Increase Buyer Interest in New Builds with AppFolio Virtual Tours

Cloudpano
July 11, 2025
5 min read
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🏘️ Increase Buyer Interest in New Builds with AppFolio Virtual Tours

The way people shop for homes has changed forever. Today’s buyers expect instant access, immersive experiences, and real-time information—especially when it comes to new construction homes. 🏗️

If you're a home builder or developer, using AppFolio Virtual Tours is one of the most effective ways to capture buyer interest, boost engagement, and close deals faster. In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to do that using 360° virtual tours inside AppFolio.

Let’s unlock the modern way to sell homes. 👇

💡 Why Buyers Love Virtual Tours

Today’s home shoppers are tech-savvy. They want to tour homes from their phones, see multiple layouts without visiting in person, and feel confident before scheduling a showing.

Here’s what virtual tours offer:

  • 🔄 360° control over the home experience
  • 📱 Mobile and tablet friendly walkthroughs
  • Instant access, 24/7
  • 🧭 Remote viewing for out-of-state or international buyers
  • 🧠 Fewer surprises and more confidence in buying decisions

According to Zillow, 81% of buyers say they want more listings with virtual tours—especially for new builds.

🔗 Related post: Virtual Tours for New Construction Homes: AppFolio Listing Strategy

🏗️ Why It Works So Well for New Builds

Unlike existing homes, new builds are often unfinished, unfurnished, or pre-sold. This makes it harder for buyers to visualize the space.

That’s where virtual tours shine. With AppFolio integration, you can:

  • 🛋️ Showcase staged model homes in rich detail
  • 🔨 Display homes under construction at multiple phases
  • 📐 Highlight different floorplans using overlays and interactive features
  • 🎯 Personalize the experience with pop-up highlights, CTAs, or feature tags

Virtual tours bridge the imagination gap, allowing buyers to fall in love with the vision—before the drywall goes up.

🔗 Dive deeper: Seamless Virtual Tour Integration with AppFolio: A Complete Guide

🧰 How to Add Virtual Tours in AppFolio (Step-by-Step)

You don’t need to be a tech expert to make this work.

Here’s how to embed your tour into AppFolio:

  1. 🛠️ Create a 360° tour using a platform like CloudPano, Matterport, or Kuula
  2. 🔗 Grab the tour link or embed code
  3. 💻 Log in to AppFolio and navigate to your listing
  4. ✍️ Paste the link or embed in the Marketing Description or Media section
  5. ✅ Save and publish

Now your listing features a clickable, interactive experience—ready to attract serious buyers.

🔗 Related: Real Estate Tech for Builders: AppFolio and Virtual Tour Integration

📈 The Results You Can Expect

Adding virtual tours isn’t just about making your listings look modern. They drive real, measurable results:

Builders using AppFolio Virtual Tours report:

  • 🔥 Up to 3x more listing views
  • 🕒 Longer time spent on-page
  • 📞 Higher conversion from viewing to inquiry
  • 📆 Faster movement from pre-sale to closing

In a competitive new home market, small improvements like this can lead to massive gains.

🔗 Explore: The Anatomy of a High-Converting Real Estate Video (with AI)

🧠 Smart Tips to Drive Even More Buyer Interest

Make your virtual tours stand out by implementing these proven tips:

1. 🎯 Label key features

Use pop-ups to highlight premium upgrades like quartz countertops, energy-efficient systems, or smart thermostats.

2. 🔄 Use time-lapse construction updates

Show the same tour evolving over weeks to keep buyers engaged.

3. 📸 Include aerial views

Let buyers explore the full neighborhood and lot size with drone footage.

4. 📬 Use the tour in your email campaigns

Send follow-ups with direct access to the tour. Let buyers revisit it on their own time.

🔗 Bonus: Top 5 AI Video Editing Tools for Busy Creators in 2025

📹 Extend Your Reach with AI-Enhanced Content

Don’t stop at the virtual tour. You can repurpose your visuals into stunning video content for social media, email marketing, and website lead magnets.

Use AI tools to:

  • 🎬 Auto-generate listing videos
  • ✍️ Add captions, headlines, and music
  • 🧲 Create short-form content for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

This multi-platform approach keeps your new builds in front of buyers wherever they scroll.

🔗 See how: From Static to Cinematic: Transforming Property Photos With AI

🧳 Ideal Use Cases for AppFolio Virtual Tours

If you’re building any of the following, AppFolio virtual tours are a no-brainer:

  • 🏘️ Master-planned communities
  • 🏙️ Urban townhomes or condos
  • 🌲 Vacation homes or mountain cabins
  • 📦 Custom home plans with flexible layouts
  • 🧭 Remote or pre-sale only inventory

You’ll build interest faster and gain more qualified leads—especially from out-of-town buyers who can’t easily visit in person.

🔗 Related: How to Use AI Video to Sell Rental Units Faster

🏁 Final Thoughts: Build Buyer Confidence With Every Click

Selling new homes is all about confidence. The more information and immersion you give a buyer, the faster they’ll trust the process—and choose your property.

With AppFolio Virtual Tours, you’re not just checking a marketing box. You’re providing:

✅ Convenience
✅ Transparency
✅ Visualization
✅ Connection

In 2025 and beyond, this kind of immersive experience isn’t optional—it’s expected.

🔗 Internal Link Summary

Here’s a recap of the resources linked in this post:

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Property Marketing
Allows potential buyers to explore properties in detail from anywhere, enhancing the real estate marketing process.
Automotive Spins
Create an interactive virtual showroom and engage affluent digital buyers with live 360º video calls, all through the CloudPano mobile app for a complete automotive sales solution.
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Create 2D and 3D floor plans with measurements in 4 minutes or less, all from your phone. Download the Floor Plan Scanner app and get your first scan free.

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