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Is Virtual Reality the next big wave in Real Estate?


Blog by Diane Cardoso | February 3rd, 2017


Have you been considering buying Google's Virtual Realty Goggles?  Every couple of years there is a new "hot button topic" passing through the real estate industry, and this year it appears to be virtual realty.  However, I think there is a lot more to a real estate transaction than VR goggles can replace.  It sounds sexy, but is it?

1. Open houses

Virtual reality headsets, about the size of a scuba mask, can provide 360-degree virtual reality property tours of homes. The headsets completely fill the user's field of vision with a view of the home, allowing them to look up, down and from side to side. They're even developing smells. One day Realtors might be able to add the smell of virtually baking cookies to their virtual open house.

2. Long-distance shopping

Virtual reality home tours give out-of-town buyers (and local buyers, too) another tool to help narrow down their choices of homes they'd like to physically visit in a limited amount of time.

3. Staging

More affordable than hiring a pro to stage your home, several virtual options allow you to add furniture and decorations to vacant rooms using computer technology. It can help buyers envision a property with different furniture and paint.