AI Video Tours vs. 3D Virtual Tours: Which is Best for Your Listings?

According to Zillow, listings with a video tour sells 14% faster than those without one. In another report by the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report in 2021, the majority of home buyers wish that 3D video tours become the standard in many listings.

Investing in a video tour is a significant factor that influences buyer decisions in the home-buying process. In a world of digital real estate tools, the 3D virtual tour is the top one that buyers use when shopping for a home (79%). It is followed by digital floor plans, email notifications, and a video tour with an agent.

But why is a video tour so effective?

First, it expands the buyer reach as it breaks geographical boundaries. Buyers can explore a home and its features without traveling, making it most convenient for out-of-state buyers.

Second, it saves people’s time. As mentioned, there is no need for an in-person visit, and buyers can decide whether a home is worth checking out before they actually see it. It benefits the agents because buyers who schedule an on-site tour are qualified and not “just looking” types.

Third, it builds interest and engagement for your listings. People are more likely to engage with or share your listings online if it has a virtual tour. It translates to informed buyers and faster decision-making.

And finally, virtual tours provide agents with content that they can repurpose across different web platforms. You can use a single video tour for the real estate listing, while also being able to share it on social media and YouTube. It reinforces the listing’s presence online and makes it available to more potential buyers online.

Among the many ways to do a virtual tour of your real estate listings are AI virtual tour and 3D video tour. Let’s break them down to see which one is the best for your listing. 

An AI virtual tour relies on artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the video-creation process through an AI real estate video app.

Creating AI video tours is the best solution when you only have static photos of the property listing. There is no need to shoot video footage or invest in a professional-quality camera to record because AI can transform those listing photos into a dynamic and cinematic video tour. Using AI technology, it stitches the photos together with smooth transitions, trending audio, and other visual effects to mimic camera movement across the various spaces.

The main advantage of using an AI virtual tour for your listing is its cost-effectiveness. An AI video maker only costs a fraction of what it would cost to buy a professional camera or hire a videographer and editor. Instead, you will be using your existing photos of the property to create video content. It is especially useful when you have a tight marketing budget but still want to leverage video to enhance your listings.

The speed of production is another notable advantage of using an AI virtual tour. The best AI video maker can convert static photos into a dynamic video in minutes, whereas traditional video production would take days or weeks, depending on the complexity of the video output. The sooner you can generate an AI video tour, the faster you can list the property and find potential buyers.

Using AI technology provides optimum narrative control, too. You can add trending music, voiceovers, text, and other visual effects to fit your real estate brand. The curated sequence enables you to showcase the property’s best features and unique selling points.

The final advantage of AI video tours would be the broad compatibility with various platforms. AI video content is easy to share on social media, YouTube, and other platforms online. You can easily repurpose the video content to fit your needs and marketing strategy.

Despite these advantages that AI virtual tours offer, there are a few potential drawbacks that you must be aware of. The main thing is that the video quality is dependent on the quality of the source photos. Invest in the best quality photos first, and the resulting video will also be of the same standard, if not better.

Also, using AI to convert static images into AI virtual tours could potentially misrepresent the property. The cinematic effects, strategic shot selection, and music can oversell the property to buyers, resulting in the consequent in-person visit a letdown from what the video tour promised.

Consider the pros and cons of an AI virtual tour for listings to produce video content that matches the expectations of potential buyers and showcases the key selling points of the home. 

A 3D virtual tour takes potential buyers on an immersive journey through the space. It provides in-depth layout views and realistic transitions from room to room, so buyers feel as though they’re exploring the home themselves. Unsurprisingly, Zillow recommends adding a 3D tour to agent listings because it had 29% more views than those without one.

The main benefit of adding 3D tours to real estate listings would be the convenience and accessibility. It is accessible 24/7 to anyone who views your listing online. It eliminates geographic restrictions and allows buyers to explore the home at their most convenient time.

While AI virtual tours can effectively showcase a home’s features, 3D tours are ideal for buyers who want complete spatial understanding of the property. It enables them to visualize the room, scale, and layout.

3D tours also provide better user control than AI video tours. A buyer can focus on the features or rooms in a home that matter most to them instead of following a predetermined path.

And expect that your listings will have a higher engagement rate as users typically spend more time exploring rather than passively watching the tour.

3D virtual tours are not without drawbacks, though. The first one is the cost involved. 3D virtual tours require a professional camera with 3D scanning capabilities. If not, you must hire professional videographers with 3D scanning, and they tend to be expensive. It would be too costly if you were to use 3D tours for every listing, and the investment might not be worth it.

Unlike AI virtual tours, 3D tours are time-intensive. Scanning the property requires several hours, and processing time can take even longer. In an industry wherein speed matters, the entire video processing can push back your timeline.

The final downside that you must consider with 3D tours would be the inability to share them on social media. The current social media platforms do not support 3D content, which limits your ability to use the video content outside the listing. It won’t leverage the viral potential of sharing them on social media the way that AI videos do. 

Choosing between AI virtual tour and 3D video for your listing is an overwhelming task. Break it down into your specific goals, property type, and target buyers. 

AI video tours are the best option for social media marketing and lead generation. The cinematic effects and dynamic videos capture social media users’ attention and generate buzz online. It helps drive traffic to your listings, leading to potentially more inquiries. AI videos are the clear winner.

If you target relocation buyers for your listing, 3D tours make more sense. They lack the ability to visit the property on-site, which is why a comprehensive 3D tour allows them to examine the property’s every detail. The 3D experience allows them to make confident decisions about buying a property (or not).

AI video tours work best for luxury property showcases due to their cinematic effects and storytelling. It appeals to high-end buyers because you’re not just selling the square footage; you are selling the dream of owning a luxury home.

Using AI technology allows you to highlight the unique selling points of a home, which is something that many luxury buyers look for.

AI videos are the clear winner because you can generate videos in minutes. Even without technical skills or editing experience, you can produce video content from photos using a user-friendly interface. You can achieve professional-quality videos that align with your brand and target audience.