In today’s fast-paced rental market, where people make decisions from their phones and laptops before ever stepping foot in a city, virtual tours have become a powerful tool for landlords and property managers. If you’re running a rental business, especially in a dynamic region like Hampton Roads—including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake—offering virtual tours isn’t just a nice touch; it’s a strategic move that can transform how you attract and secure quality tenants. At our company, one of the area’s top property management firms, we’ve seen firsthand how virtual tours streamline the leasing process, reduce vacancy time, and appeal directly to our local and military renters alike. It’s one of many innovations led by our President of Property Management, Phil Kazmierczak, the Hampton Roads REALTORS® Association 2024 Property Manager of the Year.
One of the biggest perks of virtual tours is that they eliminate the barrier of geography. Hampton Roads is home to a large military population, and we frequently work with service members and their families relocating from across the country. These families often can’t schedule a physical tour before making their move. With virtual tours, they can explore a home’s layout, details, and vibe as if they were walking through it in person. That added convenience and transparency builds trust and gives renters the confidence to sign a lease remotely—something we see happen more and more every year.
And it’s not just military families who benefit. The overall rental market is moving toward more digital-first solutions, and today’s tenants expect the option to tour a place on their schedule, not yours. A virtual tour gives them that flexibility. They can view your property at midnight from a laptop in California, or during a quick break at work. This 24/7 availability means your listing is working for you around the clock, gathering leads and generating interest even when your office is closed.
In our experience managing hundreds of properties across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, virtual tours help us pre-qualify leads more effectively. By the time a prospective tenant schedules an in-person showing, they’ve already seen the layout, gotten a feel for the space, and determined whether it meets their needs. That means fewer no-shows, fewer looky-loos, and more serious applicants. It saves our leasing team valuable time and energy and leads to faster turnover with less hassle.
Marketing-wise, a listing that features a virtual tour automatically stands out. It draws more eyes, gets more clicks, and often ranks higher on platforms like Zillow and Apartments.com. Today’s renters are savvy—they know the difference between a hastily snapped photo and a professional, interactive tour. Providing that extra value sets your property apart and speaks to your professionalism as a landlord or manager. And when you’re managing rentals in a competitive market like Hampton Roads, standing out is everything.
The good news is, virtual tours are easier to create than ever. You don’t need to hire a film crew or spend thousands of dollars. With tools like Matterport, Zillow 3D Home, or even basic 360-degree cameras, you can create a clean, immersive experience that walks prospects through your property step by step. We’ve made virtual tours a standard part of our process, especially when a property becomes vacant. Having a saved tour on hand means we can start marketing a rental immediately—sometimes even before the current tenant has moved out. That dramatically reduces downtime between leases and helps keep our owners’ investments generating income.
Virtual tours also help maintain clear expectations. We’ve all had tenants walk into a unit and say, “This looked bigger in the pictures.” A virtual tour eliminates that gap. When people see the property in detail ahead of time, they arrive knowing exactly what to expect. That cuts down on complaints, ensures a smoother move-in process, and leads to more satisfied tenants overall.
For us, offering virtual tours is about more than just convenience—it’s part of our commitment to staying at the forefront of property management in Hampton Roads. We know our market. Virginia Beach renters prioritize beach access and modern layouts. Norfolk tenants might want something walkable and close to downtown. Chesapeake families are often looking for good schools and backyard space. Virtual tours allow us to showcase each home’s unique appeal to the right audience instantly.
We also recognize that not every property is the same. Some might benefit from a full 3D tour, while others do just fine with a high-quality video walkthrough. Either way, the goal is the same: to help tenants feel confident, informed, and excited about their future home. That level of service and attention to detail is what sets our company apart, and it’s why we’ve become one of the most trusted names in property management in this region.
At the end of the day, virtual tours are a win-win. Renters get the convenience and clarity they crave. Property owners get shorter vacancy times, more qualified leads, and tenants who are happier from day one. And for us, it’s one more way we deliver top-tier service in a constantly evolving industry. Phil Kazmierczak, our President of Property Management and 2024 Property Manager of the Year, has championed this approach as part of our larger mission to modernize rental management across Hampton Roads—and we’re proud to lead the charge.
If you haven’t yet embraced virtual tours in your rental business, now is the time. Your future tenants are already online, searching, comparing, and deciding. Make it easy for them to fall in love with your property—before they even set foot in the front door.
 (1920 x 1005 px).png)