Virtual reality – as cool as it is – definitely isn’t for everyone. For one, it isn’t free, which can limit the audience. Dependent on the system you choose to go with, there’s a headset to purchase, and customized experiences take engineering and programming to develop; however, the rise of Google Cardboard, offers a huge opportunity for brands. It leverages smartphones, which most consumers currently possess, and creates immersive, unique VR experiences without the need for a complicated learning curve or expensive hardware. For those who don’t know, Google Cardboard is a complete virtual reality platform developed at the Google Cultural Institute in Paris. It’s commonly used with low-cost viewers, made of foldable cardboard (hence the name), 45mm plastic lenses, and a magnet or taped lever to operate the screen.
Regarding real estate, builders could – instead of traditional brochures – offer branded cardboard viewers, complete with instructions for downloading a simple web based app for either IOS or Android phones. The app could take users on a Cardboard compatible tour of a virtual sales centre, complete with home designs, prices, and interactive site tables.
There are some 360-degree cameras which are currently available – meaning brands can develop their content in-house, and use hosting through YouTube to deliver the content to clients, or to third party apps. If you haven’t explored YouTube’s 360-degree video capabilities yet, you’ll want to go ahead and do that. VR is the future, but leveraging Cardboard’s potential is an excellent way to provide innovative experiences to traditional homebuyers without scaring them off.
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