What is a 3D virtual tour?

A virtual tour represents an interactive 3D model of a property. 3D scans are widely used in real estate and hospitality as a way of providing potential customers with an online "walk-through" of the space from any location.

It's perhaps best described as "reality capture," as that's precisely what takes place, and the process brings any built environment directly to anyone, from anywhere, on any device. Viewers can navigate the 3D space simply by clicking or tapping their screen; they can look up or down, as well as side to side, just as they would in real life. The transition from one point to the next within a tour is seamless. There are no visual distortions in a true 3D tour.

True 3D Virtual Tours

So what differentiates a true 3D property tour from imitators? It's all about the depth. Any virtual tour can capture two dimensions—height and width—but true three-dimensional tours also capture depth.

This is typically done via a specialized camera equipped with multiple lenses and infrared that can sense, measure, and capture depth. However, in utilizing the spatial context of spaces already captured from around the world, Matterport has trained its AI-powered virtual tour software to add depth to still images.

3 benefits of 3D virtual tours for real estate agents

One big difference between 3D and 360 virtual tours is their verisimilitude, or how true to life they are—there's a reason it's known as "reality capture." When virtual property tours are high-quality and true-to-life, consumers are more likely to substitute them for in-person tours. Using virtual tours offers real estate businesses benefits like:

1. Fewer disruptions to your seller, thanks to potential buyers being able to narrow down whether or not a home is right for them before requesting an in-person showing

2. Out-of-area buyers are more likely to purchase a home with a 3D tour, as they can "tour" a property without physically being there, opening a greater opportunity for "sight-unseen" sales

3. Serious home buyers are able to make a purchase decision without requesting multiple showings of the same property