Virtual Tours vs. Open Houses: Attract Real Estate Buyers in 2025

Virtual Tours Versus Open Houses: What’s the Best Way to Attract Real Estate Buyers in 2025?

TL;DR: Open houses are making a comeback, with 65% of sellers hosting them in 2024. But virtual tours versus open houses reveals that virtual tours still win for visibility and convenience, especially for attracting remote buyers.

You're juggling showings, paperwork, and marketing, all while trying to stay ahead in a market that never sleeps. Here's the deal: are you limiting your reach by sticking only to traditional open houses? Or are you missing out by not embracing the power of virtual tours?

Let's break down the age-old debate of virtual tours versus open houses, and figure out how you can combine them to attract more buyers and sell homes faster.

The Market Shift: Why Both Open Houses and Virtual Tours Matter

Open houses aren't dead. In fact, they're seeing a resurgence. According to the Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report (Zillow, 2024), 65% of sellers in 2024 hosted between 1-3 open houses, up from 49% in 2018 and 44% in 2021.

But here's the thing: buyers' expectations have changed. According to the Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report (Zillow, 2025), 20% of prospective buyers ranked 3D/Virtual tours as the most important listing feature.

So, what does this mean for you? It means you need a blended approach.

Why Traditional Open Houses Fall Short in Today's Market

While open houses offer a personal touch, they have limitations:

• Limited Reach: Open houses are geographically restricted. You're only reaching buyers who are physically in the area.
• Time Commitment: Hosting an open house takes hours of preparation and staffing.
• Inconvenience for Buyers: Not every buyer can make it to your scheduled open house.

Think about it: a potential buyer relocating from another state isn't going to fly in for an open house. A first-time homebuyer juggling work and family commitments might not have the time to attend weekend showings. That's where virtual tours come in.

The New Playbook: Combining Virtual Tours and Open Houses for Real Estate Buyer Attraction

Here’s how to create a winning strategy:

1. Start with a Stunning Virtual Tour:

   • Invest in a professional-quality virtual tour. Don't settle for grainy, amateur footage.
   • Highlight key features and amenities.
   • Make it easy for buyers to navigate and explore the property.
   • Virtual tours provide an immersive, convenient, and highly effective way to showcase properties (Forbes, 2024).

2. Promote Your Virtual Tour Everywhere:

   • Embed it on your website, MLS listing, and social media channels.
   • Run targeted ads to reach potential buyers outside your local area.
   • Use eye-catching visuals and compelling copy to encourage clicks.

3. Use Virtual Tours to Qualify Leads:

   • Encourage buyers to take the virtual tour before scheduling an in-person showing.
   • This helps you focus your time on serious, qualified buyers.
   • According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR, 2024), buyers are leveraging virtual tours and listings in their search process.

4. Make Your Open Houses a "Grand Finale":

   • Use the open house to showcase the property to buyers who have already seen the virtual tour.
   • Offer personalized tours and answer specific questions.
   • Create a memorable experience that seals the deal.

5. Follow Up Strategically:

   • After both the virtual tour and the open house, follow up with attendees promptly.
   • Provide additional information, answer questions, and address any concerns.
   • Personalize your communication based on their level of interest.

Implementation Timeline: A Phased Approach

• Week 1: Invest in creating high-quality virtual tours for your listings.
• Week 2: Begin promoting virtual tours on your website and social media.
• Week 3: Incorporate virtual tour viewing as a pre-qualification step.
• Week 4: Host open houses for qualified buyers who have viewed the virtual tour.

Measuring Success: What Metrics Actually Matter

• Website Traffic: Track the number of visitors to your virtual tour.
• Lead Generation: Monitor the number of inquiries generated from virtual tours.
• Showing Requests: Measure the increase in showing requests after implementing virtual tours.
• Time to Sell: Analyze whether using virtual tours helps you sell homes faster.
• Offer Rate: Track the offer rate on homes marketed with virtual tours versus those without.

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Don’t Have Time to Create Virtual Tours?

Creating a professional-quality virtual tour can be time-consuming. If you'd rather focus on client interactions and closing deals, consider outsourcing video production to a professional video service like BudemAI.

BudemAI's team creates professional property tours from your photos. You simply send the photos, and they deliver a finished video in 48 hours. This allows you to focus on what you do best – selling homes. See sample property videos.

Are Open Houses Still Effective in 2024?

Yes, open houses remain a valuable tool, especially when combined with virtual tours. They provide a personal touch and allow potential buyers to experience the property firsthand. However, relying solely on open houses limits your reach and can be inconvenient for buyers.

Cost Effectiveness: Virtual Tours vs. Open Houses

Here's a breakdown of the costs associated with each approach:

Reach: Virtual Tours vs. Open Houses

Virtual tours offer a significantly wider reach compared to traditional open houses. They are accessible to potential buyers anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Open houses are limited to local buyers who can attend during the scheduled time.

Time Commitment: Virtual Tours vs. Open Houses

Hosting an open house involves a significant time commitment, from preparing the property to staffing the event. Virtual tours, on the other hand, require minimal time investment. With professional video services from BudemAI, you simply upload photos, and they handle the entire video production process.

Do Virtual Tours Help Sell Houses?

Absolutely! Virtual tours enhance real estate buyer attraction by providing an immersive and convenient way for potential buyers to explore properties remotely. They can lead to more qualified leads, increased showing requests, and faster sales.

How Do Virtual Tours Attract Buyers?

Virtual tours attract buyers by:

• Providing a 24/7 open house experience: Buyers can explore the property at their convenience, anytime, anywhere.
• Qualifying leads: Virtual tours allow buyers to narrow down their options before scheduling in-person showings.
• Showcasing the property's best features: Virtual tours can highlight key amenities and create an emotional connection with potential buyers.

Your Next Step

Immediate action: This afternoon, film a 30-second walk-through of your current listing using just your phone. Post it to your Instagram Stories with the caption 'New listing sneak peek!'

Get 50+ ready-to-use video hooks: Download our free PDF with proven hooks for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube, and property tours.

Want ready-made video scripts? Download our 50+ Video Hooks PDF

Don't want to handle video production yourself?

BudemAI's team creates professional property tours from your photos. Delivered in 48 hours—you just upload and post.

Learn about professional video production or [Book 15-min consultation - €0]

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does a virtual tour cost?

A: The cost of a virtual tour varies depending on the provider and the features included. With BudemAI, you can get a professional-quality virtual tour for €215 single video, €120/video in 5-video bundles, starting at €89/video billed yearly.

Q: How long does it take to create a virtual tour?

A: With BudemAI, the process is quick and easy. Simply upload your property photos, and their team will create a finished video in 48 hours.

Q: Are virtual tours a replacement for in-person showings?

A: No, virtual tours are not a replacement for in-person showings. They are a valuable tool for attracting and qualifying leads, but ultimately, most buyers will want to see the property in person before making an offer.