Key Takeaways
- The use of 3D photography in real estate enables customers to conduct a virtual tour of the house and see every inch of it.
- Beneficial, as it reduces unnecessary showings; buyers can create a shot list before visiting the potential property.
- Offers a great return on a luxury listing, layouts, and outside buyers.
- The range for real estate photography depends on the number of images, videos, size of the house, and other services included; it costs between $150 and $500, with an average of $300 to $350.
- The price varies based on the property size, the platform used, the location, and other ancillary services such as floor planning and HDR photos.
Introduction
3D real estate photography offers a three-dimensional view of the property with added layers to highlight its features. This allows the client to navigate the property room by room, viewing it in person rather than browsing through flat images. For higher-value spaces or listings that need to reach those who can’t visit, it’s worth the cost.
If we talk about standard photography, it provides flat images or videos from selected angles; however, a 3D real estate tour creates a navigable digital model of the property, giving buyers the flexibility to explore.
This article covers what 3d real estate photography is, its pros and cons, who benefits most from it, what it costs, and how it is done.
What is 3D Real Estate Photography?
3D real estate photography offers a 360-degree immersive experience that lets viewers take a virtual tour of the property. It provides a walkthrough tour for the buyer to see every corner of the premises online without visiting. This virtual tour uses 3D scanning software such as Matterport, where photos taken by a 360-degree camera are combined to create an easy-to-navigate interactive 3D model.| Components | What it Shows | Efforts | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Tour | Interactive layout, with the navigable area | Medium-High | Used primarily in high-end houses and complicated structures, along with helping out distant buyers |
| Videos | A guided linear tour demonstrating the path traversed by the videographer | Medium | Good for social media marketing and provides a narrative perspective |
| Photos | Fixed view of the real estate from some angles | Low | Provides fast listing |
The Process Behind Creating A 3D Real Estate Tour
For a 3D real estate tour creation, a 3-stage process is involved
- Capture– A photographer places the 360 camera in different spots around the property. The 360 camera moves in all directions, taking images and scanning in depth.
- Process– The software stitches the captured images into a continuous, clickable model with a complete, automatically generated floor plan.
- Publish/Share– Once the tour is finished, the high-quality view is uploaded to the hosting platform, and a link is generated that links directly to the listing.
For an ordinary house (1,500-3,000 sq ft), on-site collection takes about 30-60 minutes, while processing and delivery are completed within 24-48 hours
Equipment and Software You Need
The choice of equipment and software entirely depends on the budget and usage. Here are the details of the things required to capture the virtual tour.
- Entry-Level: 360-degree cameras for consumers such as Insta360 or Ricoh Theta coupled with inexpensive stitching software, and easy to use. But produces unrefined results.
- Mid-level: Matterport Pro cameras and other specialized equipment for capturing real estate images, providing better image quality, dollhouse views, and precise measurements.
- High-end: Advanced LiDAR scanners that are used by professional real estate photographers and studios handling luxury listings.
This naturally leads to the discussion of DIY vs. hiring a professional for the work. Taking care of the tour yourself can be beneficial if you want to capture shots sometimes and don’t mind learning to use the camera and software (through real estate photography classes). However, if you intend to offer such services as a part of your real estate business, employing an expert might be a better choice.
How Much Does 3D Real Estate Photography Cost?
The pricing depends on the property size and market. Note that the shoot cost is separate from hosting.| Property | Average costing |
|---|---|
| Small apartments, high-volume, lower-budget listing | 75-150 |
| Average suburban residential listing (200-4000sq ft) | 200-500 |
| High-end luxury properties, commercial and estate | 600-1500+ |
Is 3D Real Estate Photography Worth It?
The investment benefits are real; buyers arrive more confidently because they have pre-qualified the property, and visits decline for properties that don’t match buyers’ expectations, therefore saving a lot of time. Moreover, 3D tour listings tend to retain viewers for longer periods. In a competitive market, it is also a simpler way to bring the spotlight to a property among others.
However, it does come with its own set of trade-offs, including increased cost, delay before the listing becomes available, and effectiveness that relies on how the tour is captured. To be truthful, ROI only shows up for high-valued properties, ensuring attention from out-of-town buyers who won’t be able to physically see the property. In the case of an affordable and fast-selling property in a very active local market, it might be difficult to justify the additional expenses.
When To Use It ( And When To Skip It)
Use the virtual tour when:
- The property is of higher value and has a complex layout
- When the exterior and interior both are stunning, and the standard photographs alone cannot justify the layout
- You want to grab the attention of potential buyers from out of town
Standard photos can most probably work when
- You are working with a lighter budget
- The market is moving fast, and there is less time; moreover, the buyers are local
- The property has a simpler layout
Transform The Way Buyers Explore The Listing
A great picture gets clicked on – a great 3D tour gets viewed. If you are looking for the perfect way to ensure buyers experience a property even before they set foot inside, you can depend on Plexial to give you that edge. Contact us at +91 9819259097 right away to schedule your 3D real estate photography session.
