Need to move apartments during the coronavirus pandemic? Virtual apartment tours are here for you.
Even though the experience of selecting a new place is totally different from the normal in-person visits, it's not nearly so scary as picking a place sight-unseen.
Although virtual tours have been available for some properties before now, Apartment Guide is launching a far more comprehensive tool to help potential residents get an authentic look at units for rent. Think of it as apartment-hunting meets social distancing.
The virtual tour experience will be blissfully easy, unlike just about everything else to do with coronavirus.
Start off by filtering your search to see all properties that currently offer stay at home tours. In the search bar at the top of your window, click on the More button (if you're using a phone, click on Filter). Then, select the option that says 3D Tours and Videos and click on the red button at the bottom to see all properties with this feature.
Once you find a property with virtual tours that you'd like to explore, you can either select to watch a video or take a 3D tour. The videos have been recently created by property managers just for you and are a recorded tour of an apartment or community features.
In 3D tours, the room is broken out into its own 360-degree view, through which you can literally see everything from the window placement to the ceiling fans. Move from room-to-room and turn in all directions to get a feel of what it's like to be there without stepping foot outside of your own home.
Most video tours also include in-depth looks at applicable amenities, such as fitness centers, swimming pools and laundry facilities.
In addition to watching videos of a property, you also have the ability to request a live video tour with a property manager. Through apps like FaceTime or Zoom, you'll be able to get a live video walkthrough of the unit and community. You'll be able to ask questions in real-time, just as if you were there in person.
To request your video tour, simply find the Request a Live Video Tour button on the property's Apartment Guide page and fill in the required contact information. Someone from the apartment will contact you shortly to schedule your live video tour.
If you're still concerned about trading the in-person tour for the virtual option, don't be! The National Apartment Association (NAA) reports that users love the immersive experience, and appreciate the time saved driving to and from multiple properties. In fact, apartments report a 300 percent increase in engagement when 3D tours are available.
Virtual tours haven't kept apartment-hunters away from properties managed by the firm Common, as the company saw a 66 percent increase during the first two weeks of coronavirus-inspired virtual tour emphasis, with nearly 30 percent of users applying for an apartment post-tour.
During this crazy time, it seems like the world has ground to a decisive halt. Fortunately, virtual tours are taking a lot of the fear and guesswork out of switching apartments, and renters couldn't be happier.
After all, a pandemic is scary enough without having to worry about what type of property you'll be walking into.
A freelance writer based out of the Atlanta area, Alia has penned articles during her decade+ career for such sites as HowStuffWorks, TLC, Animal Planet, Zillow and many more. Her favorite things to write about include fitness, nutrition, travel, healthcare and general lifestyle topics. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Alia’s an avid Dawg, but she also loves reading, sewing, eating all things chocolate and playing sports with her husband, three boys and beloved border collie, Flash.