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Guide to Introducing VR Property Viewings for Real Estate Companies | Required Equipment, Recommended Systems, and Vacancy Reduction Benefits

This article explains the equipment required to introduce VR property viewings for real estate companies and three recommended systems. It also introduces practical ways to use VR to reduce vacancy rates and improve operational efficiency.

Last updated: About 1 min read

VR (virtual reality) technology is significantly transforming property viewing operations in the real estate industry. It makes it possible to serve clients who are far away and to show occupied properties, contributing to both greater operational efficiency and lower vacancy rates.

Why is VR attracting attention in the real estate industry?

By using VR, clients can review property details without visiting the site in person. Information that is difficult to understand from photographs alone, such as outlet locations or the depth of storage space, can also be confirmed through VR.

Three advantages of VR property viewings

  • Even clients who live far away can view properties, expanding the potential market area
  • VR viewings can be offered even for occupied properties, helping shorten vacancy periods
  • The number of inquiry responses can be reduced, improving operational efficiency

What equipment is required to introduce VR?

  • 360-degree camera: Around 20,000 yen on average. Ricoh Theta is widely adopted in the industry
  • Monopod: Essential for preventing camera shake. Tripods are less suitable because their legs may appear in the image
  • Smartphone + VR goggles: Choosing a glasses-compatible type makes it easier to accommodate a wider range of clients

Digital Twin Real Estate (Zenkei Co., Ltd.)

AI provides support from setting shooting points to content creation. It also includes furniture layout simulation and measurement functions.

VRROOM (AR Co., Ltd.)

Its key feature is ease of use: if you shoot from the app, editing is almost complete as well. It has been adopted by many companies, including Sumitomo Forestry and Apamanshop.

VR Property Viewing (Nerve Co., Ltd.)

This system allows staff to serve clients while operating it remotely. It also offers "At-Home VR Property Viewing," in which a VR kit is sent to clients at home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How much does it cost to introduce VR property viewings?

A camera and monopod can be prepared for a total of around 30,000 yen. System usage fees generally range from several thousand yen to several tens of thousands of yen per month.

Q. Can VR property viewings improve closing rates?

Clients who visit the office after reviewing a property in VR beforehand tend to have a higher level of interest, so improved closing rates can be expected.

Q. If VR property viewings are available, are on-site viewings unnecessary?

VR is a complementary tool. Many clients still make their final decision after an on-site viewing, but VR makes a major contribution to improving the efficiency of narrowing options in advance.

Daisuke Inazawa, President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc.

Author

President & CEOINA&Associates Inc.

President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc. Leads real estate brokerage, rental leasing, and property management across Greater Tokyo and the Kansai region. Specialises in income-property investment strategy and advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Daisuke Inazawa is the President and CEO of INA&Associates Inc., a Japanese real estate firm headquartered in Osaka with a Tokyo branch. He leads the company's three core businesses — real estate sales brokerage, rental leasing, and property management — across the Greater Tokyo Area and the Kansai region.

His areas of expertise include investment strategy for income-generating real estate, profitability optimisation of rental operations, real estate advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and institutional investors, and cross-border real estate investment. He provides data-driven, long-horizon advisory to investors in Japan and overseas.

Under the management philosophy "a company's most important asset is its people," he positions INA&Associates as a "people-investment company" and is committed to sustainable corporate-value creation through talent development. He also writes and speaks publicly on leadership and organisational culture in times of change.

He has passed eleven Japanese professional qualification examinations: Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken), Certified Real Estate Consulting Master, Licensed Condominium Manager, Licensed Building Management Supervisor, Certified Rental Housing Management Professional, Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (administrative scrivener), Certified Personal Information Protection Officer, Class-A Fire Prevention Manager, Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist, Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer, and Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor.

  • Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken)
  • Certified Real Estate Consulting Master
  • Licensed Condominium Manager
  • Licensed Building Management Supervisor
  • Certified Rental Housing Management Professional
  • Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (Administrative Scrivener)
  • Certified Personal Information Protection Officer
  • Class-A Fire Prevention Manager
  • Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist
  • Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer
  • Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor