The Role of 3D Virtual Tours in Post-Pandemic Real Estate Sales

The real estate industry has been dramatically changed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The old school open houses and face-to-face viewings that used to be the bread and butter of property sales were in danger of being ruined. Both more secure and efficient means of connecting were in demand by buyers and sellers. Active 3D virtual tours- this technology has not only helped close the distance created by lockdowns but has also become an irreplaceable part of the marketing of real estate in modern times. With the post-pandemic world, virtual tours, especially 3D tours, are transforming the way properties are represented and sold, as well as experienced with unmatched convenience and immersion.

OrangeIT Software Solutions is an architectural visualization firm that focuses on visualization of architectural works in 3D walkthroughs to enable real estate developers, designers and interior designers to actualize their designs. Having mastered the production of high-quality 3D virtual tours, we have enabled our thousands of clients to flourish in this market that is developing. We will discuss the central place of 3D virtual tours in the post-pandemic real-estate sale in this blog, touching upon the advantages of the virtual tour, its implementation, and possibilities.

A Practical Pre-Pandemic Real Estate Environment.

The pre-pandemic real estate sales were based on face-to-face communication. Potential buyers would make several appointments to view houses, and usually travel by road a long distance to visit houses. Agents organized open houses in which people were able to gather in masses, feel surfaces and imagine themselves in the environment. This model was effective but it was limited by time, geographically and relied on timetables that could not coincide without flaws.

To the sellers, the process of staging a house and arranging home viewings may be stressful and expensive. These traditional ways were prone to inefficiencies in competitive markets such as Lucknow or any other big city in India where real estate thrived. Distance could make buyers miss opportunities and international investors were even met with a bigger obstacle. The industry was primed to be innovated upon, though, it needed a global crisis to speed up change.

How the Pandemic Accelerated Digital Adoption in Real Estate

The real estate industry came to a standstill when lockdowns started in early 2020. Face-to-face operations were not possible and sales declined. The reports in the industry show that property transactions across the world reduced by a maximum of 30 percent during the first few months. But necessity brought about quick digital adoption. Video conferencing, web-based directories, and virtual staging were the new status quo, yet no one transformed the process as much as 3D virtual tours did.

Those immersive experiences enable users to walk through a property in an interactive 360-degree view, frequently with augmented reality (AR) elements. As opposed to the inert images or a two-dimensional video, 3D virtual tours allow attracting a sense of size, design, and atmosphere, which makes it possible to make decisions remotely. These tools allowed sustaining the momentum in such cities as Lucknow, Mumbai, and Delhi in India, where the rates of urban migration and investment in real estate soared after the pandemic.

This habit remained after the pandemic. A 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found out that more than 70 percent of buyers wanted to have properties with virtual tours, despite regained restrictions. This is not merely a change of emphasis with regards to safety, but efficiency in the rushed world.

Examples of the major advantages of the 3D Virtual Tours to Buyers and Sellers.

The strength of 3D virtual tours is its multi-beneficial features, as it fulfills the pain points of every real estate sales stakeholder.

Increased Safety and Comfort.

In the post-pandemic culture, health worries are still present, particularly in high-risk groups of people. 3D virtual tours also do not require them to visit the location physically, which will reduce contact with a crowd or exposure to other risks associated with movement. Buyers have the opportunity to shop at the comfort of their homes at any time, midnight or even during a lunch break. This is the flexibility that will change the game of busy professionals or families.

To foreign purchasers of Indian real estate, such tours are a way of closing geographical distances. Suppose an NRI in the US tours an apartment in Lucknow online, and zooms in to see details such as kitchen finishing or the view of the balcony. 

Greater Accessibility and More participation.

Conventional listings including photos are not always interesting. 3D virtual tours are, however, able to significantly increase engagement measures. A Zillow study revealed that homes that have a virtual tour get 87% more views than those that do not include the virtual tour. They retain visitors longer on the listings and the odds of inquiries and offers are greater.

Sellers have the advantage of wider marketing. These tours can be embedded on social media platforms, real estate portals or email campaigns, and they can reach audiences all around the world. This advantage can represent rapid sales and greater prices in competitive markets. According to real estate agents, virtual tours enable narrowing down of buyers who are going through a house casually and those who are serious.

