Anyone looking for a property must click through a multitude of ads. In order to effectively showcase their properties, sellers and property managers should stand out from the crowd with their listings and leave a lasting impression.
Visual representations are particularly effective in sparking and increasing the interest of potential customers. For a long time, high-quality real estate photos were considered the be-all and end-all of sales success. Nowadays, there are various alternatives to real estate photography that also showcase properties in the best light and bring them closer to buyers.
For whom are real estate videos the best choice? Real estate videos are ideal for agents and sellers who want to present properties dynamically to stand out from the crowd. They are particularly well-suited for luxury properties or highly competitive markets, as they create an emotional atmosphere and increase the interest of potential buyers.
We now take a look at the alternatives for real estate photos and where their respective advantages and disadvantages lie.
Three real estate photography alternatives at a glance.
- Real estate videos: Dynamic presentation of the property with movement and atmosphere.
- Virtual tour: Interactive 360-degree tour that allows interested parties to explore the property independently.
- Floor plan: Clear, structured depiction of room layout and size.
1. Immobilienvideos – dynamische Präsentation
Price: from CHF 249 for a reel.
With a real estate video, you receive a short clip in which your property is the star. Both the exterior and interior are presented in the best light, and every special feature is attractively showcased. Even the most complex aspects of a real estate project can be clearly depicted using videos.
High-quality real estate videos create an evocative atmosphere that ignites buyers’ interest and heightens their curiosity. They are versatile and can be integrated into websites, shared on social media channels, and used for presentation purposes at trade shows.
At Visualista, you can choose not only traditional real estate videos but also premium videos that include drone footage, providing potential buyers with an even more comprehensive impression. Additionally, we offer the creation of 60-second reels that are perfect for use on social media, and these reels can also be combined with drone footage.
We recommend using real estate videos if you want to provide potential property buyers with a comprehensive overview and present the properties in a lively and evocative manner.
Who is it best suited for?
Real estate videos are best suited for agents and sellers for whom simply presenting their properties in a static, discrete manner is not enough. If you want to showcase properties in a dynamic way and create a specific mood, you should opt for videos. Moreover, even those who rely on distribution via social media cannot do without moving images in the form of reels.
Examples of the target audience also include luxury real estate agents who offer high-priced properties that often feature an extraordinary design and unique features. Or brokers operating in highly competitive markets, including major cities or popular vacation destinations. Videos can help a real estate listing stand out from the crowd
What is better than real estate photography?
Real estate videos provide the opportunity to showcase properties in motion. For example, moving tours through the rooms can better represent the dynamics of a property than photographs can. Photographs are static and only offer snapshots, without conveying the dynamic character of a space
In addition, videos can tell a story. Music, editing techniques, and camera movements set emotional accents and present a property in a specific context
They can also capture the atmosphere of a property. For example, a video can show the lighting conditions at different times of day or incorporate the exterior and the neighborhood. This is much harder to convey with photos.
What is worse than real estate photography?
Real estate videos generally require a significantly higher production effort. Videos require more planning, equipment, and editing time than photography. Producing a good real estate video often necessitates professional videographers, which increases costs and time expenditure. Photography, on the other hand, is generally faster and more cost-effective to produce, as it requires less complex equipment and post-production.
In addition, moving images are more difficult to edit in order to optimize or retouch certain aspects of a property. It is more laborious to conceal imperfections in a video than in a photo. Photography, on the other hand, can be easily post-processed; light, color, and minor flaws are easier to correct.
2. Virtual tour – interactive experience
Price: starting at CHF 299 for an apartment
In a virtual tour, prospective buyers can explore a property interactively and look around without leaving their home. Such tours are created using specialized 3D cameras and corresponding software that links the individual 3D shots together to create a complete 3D model of the property
3D virtual tours save sellers and real estate agents a lot of time. They can reduce the number of on-site viewings, as potential buyers can already decide with the help of the tour whether they are interested in a personal viewing. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the positive impact of virtual tours on sales success.
The interactive tours by Visualista help you present your properties convincingly and showcase all unique features in the best light. You receive a digital twin of your property and invite potential buyers on an extensive tour where you do not have to be present.
We work with Matterport technology to provide our customers with high-end results. Matterport is the undisputed market leader in hardware and software for 3D visualizations and virtual tours. The name Matterport is often even used as a synonym for high-quality 3D tours.
We recommend that you use virtual tours if you want to offer your clients the opportunity to engage with the property in an especially up-close and immersive way.
Who is it best suited for?
Among other things, this form of property presentation is ideal for buyers who live far away from a property but still want to examine it as thoroughly as possible without having to travel for an on-site viewing. It is also perfectly suited for those interested parties who do not have much time to drive from one property to another.
For real estate agents who wish to offer their buyers the opportunity to view the property without an on-site visit, this form of property presentation is also ideally suited. It is also ideal for agents with international clients who live far away from the property.
