Video Tour

Video Tour - A video tour is a virtual tour of a property using video technology - either as a pre-recorded tour (360° tour, drone footage) or as a live tour via video conferencing (Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp Video). Video tours complement traditional in-person viewings and allow prospective buyers to make an initial assessment of the property without having to travel. They are particularly relevant for out-of-town buyers, investors, and during times when in-person viewings are limited.

Formats and Technologies

There are various formats that differ in terms of effort, cost, and user experience:

360° Tour - an interactive tour of the property where the user can move freely within the space. Created using specialized cameras such as Matterport (industry standard, approx. 300-500 euros) or more cost-effective alternatives like Ricoh Theta. The advantage: Prospective buyers can navigate at their own pace, zoom in on details, and explore the room proportions on their own. Matterport tours can also be linked to floor plans and room data.

Drone Footage - Aerial shots of the building and its surroundings, ideal for plots of land, houses with gardens, and locations with exceptional scenic value. Drone footage requires a permit in certain flight altitudes and areas (airspace category according to the EU Drone Regulation).

Professional property video - a guided tour with commentary, music, and cuts that showcases the property in an emotionally engaging way. Cost: approx. 500-2,000 euros depending on production complexity. For high-end properties well over 500,000 euros, a professional video is standard.

Live Video Tour - the real estate agent guides the prospective buyer through the property in real time via smartphone. The prospective buyer can ask questions, request specific details to be shown, and point out details that interest them. This option is cost-effective but requires a stable internet connection and scheduling coordination.

Studies show that properties with video tours receive 40 to 60 percent more inquiries than properties with photo galleries alone.

Pros and Cons

Advantages of video tours: Time savings for sellers and prospective buyers, nationwide reach (buyers from other cities or abroad), pre-screening of prospective buyers (only serious buyers come for an in-person viewing), higher-quality inquiries, and a more modern presentation of the property.

Disadvantages and limitations: Impressions of smell, sound, and spatial feel are completely missing. Technical defects such as moisture damage, cracks, or disruptive emissions cannot be detected in videos, or only with great difficulty. Wide-angle cameras (typical for 360° tours) systematically distort room sizes and make rooms appear larger than they are. Not all target groups are tech-savvy-older prospective buyers and owner-occupiers often prefer personal contact.

The video tour does not replace the on-site viewing, but rather complements it as a pre-selection tool. It reduces the number of physical viewings and thus improves the quality of the remaining appointments.

Video Tours for Investors

This format is particularly valuable for investors: Those who buy a condominium to rent out and will not live in the property themselves place less value on the personal feel of the space than on facts-location, condition, floor plan, rental income. A compelling 360° tour combined with an up-to-date floor plan and a property description including a rental yield calculation may be sufficient for this type of buyer to make a purchase decision before traveling for the final on-site inspection.

In Nuremberg, many investors from Munich, Frankfurt, and abroad are buying-for this target group, the video tour is not a bonus but a prerequisite for serious purchase intentions.

Practical Tip for Property Owners in Nuremberg

We recommend that sellers in the Nuremberg metropolitan area have at least one 360° tour created for their marketing-the cost is approximately 200 to 500 euros, and the impact on marketing time and the volume of inquiries is significant. Especially for investment properties, a compelling virtual tour is often decisive in determining whether a prospective buyer from outside the region will even take action.

For high-end properties in Erlenstegen, Tiergarten, or Johannis, we recommend a professional property video featuring drone footage-the location value of these neighborhoods can be communicated particularly effectively through aerial shots. We offer our clients 360° tours and professional property videos as an integrated part of our marketing services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a property based solely on a video?

Legally, yes-there is no requirement for an on-site inspection. However, we strongly advise against purchasing a property exclusively based on a video. Videos can distort room sizes, hide defects, and gloss over the surroundings. At least one on-site inspection before the notary appointment is essential-ideally with an expert or building inspector. For investors who will not be using the property themselves, an initial video tour followed by an on-site inspection by a representative (e.g., a local real estate agent or appraiser) is a common and reasonable compromise.

How much does a professional video tour cost?

Costs vary depending on the format: 360° tour (Matterport Standard) approx. 200-500 euros for an apartment, 500-1,000 euros for a multi-story house. Professional property video (camera crew, editing, music) approx. 800-2,000 euros. Drone footage approx. 300-600 euros (permit fees and flight time included). Live video tours incur no additional costs-just a smartphone and a stable internet connection. In our marketing services, we cover the costs for 360° tours as part of our standard service.

How does a video tour affect the time it takes to sell a property?

Portal analyses and studies show that properties with a 360° tour or video are sold on average 20 to 30 percent faster than properties with photo galleries alone. The inquiry rate increases by 40 to 60 percent, while the quality of inquiries improves: Prospective buyers who have already viewed a virtual tour arrive at the on-site viewing with more concrete purchasing interest and significantly fewer general questions-which makes viewing appointments more efficient and increases the closing rate.

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