in detail on a client’s smartphone. Many agencies have already incorporated AR technology into their everyday practices, introducing interactive demonstrations on-site and on the phone.
Augmented reality has valuable marketing implications that are only just being tapped into. AR is also a unique way of encouraging clients to make a profitable decision.
How is AR affecting real estate?
Most real estate agencies struggle with the presentation of their catalog at some point, facing roadblocks including unemotive text descriptions, lackluster photos, and lack of devoted time to visit each site with clients. AR tools and mobile apps can overcome most, if not all of these obstacles with the single touch of a button.
Clients can use an agency’s built-in AR capabilities to view a site from all angles, gaining a better, in-depth understanding of a property without ever leaving their homes. Agencies can set up their augmented reality applications to allow clients to browse different categories, compare various sites, and make informed decisions.
Unlike virtual reality, AR superimposes images or text over our view of the world. It blurs the line between reality and technology thereby creating a seamless experience for the viewer.
In real estate, AR lets potential buyers tour a property via their smartphones regardless of their location. AR also lets realtors tweak the room’s designs and styles either choosing a traditional or modern finish.
The Problems With Realtors’ Current Tools
AR has many benefits for realtors and it’s important to see how current methods can be improved.
Visualization is key in real estate and has the power to make or break a sale. It’s the realtor’s goal to help buyers see if the listing aligns with their needs.
But the current tools realtors use have limitations, for example:
- Photo adverts don’t show the property’s full aesthetic
- 3D models are interactive but don’t offer a complete representation
- Visiting each site in-person is time-consuming
- Text descriptions say little about the listing
AR tools and apps address these pain points so the client gets an immersive experience of the property.
Benefits of Augmented Reality
Here are the top benefits of augmented reality in real estate.
Clearer Product Representation
Selling properties that haven’t been built can be tricky. Realtors have to find a way to show the buyer how it will look, and convince them it’s their dream property.
AR is a developer’s dream as it lets buyers picture the final result. When a customer can’t visualize the end product, it can take longer to close the deal and can prevent realtors from pre-selling new projects. But AR makes the product more tangible which is essential for pre-selling built and unbuilt properties.
AR also lets you adjust the property’s style, furniture, and surroundings to cater to the customer’s taste. With all this available information, realtors have a higher chance of closing a deal.
Better Engagement
Customers can use AR to visit properties from the comfort of their couch. This lets realtors tap into new audiences, particularly a more tech-inclined demographic. Research shows 80% of millennials have the desire to buy their own homes and AR is the perfect way to garner interest.
Without the costly process of home staging, customers can click pictures of their current furniture and place them in a listing. This removes any visualization barriers as they can see if the property’s layout works well for them.
Saves Time and Resources
Prospective buyers don’t need to view a property when AR lets them experience it. Instead of a calendar filled with Open House dates, buyers can narrow the pool into a smaller group of properties best suited for them. They can explore the AR catalog via an app and decide which reality homes reflect their property needs.
It saves the realtor’s time too. Instead of showing prospective buyers around properties, realtors can spend their time following-up other potential leads.
Stats say it’s common for tenants to commit to a lease for an apartment they’ve seen on an AR app that lets them take a tour, ask questions and record presentations. So why not use this to your advantage?
Reaches Customers Far and Wide
Augmented Reality is a powerful tool for buyers who live overseas and can’t visit the property. Luxury real estate virtual tours or AR create an immersive experience for buyers and gives them essential details. It’s also necessary for selling luxury properties as they have a smaller pool of buyers and many of those interested are overseas.
Direct ROI
Engagement becomes quantifiable as realtors can analyze data from augmented reality real estate. The information reveals the number of people interacting with the property, times and locations, and how long they viewed the listing.
Realtors can also tell which call-of-action is more effective. They can see whether customers have booked a viewing, made a purchase or shared the link.
This data can help realtors decide whether they need to adjust their virtual reality real estate and what makes particular listings so popular so they can optimize the next one.
Conclusion
In our digitally driven age, it’s no surprise that AR is changing the real estate landscape. AR is the best way to visualize a property, reach larger audiences and find out which aspects of AR appeal to buyers. Augmented reality real estate also increases foreign investments due to its availability. It’s a win-win.
References:
- How Augmented Reality Will Change the Real Estate Industry In the Future – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/augmented-reality-real-estate-navjeet-chhina/
- Benefits of Augmented Reality – https://www.designblendz.com/blog/how-is-augmented-reality-real-estate-changing-the-industry