Immobilienmakler, die Neubauten oder Off-Plan-Objekte verkaufen, können Rundgänge ebenfalls sehr nützlich sein. Für Objekte, die noch im Bau sind oder deren Pläne nur auf dem Papier existieren, können animierte Besichtigungen potenziellen Käufern eine klare Vorstellung davon geben, wie das fertige Objekt aussehen wird.
For real estate agents selling new builds or off-plan properties, virtual tours can also be very useful. For properties that are still under construction or whose plans exist only on paper, animated viewings can provide potential buyers with a clear idea of what the finished property will look like
What is better than real estate photography?
The interactive experience of 3D tours is one of the most important advantages over photographs. Buyers benefit from an exceptionally in-depth and immediate experience. They can examine every room in detail, view the property from every angle, and inspect certain areas more closely at their leisure.
Anyone who navigates a property virtually gets a much better impression of the room sizes and layouts, as well as the condition of the property, compared to simply looking at photos. It’s almost as if you were physically there, walking through the rooms.
While real estate photography only captures certain areas of a property, leaving the rest to the imagination, virtual tours provide a comprehensive impression in which no questions remain unanswered.
What is worse than real estate photography?
Virtual tours are generally more expensive to create because they require specialized 3D cameras, software, and professional services. The process of scanning and creation can also be more time-consuming, while photography is simpler, faster, and more cost-effective to implement.
In virtual viewings, the property is shown exactly as it is, leaving little room for creative compositions or post-processing. Photographs, on the other hand, offer more artistic freedom, allowing specific details to be emphasized and, for example, less attractive aspects of the property to be concealed.
Floor plan – structured overview.
Price: from CHF 99 per floor (2D).
A floor plan is a technical drawing that shows the layout of a property from a bird’s-eye view. It provides a detailed overview of the location and size of the rooms as well as their arrangement relative to each other. Floor plans are drawn to scale and serve as a visual tool to illustrate the spatial proportions and relationships within a building.
They often include the locations of doors, windows, staircases, and other structural elements such as walls or utility shafts. They instantly show how the rooms are interconnected and provide an impression of the size and flow of the spaces.
At Visualista, we offer the creation of such plans, where you can choose 2D/3D floor plans. A 2D floor plan is the classic, technical drawing of the property from above. The 3D floor plan is a three-dimensional representation of the property. It offers a spatial perspective and often shows rooms furnished and colored to provide a comprehensive impression.
We recommend that you use floor plans if you want to provide buyers with a realistic and to-scale idea of a property’s interior layout.
Who is it best suited for?
Floor plans should be included in every property listing. Buyers want to know how the spaces in a property are arranged so they can assess whether they meet their individual needs. They use these plans to better understand the size of the rooms and the functionality of the layout. It helps them prepare in advance for furnishing and utilizing the spaces.
What is better than real estate photography?
Floor plans provide a clear, visual representation of the spatial layout. They assist potential buyers or renters in imagining the structure of the property, which is often challenging to grasp with photos alone. While photos capture only individual angles, a floor plan displays the overall layout from a bird’s-eye view, clearly illustrating the precise location of each room..
Another advantage of floor plans is their to-scale representation. They provide clear measurements, allowing interested parties to see exactly how large the rooms are and determine whether their furniture will fit.
Real estate photos can sometimes, through the use of wide-angle lenses or certain perspectives, convey a distorted impression of the actual room size. Floor plans, on the other hand, are precise and provide an objective basis for realistically evaluating the property
What is worse than real estate photography?
Emotional impressions and the atmosphere of a room cannot be conveyed in floor plans. They do not show visual details such as lighting conditions, materials, or decorative elements. Real estate photography, on the other hand, offers an aesthetic presentation that captures the mood of a room and appeals to potential buyers or tenants emotionally
Our top 3.Furthermore, floor plans can be more difficult for some people to interpret, especially if they have no experience with technical drawings. Photos, on the other hand, provide an immediately understandable representation that gives a direct impression of the property.
Our top 3.
Each of the methods for real estate marketing has its own advantages. Professional real estate photography creates a first impression of a property, conveys specific visual impressions, and can emotionally engage buyers. Real estate videos showcase the properties in a dynamic way, can tell a story, and provide an atmospheric overview.
Virtual tours bring buyers particularly close to a property. They provide a realistic and detailed impression of the condition of the objects and allow buyers to have an interactive experience. Floor plans, on the other hand, show a more sober and realistic layout of the rooms. They contain little to no visual elements and primarily serve the purpose of conveying information.
Conclusion.
Here are our top tips for the best real estate photography alternatives that you should try this year:
- Real estate videos – for dynamic and emotional presentations.
- Virtual tour – for interactive and detailed property exploration.
- Floor plan – for structured and scale-accurate overviews.
Now you have gained insight into the variety of our services and can begin to present your properties in the best light with our help. Schedule a consultation appointment and discover the difference it can make to have a reliable partner for professional real estate marketing by your side.
