2D vs. 3D Floor Plans: When You Should Choose Which Type

The floor plan is among the top 3 criteria for home buyers—right after photos and detailed information about the property. It should therefore be a fixed part of your real estate presentation and should not be missing from any of your listings.

How do floor plans support real estate marketing? Floor plans provide prospective buyers with important information about the property that is not clearly evident from photos or descriptions. This can make it easier for potential buyers to make a decision. Additionally, providing key details such as a floor plan can strengthen the trust between interested parties and sellers or agents.

There is no question that a floor plan can enhance your listings and make your property sales more efficient. However, many agents and sellers are unsure whether they should choose a 2D or a 3D floor plan. While classic 2D models often provide a clearer overview, 3D floor plans demonstrate the use of modern technologies in your sales strategy—a key point for many buyers. Read on to find out how an innovative property presentation can support your marketing and which type of floor plan is better suited to your needs.

While photos provide a visual representation of a property, floor plans convey facts and give a clear overview. Potential buyers can see how large a room is—they can more easily imagine how they might design and furnish the space. In this way, interested parties get a sense of the space even before visiting the property in person. This, in turn, saves you time as an agent: you receive more qualified viewings, and the likelihood increases that one of the inquiries will result in a commitment.

For potential buyers, a professional floor plan strengthens trust in the agent. By presenting information openly, you create a strong foundation. This leaves no room for uncertainty and gives buyers the feeling that they are in good hands with you.

As mentioned at the beginning, floor plans are among the most important criteria for a majority of interested parties when making a purchase decision: According to NAR (National Association of Realtors), 57% of respondents state that they find floor plans “very helpful” in their online search for a property. In a report by Zillow, 82% say they are more likely to request a viewing if the property listing includes a good floor plan. This optimizes your marketing process and ideally accelerates the sale.

A 2D floor plan is easy to read. The top-down view allows for an overview of the property in seconds. In addition to the clearly visible room layout, interested parties can also immediately see where doors and windows are located and often how high the rooms are. The included measurements make written information or images tangible and allow for initial calculations. Some important questions are answered immediately, such as: “Will our sofa really fit in the living room?” or “Is there direct access from the dining room to the kitchen?”

A 2D plan is used when a cost-effective and quick layout is required. Many appreciate the clarity as well as the ability to provide information such as dimensions.

Most people have seen a traditional floor plan before and are familiar with it. But even if interested parties are seeing a 2D floor plan for the first time in their lives, it is easy to understand. Thanks to the clear drawings and labels, the plans are generally self-explanatory and therefore easy for anyone to read.

In contrast to 2D models, 3D floor plans allow for a more detailed and emotional insight into properties. Since 3D floor plans are visual models, they create a realistic sense of space. Perspective, depth, and shading allow the viewer to immerse themselves in the property. Unlike a 2D plan, a 3D model gives interested parties a direct impression of what the property actually looks like inside.

3D plans are especially worthwhile for high-priced or special properties. Here, a detailed presentation is often crucial: this allows the advantages of a property to be particularly well highlighted. This can help convince potential buyers of the property.

3D floor plans also offer you extensive customization options. You can influence the color scheme and thus change the ambiance. Through virtual furnishing, the model becomes lively and evokes emotions in interested parties. It becomes even more immersive with 360° views: these allow viewers to look at the property from different perspectives.

The cost of creating a floor plan varies depending on the size of the property and the type of plan. At Visualista.ch, the price structure is as follows:

• 2D floor plan: CHF 99 per floor
• 3D floor plan: CHF 199 per floor

Your property is not measured by hand, but with the help of a so-called LiDAR sensor. We carry out the scan on site—this is usually done quickly. Alternatively, we can create your floor plan based on old plans. 2D floor plans are usually ready within a maximum of 48 hours, and 3D floor plans within 72 hours.

Building plans and measurements help us to capture your property as precisely as possible—the accuracy of our floor plans is about 95%. By providing accurate information about the property, you support the creation process. This results in a model that represents your property as realistically as possible.

Which type of floor plan is better suited for you depends on individual circumstances:

• Budget: A 2D plan is more cost-effective than 3D models. If you have a larger budget, you can opt for a 3D floor plan and add additional features, such as virtual furnishing or 360° views.
• Target group: Private customers and investors often prefer 2D floor plans—mainly because of their easy readability and straightforward handling. In more demanding buyer circles, however, 3D models can make a more convincing impression.
• Type of property: For standard apartments and houses that are to be sold or rented, a 2D floor plan is usually sufficient. Luxury and commercial properties as well as new construction projects, on the other hand, benefit from detailed 3D floor plans.

When deciding between a 2D and 3D floor plan, you need to be clear about whom you want to convince and how difficult you think this will be. While first-time buyers or investors are often satisfied with a brief black-and-white overview, international buyers usually want a more detailed insight. Broadly speaking, a 2D floor plan presents hard facts, while a 3D model appeals on an emotional level.

Especially when a lot of money is involved, emotions play an important role. For luxury or higher-priced properties, you should therefore consider having a 3D plan made. For new builds or properties in need of renovation, a three-dimensional model with virtual furnishing can also highlight the potential of a property.

In our blog, you can learn more about the topic and get an answer to the question: What advantages does a floor plan offer for interested parties?

Both 2D and 3D floor plans provide an overview of a property. They convey additional information that can be important for the decision-making process of potential buyers. While 2D plans focus on hard facts such as measurements, 3D models address the emotional component.

Both solutions have their justification. Which type of plan is better suited depends on your circumstances: Therefore, make your decision individually according to target group, intended use, and budget to get the greatest added value.

We create floor plans that match your goals and support your real estate marketing as efficiently as possible. Make an appointment with Visualista.ch: We will advise you individually to find the best solution for you together.