Saving on cost and time.

Staging and numerous performances cost sellers- consider cleaning services, utility, and agent fees. 3D virtual tours are a one-time investment, which pays off. Made with high-end programs such as those we use in our studio in Lucknow, these tours can be prepared in a short time and revised whenever necessary.

To developers particularly in the commercial real estate, virtual tours display off-plan properties. Customers are able to see the unfinished houses, and they can interactively view floor plans and personalizations. This increases pre-sale speed of operations and minimizes holding costs and cash flow.

In-Depth Inside and more accurate decision-making.

The difference between the 3D virtual tours is that they are interactive. Through AR, users are able to move around the rooms, gauge spaces, and even switch furniture configurations. Such detail enables fewer surprises when carrying out a physical visit and it results in confidence in purchasing.

In residential sales, families can interact on layouts in real time creating emotional attachment. They are used by commercial clients, such as hotel developers, to sell to investors, with such features as lobby designs or conference rooms. This has been achieved by our team at Orange IT which has executed more than 500 projects across the globe, with 3D interior visualizations to bring these experiences to life and to be convincing.

The 3D Virtual Tours Technology.

Production of an impressive 3D virtual tour is a complex set of tools and knowledge. It begins with 3D scanning or modeling where lasers or photogrammetry are used to take the dimensions of a property. These are then assembled by software such as Matterport or Autodesk into an interactive model.

We do not stop at the fundamentals at our architectural rendering studio. We have a 3D walkthrough company in Lucknow which has high-end rendering of photorealistic exterior and interior and animation. In the case of augmented reality integrations, we overlay digital objects over physical perceptions through mobile applications. It is a technology compatible stack that works on both desktop computers and VR devices.

Connection to MLS (Multiple Listing Services) and CRM systems simplifies the workflow of the agent. User behavior is monitored and the duration they spend in each room is recorded to make follow-ups.

Case Studies: Post-Pandemic Real Estate Success.

The importance of 3D virtual tours is highlighted by real-life examples. In India, a developer in Mumbai employed virtual walkthroughs in the 2021 Delta wave selling 80% of units before construction. Shoppers nationwide have been able to tour virtually and the sales cycle was accelerated by 40 percent.

Globally, Redfin showed a 21% growth in 3D tour listing offers after 2020. Our own company is part of the emerging real estate business in Lucknow that has seen local companies assist architects in selling luxury villas with fully integrated 3D designs of apartments. In one instance, a client increased inquiries threefold with the addition of tours to their webpage and transformed browsers to purchasers.

These tales underscore the democratization of access through virtual tours particularly in tier-2 cities where the digital tools equalize the playing field with metros.

Possible Problems and Remedies in adopting 3D Virtual Tours.

Adoption is not smooth even despite the benefits. Small agencies may not be attracted to high initial cost, but cheaper alternatives such as scans on smartphones are beginning to emerge. Standards are not universal- bad interpretation will scare off the client, and it is important to consider the use of professional services.

Future Trends The Development of 3D Virtual Tours.

In the future, virtual tours in 3D will be combined with AI and metaverses. Personalization AI could propose customizations of the user preferences. Virtual property expos may be hosted in metaverse spaces, with avatars going through a series of listings.

Sustainability will be a factor and the tours will lower the carbon footprints of travel. In India, smart city programs will be essential to support urban planning and sales with the visualization of 3D programs.

By the year 2030, it is estimated that virtual tours are going to be the norm, and VR implementation will make them even more real.

Summary: The Real Estate Virtual Future.

The virtual tours of 3D provided have become an essential part of the real estate sales after the pandemic. They are secure, efficient, and interactive in a way that traditional means can never achieve and it is pushing transactions and happy customers. Since the industry is dynamic, to keep up with pace, one should embrace such technologies.

In case you are a real estate developer, architect or agent in Lucknow or elsewhere, you may want to partner with a reputable 3D walkthrough firm like OrangeIT Software Solutions. We can uplift your projects through our services of architectural visualization, 3D rendering and virtual tours. Get in touch with us by calling +91 7618033205 or go to our web site to know more. We will make your visions come true into virtual realities that sell.