In today’s digital era, where online platforms have become the primary source for apartment hunting, property owners and managers must adapt their marketing strategies to maximize their internet listings.
By understanding what residents want and incorporating features such as videos, virtual tours, self-guided tours, and on-demand services, you can attract more potential residents and increase your chances of securing leases. In this post, we will explore these customer-centric approaches and provide data on how leasing agents utilizing videos in the tour process can expedite the leasing process.
1.Engaging Videos:
Videos have become a powerful tool for captivating potential residents’ attention and showcasing the unique features of your apartment property. Here’s why videos should be an integral part of your internet listings:
a. Visual Storytelling: Videos allow you to create a visual narrative that immerses viewers in the apartment’s ambiance, highlighting its best features, amenities, and lifestyle offerings.
b. Increased Engagement: According to industry research, listings with videos receive significantly more engagement than those without. Viewers are more likely to spend time exploring a property listing that includes a well-crafted video.
c. Virtual Tours: Take it a step further by offering virtual tours through videos. These immersive experiences enable potential residents to virtually walk through the property from the comfort of their homes, providing a realistic preview.
2.Virtual Tours:
Virtual tours have gained immense popularity in the real estate industry and have become a resident expectation when browsing apartment listings online. Here’s why virtual tours are essential for maximizing your internet listings:
a. Convenience and Access: Virtual tours provide potential residents with the flexibility to explore properties at their convenience, regardless of their location or time zone. It eliminates geographical barriers and allows anyone interested in your property to virtually visit it.
b. Informed Decision-making: Virtual tours give potential residents a comprehensive understanding of the apartment’s layout, room dimensions, and overall flow. This information enables them to make more informed decisions about whether the space meets their needs.
c. Time-saving: By offering virtual tours, you can minimize the number of physical showings that may not be the right fit for certain individuals. This saves both the resident’s and the leasing agent’s time, allowing for more focused and qualified leads.
3. Self-guided Tours:
In addition to virtual tours, offering self-guided tours is another way to maximize your internet listings and accommodate potential residents’ preferences:
a. Flexibility: Self-guided tours give prospects the freedom to explore the property at their own pace, without feeling rushed or pressured. It allows them to envision themselves living in the space and get a feel for the neighborhood.
b. Enhanced Privacy: Some individuals prefer privacy during their property visits. Self-guided tours provide a comfortable environment for potential residents to explore without the presence of a leasing agent.
c. Empowerment: Self-guided tours put the control in the hands of the prospect, empowering them to explore the features and amenities that matter most to them. This autonomy can enhance their overall experience and increase the likelihood of a positive decision.
4.On-demand Services:
To further cater to resident preferences, consider incorporating on-demand services into your internet listings. These services can include:
a. Instant Response: Ensure that your property listings are accompanied by clear contact information, so potential residents can easily reach out for additional information or schedule tours. Promptly respond to inquiries to demonstrate excellent customer service.
b. Virtual Assistance: Offer live chat support or AI-powered chatbots to address prospects’ questions and provide assistance promptly, even outside of regular business hours. This instant accessibility can greatly improve customer satisfaction.
5.Data on Leasing Agents Using Video Tours:
Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of leasing agents utilizing videos in the tour process to close leases.
Maximizing your apartment property listings by catering to customer preferences is essential in today’s competitive real estate market. By understanding what residents want and incorporating features such as videos, virtual tours, self-guided tours, and on-demand services, you can create a customer-centric experience that engages potential residents and increases your chances of securing leases.
Engaging videos and virtual tours allow you to showcase your property’s unique features and amenities, providing a visual narrative that captivates potential residents and helps them make informed decisions. Offering self-guided tours adds flexibility and empowerment to the apartment hunting process, allowing prospects to explore properties at their own pace. By incorporating on-demand services like instant response and virtual assistance, you ensure prompt and efficient communication, enhancing the overall customer experience.
Additionally, data on leasing agents using video tours has shown the effectiveness of this approach in expediting the leasing process. Products like Realync provide leasing agents with the tools to connect and engage with potential residents through video walkthroughs, improving engagement and often resulting in earlier applications while giving them data and insights that help them know if their video content is working. If you’re going to invest time and resources into video, you want to be sure what you’re doing can be measured and that you can determine the ROI.
When it comes to the point of sale, video is revolutionizing the way we engage and connect with potential customers. Kristi Fickert, an industry expert and Realync’s VP of Enterprise Growth, has shared some valuable insights from her team’s observations on the impact of video in sales.
Let’s take a closer look at the stats:
- You can typically take 3X as many tours in the same amount of time with video (average video tour is about 14 minutes whereas the average in-person tour is 45 minutes)
- Communities who were embracing video pre-covid have seen a 8,278% increase in virtual tours
- The average length of a video created for renters is 2:29 (this is analyzing more than 33,000 videos in our platform)
- Leads convert to a rental with virtual tours at nearly the same rate as in-person tours (see Wellington case study here) – we’ve seen zero drop off in conversion rates when using video instead of touring in-person
In conclusion, by embracing customer-centric approaches and utilizing the power of technology, you can set your apartment property listings apart from the competition. Remember to personalize your approach based on your buyer persona and emphasize the benefits of your offerings. By doing so, you will attract more qualified leads, increase resident satisfaction, and ultimately achieve greater success in the real estate market.
Remember, the key is to continuously adapt and stay attuned to the evolving needs and preferences of your target audience. By implementing these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing your apartment property listings and creating an exceptional resident experience.
-Stay Smart!
