Self-Touring Technology ‘Has Become a Necessity’

Self-touring started to become popular last year as big institutional owners have implemented self-touring technology, like smart locks and informative apps. While the trend was still getting off the ground, it has now become crucial for owners to carry out apartment leasing with social distancing measures.

“There was a ground swell last year of this concept of self-touring. Residents were showing up at apartment buildings and wanted to look at unit by themselves. A lot of properties have been embracing self-touring technology,” John Helm, a partner of RET Ventures, tells GlobeSt.com. “With social distancing, this has become a necessity. One of the ways now that people can tour a unit without being in violation of social distancing measures, is through self-touring.”

Owners are quickly adopting this technology, which includes smart locks and mapping programs. “Today, we are seeing a lot of properties that are deploying smart lock and an iPad with a pre-programed app for mapping and information, so the person knows where to go and what to look at,” says Helm. “The resident, when they show up, can tour the building on their own without the leasing agent following them around.”