Modern technology allows us to do amazing things; a digital camera and the right software can make wonders. Panoramic photography started as a form of art but has quickly become a tool of marketing and advertising. Real estate agents often use 360 virtual tours to promote their listed houses. In fact, it seems that an interactive virtual tour is the most convincing method a realtor site can have.

New real estate agents wonder if the real estate company they work for normally provides virtual tour software for them to use. Some of them do, but in other companies it is completely up to the agent. In this case agents normally create their own interactive virtual tours (or they hire someone to do it), but the agency does not get involved in this process.

In the case where the company leaves it to the agent, the best bet is to go with a professional company to make the 360 virtual tour, as nothing beats quality. There are a lot of companies that do this; you can also try hiring a professional photographer or a student to do it ? it may even cost you less. If you hire someone make they know exactly what you want.

There is another possibility ? if you are good at it, or if you think you might like it, you can try designing your own interactive virtual tour. But how can you create a 360 virtual tour? Is it difficult? What camera should you use? And what software do you need?

For starters, a sequence of still photos will do. It is pretty easy and kind of basic, but it will do the job. All you need to do is work with a basic photo editor. Apart from this you can try uploading some videos. Making some video clips with a digital camera is pretty easy. Once again, you will need basic video editing software. If you do not have such software you can either buy it or download it from the internet.

But nothing will work quite like a 360 virtual tour. This basically consists of a number of photos that are stitched together in order to look like you are inside the room you are touring. In order to create such an interactive virtual tour you will need a camera, a tripod and stitching software. If you are new to this it will take some time, but if you can do it then it will definitely be worth it.

Have in mind there are a few things you need to consider when making an interactive virtual tour. You definitely need to use the tripod as it allows the camera to have stability (otherwise the photos could not be stitched together). You also have to make sure that you take every picture after moving the camera at an angle of about 50 degrees. As well as that remember that you may not be very good at first but if you are patient enough the results will be great.

360 virtual tours may seem like the type of things that require a lot of money but it is not actually so. If you cannot afford to pay for such a tour you can easily make it yourself. Digital cameras are not very expensive; as for the stitching application, you can download it for free from the internet. All you need to do is know exactly what you want and invest a little time in creating the virtual tour you want.