Here at Sherpa Media, we’re big fans of real estate virtual tours.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about:
- Why we love offering virtual tours to our clients
- Matterport 3D tours vs. Zillow virtual tours, including our real estate virtual tour pricing
- The pros and cons of each
- How you can use each kind of tour
There are three big reasons we love real estate virtual tours:
- Your listing can get more market exposure: The better your listing looks online, the more people will be interested. Multiple offers can mean a higher sale price!
- You can schedule fewer showings that will matter more: Virtual tours allow potential buyers to get a really good feel for a space without actually walking through it. If they know right away they don’t like it, no one has to waste time with a showing.
- You can reduce the number of lookie-loos: Virtual tours can help you avoid the dreaded lookie-loo–someone who just wants to come see the listing but isn’t really interested. When the listing is available online, those that are simply curious can tour virtually.
We offer Matterport 3D virtual tours and Zillow virtual tours–two of the most popular virtual tours on the market–because we think both are great tools to make your listing stand out online. Each has their benefits and their downsides, but we believe that as a real estate marketing tool virtual tours are one of the best investments you can make in your listing.
Some clients prefer one over the other, and some clients choose to use both tours, depending on their needs for a particular listing. We say, there’s no wrong choice!
Matterport 3D Virtual Tours ($229 – $529)
Matterport 3D virtual tours are immersive virtual tours that feel so real, it’s almost like being in the room! We love Matterport tours (especially in 2020) because they allow viewers to move through a dollhouse-like 3D model and get a true feel for the space when they can’t be in it for real.
Our Matterport 3D real estate virtual tour pricing starts at $229, depending on the size of the house. Add-ons including 2D floor plans or extra drone photos are also available.
Matterport virtual tours can be easily shared via link or embed code in emails, on Facebook or LinkedIn, on a property website or even via text.
Pros of Matterport 3D Virtual Tours:
- A huge pro of the Matterport 3D Tour is that it’s an actual 3D model. The 3D dollhouse isn’t just a cool effect to wow clients, it also allows for pro #2…
- The option for a 2D black and white floor plan of the space.
- Matterport real estate virtual tours are incredibly high quality–if you use a professional photographer and professional equipment.
- Tours automatically syndicate to Realtor.com as a dedicated 3D view link.
- You can embed the tour anywhere on the internet (or email) using a shareable link or a code.
- If you shoot the tour yourself, you can pull high-resolution 2D photos directly from the scans.
Cons of Matterport 3D Virtual Tours:
- When you get it professionally shot, a Matterport real estate virtual tour is more expensive than other options. And even if you wanted to buy a camera and do it yourself, the camera is super pricey and Matterport charges hosting fees for each property. (FYI: Hosting fees are something we cover for our clients!)
- Tours take awhile to shoot, since they are capturing so much (like the room’s measurements)
- Matterport real estate virtual tours cannot be shared on Zillow.
As an alternative to hiring a professional to shoot your Matterport tour, Matterport recently released Matterport 3D Capture–an app that allows you to shoot a 3D tour from your iPhone! You can read our review and tutorial in this blog post.
Zillow 3D Home Virtual Tours ($99 – $249)
Zillow virtual tours (official name: Zillow 3D Home) are a quick, super affordable option when it comes to real estate virtual tours. We like them because they help your Zillow listing in search results, and they’re great quality even with the lower price point.
Our Zillow real estate virtual tour pricing starts at $99 and goes up to $249, depending on the size of the house.
Zillow virtual tours can be shared all across the internet. They automatically show up on Zillow and Trulia after they’re shot, and can also be shared on the MLS, in emails, on Facebook, or even with a text link.
Pros of Zillow virtual tours:
- The biggest pro of Zillow virtual tours is that they automatically show up directly on a listing’s Zillow page and…
- Give that listing a boost in search results (Zillow gives search preference to listings with a 3D Home virtual tour).
- Besides appearing on Zillow, virtual tours will also automatically show up on Trulia.com, and are easily shareable via embed code anywhere else on the internet, including the MLS.
- Zillow virtual tours are quicker and simpler to shoot, which makes them more affordable.
- Zillow doesn’t have any hosting fees for tours.
- Virtual tours can be embedded anywhere on the internet.
Cons of Zillow virtual tours:
- The thing about Zillow 3D Home tours is that…they’re not actually 3D. They’re panorama images stitched together to create a virtual experience, but not a 3D one.
- Overall, Zillow virtual tours are slightly lower quality than some competitors, like Matterport.
- Zillow virtual tours don’t offer a 2D floor plan option.
- Once a tour is published, you have very limited editing options.
Like Matterport, Zillow has a great app called Matterport 3D Capture, which allows you to shoot virtual tours directly on your iPhone! (They actually beat Matterport to the punch on this one…3D Capture released over a year ago). You can read our review and tutorial in this blog post.
So basically…
You really can’t go wrong when shopping for a virtual tour. In our experience, Matterport tends to be the more popular option. If you want to make the investment that’s what we recommend. But we have some clients that choose Zillow, and we have some clients that choose both to get the most out of both kinds of tours.
Either way, a virtual tour will take your listing to the next level and make you look impressive to clients and potential buyers alike.