Which Virtual Tour Technology is Best for New Build Developers?
360 Virtual Tours or Matterport what should I choose as a property developer?!
With 90% of home buyers starting their property search online, virtual tours have become an invaluable tool for property developers. As potential buyers increasingly seek more information and the ability to explore properties from the comfort of their own homes, the choice of virtual tour technology has never been more important.
Two of the leading options for property developers on the market are CGI 360 Virtual Tours and Matterport Tours, both offering distinct advantages and capabilities.
For developers, selecting the right virtual tour solution can significantly impact when prospective home buyers can explore your show homes, the number of show homes they can visit, and the home buyers’ overall experience.
5 Key Differences Between 360 Virtual Tours & Matterport Tours
360 Virtual Tours and Matterport Tours are virtually the same, right?
While they both provide home buyers with the ability to explore property online, there are distinct differences that may impact your goals and long-term strategies.
Let’s unpack the 5 key differences between 360 Virtual Tours and Matterport Tours.
1. Customisation and Flexibility
CGI 360 Virtual Tours: Offer property developers complete creative freedom. Every element in the environment can be customised, from the lighting to the smallest detail of the textures, colours, and furniture. If a trend has seen its time and you want to change the interior styling, this can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively.
Matterport Tours: While Matterport captures real-world spaces in 3D, it’s limited to what physically exists within the showhome on the day. The ability to modify the environment post-capture is minimal, so any changes to the space will require physically altering the space and rescanning.
2. Photorealism & Quality
CGI 360 Virtual Tours: Can achieve the photorealistic quality that may surpass real-life photography, depending on the rendering quality. It’s possible to simulate perfect conditions, which is particularly useful for marketing high-end properties.
Matterport Tours: Produce highly detailed scans, the quality is dependent on the environment, lightning and the camera used. It is often difficult to achieve the same level of perfection that can be simulated in CGI.
3. Visualising Unbuilt Homes
CGI 360 Virtual Tours: Are particularly advantageous for developers looking to drive engagement before the development is launched. CGI 360 Tours can be created using working drawings of each housetype before it’s been built or staged.
Matterport Tours: Can only capture homes that have been physically built and staged.
4. Interactivity and Features
CGI Virtual Tours: Can incorporate a wide range of interactive elements such as animated walkthroughs, the ability to select and visualise upgrade swatch options, switch furniture off and on or even seasonal views. This level of interactivity enhances user engagement and provides more accurate information to home buyers
Matterport Tours: Does offer some interactive features like measurement tools and 360-degree views, however, it cannot include dynamic or highly interactive elements. The experience is largely limited to navigating through the captured space.
5. Time and Cost Efficiency for Large-Scale Changes
CGI Virtual Tours: Once the model is created, making any changes is easier and more cost-effective. For example, you can easily redesign an interior or adjust a layout with a few adjustments.
Matterport Tours: Require a complete rescan of the space for significant changes, which can be time-consuming and costly, especially if the space is large or complex.
3 Things To Consider For Your Next Project
While both 360 Virtual Tours and Matterport Tours offer home buyers a more immersive and detailed way to explore and understand a property, the two solutions differ significantly in their capabilities and features, each catering to different needs and expectations.
Do you want to showcase all your house types?
If you’re looking to offer online exploration for all of your house types, CGI is the most cost-effective and efficient solution. Unlike Matterport Tours, which requires each house type to be fully built and staged before capturing content, CGI allows you to create immersive experiences for every design, regardless of whether the homes are physically constructed yet.
When do you want to engage home buyers?
If you’re aiming to boost off-plan engagement or have recently updated your house type range, CGI 360 Virtual Tours are the ideal solution. They allow you to showcase your homes to prospective buyers online, even before a brick has been laid.
Flexibility and future-proofing
If you’re a property developer who frequently updates your house type range or needs the flexibility to showcase various upgrade options and interior styles, CGI 360 Virtual Tours are the perfect solution.
