(Apart From Us…)

Shopping around is important. Whether it’s a new pair of trainers, a new washing machine, or a virtual tour – you’re always going to want to compare and contrast your options. But where could you find a single resource that lists the best virtual tour companies in the UK I hear you ask? Well, you’re looking at it.

As the UK’s 3D virtual tour experts, we’ve made the decision to use our unrivalled industry knowledge to help potential clients be as informed as possible, even if that leads to you working with someone else. With that in mind we’ve put this guide together to give you our own recommendations on who else to approach for a virtual tour if you’re based in the UK. We’re tried to be as unbias as possible and are committed to giving you our honest opinions on which virtual tour companies are currently best in class.

As you read this and digest our thoughts, please remember that many factors go into creating a great virtual tour and the initial capture is only half the equation. The virtual tour company you decide to work with is tasked with not just capturing your space, but making sure you get the most out of your virtual tour. They do this all whilst understanding all the benefits on offer to you.

Whatever the investment you’re making – research is key.

The Best Virtual Tour Companies UK:

 Apollo3D

Founded in June 2017, apollo3D are providing premium 3D tours that create an immersive virtual experience of any location. 

They utilise the power of both the matterport, and the BLK360, to produce great interactive virtual tours.

360imagery

Founded in 2008 by a qualified chartered surveyor, 360imagery has since become one of the leading nationwide providers of bespoke 360 tours in the UK.

Specialising in 360 tours rather than 3D virtual tours (we wrote a whole article on the diffrenece between 360 & 3D tours, click here to read it) 

Scape360

Scape360 are one of the pioneers of 3D technology within the East Midlands, after importing the technology from San Francisco almost 4 years ago and they continue to thrive to this day.

They were finalists in the 2020 Lincolnshire technology innovation awards and have worked with high brow clients across all sectors including education, construction and health and fitness.

Venue View

Based in Tring, Hertfordshire, Venue View specialise in tours for the hospitality sector, by choosing them you will join the industry’s leading names in putting customers at the heart of what they do.

Venue View has worked with some of the larger household names in the hospitality sector to create amazing virtual experiences. 

Virtual Tour Company

The team at Virtual Tour Company have been working in digital marketing and the world of web for over 25 years. Based in Devon they combine excellent photography skills with an expert knowledge of web technologies and online marketing. 

The Virtual Tour Co specialise in bespoke virtual tours that combine drone shots and external photography with internal shots to allow exploration of large spaces both inside and out.

Final Thoughts

There we have it. An overview of who we feel are the very best virtual tour companies in the UK (apart from us). 

However, as with most things in life – it’s a horses for courses-type situation. What might work for you might not for others. 

Many of these companies provide similar services to ourselves, however some might use different equipment and software to produce a very different style of virtual tour. However, all of them are producing outstanding results for their clients. 

So where do you go from here? Well, after checking out all the virtual tour providers listed above, we recommend trying out our handy virtual tour price calculator. This is a great tool for giving you a ballpark figure for your ideal virtual tour. 

Alternitively, if you’d like to speak to one of our virtual tour experts our friendly team are always on hand to answer any questions you may have. You can either request a call back or call our team directly using the buttons below.

The post Best Virtual Tour Companies In The UK appeared first on Scene3D.

Virtual tours vs video & 360 tours. Picture this – you’ve seen a virtual tour. You think it could work well for your business or property, so you approach a virtual tour specialist about setting up your own. 

Turns out that what you saw is totally different to the virtual tour you have. Now you’ve inadvertently paid for something that doesn’t match up with your expectations. 

Far from ideal, right?

With virtual tours, you’ve got three main choices: a 3D virtual tour, a 360 virtual tour or a video tour. They might look like they mean the same thing, however that’s not the case. Could you confidently say which of the three would be best for you?

As the UK’s 3D virtual tour experts, we want to help you make the right decision when it comes to choosing the right type of tour, even if that means working with a different provider.  

This article aims to give an in-depth look at virtual tours vs video & 360 tours. We’re providing you with a fail-safe guide highlighting the key differences between these innovative and interactive forms of marketing. 

Our goal is to give you an understanding of the pros and cons of each type of tour, so that you can make the right decision, 100% of the time. 

Let’s take a look.

3D Virtual Tours

3D virtual tours, often called ‘Matterport tours’ or a ‘digital twin’, are digital copies of an existing space. They’re made using specialist camera equipment that simultaneously takes 360 panoramic photos and infrared 3D scans of a room. 

These are then seamlessly woven together, creating a flawless 3D model of the property that can be easily explored on any smart device.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, ‘this sounds very technical and very expensive.’ But bear with us. Recently, huge leaps in the technological world have turned this seemingly intimidating property marketing tool into something entirely affordable. 

Here’s an example of a 3D virtual tour we created: 

More and more businesses are turning to 3D virtual tours as they realise they’re more cost-effective than they first thought.

Here’s a clear and concise breakdown of the pros and cons of a 3D virtual tour.

Pros: 

• A more comprehensive view – Visitors to your 3D virtual tour want a closer look at your property or business. Show them exactly how your space connects together using a ‘god’s eye’, or ‘bird’s eye’, view of the space.
• Interactive data-points – Data points, data points, data points. They’re the ultimate feature for highlighting unique details in your space. They can contain different media, including photos, music, videos and more.
• Easy to add to websites & share – Using cloud-based software to create 3D virtual tours makes adding them to your website effortless. It also makes them easily shareable via email, whatsapp and other messenger services. 
• Floor plans & CAD ready outputs – The detail that a 3D virtual tour provides makes collaboration with an architect or interior designer easier than you’d think possible. Accurate, schematic floor plans can be imported directly into CAD software like archiCAD and Revit, saving you valuable time.

Cons:

• Hosting Fees – With great pros, brings some small cons. The cloud-based nature of 3D virtual tours means they must be hosted on a server. This means some additional fees. However, depending on the size of the space, you could be looking at paying just £15 – £35 per year, with many providers including hosting for the first 12 months.
• Size limits – Unfortunately, size does matter with a 3D virtual tour. Because each 3D scan position captures so much data, there’s a limit to the number of scans we can take before a 3D virtual tour can get slightly unwieldy. Luckily, we have plenty of ways to combat this issue, but it’s still worth considering.
• Direct Sunlight – Issues can arise when 3D scanning a space that’s in direct sunlight. The infrared rays in sunlight can result in partial or incomplete scans. Our team is well-used to negating this, however.

360 Tours

From 3D virtual tours, to 360 tours. Similar in name and similar in nature – but with some notable differences. 

360 tours still provide an ‘active’ experience to users. They allow us to freely explore a space, moving from position to position to give viewers an in-depth look at the space. 

So how is it different to a 3D virtual tour? 360 tours are created by carefully photographing a space using a DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens or a specialist 360 camera. These images are then stitched together to create a fully comprehensive and interactive 360 tour.

360 virtual tours can be created using a DSLR or specialist 360 cameras like the one above

Again, here are the pros and cons of a 360 tour in black and white for you to consider.

Pros: 

• Tailored solution – 360 tours are extremely versatile. Because they’re assembled using photos, 360 tours can be easily customised to your exact specifications. You can include things like drone photography, background music and more prominent client branding to really set your 360 tour apart. 
• Image quality – Whilst 3D virtual tours require a lot of specialist equipment and software, a 360 tour just needs a high-quality camera. We use the latest DSLR camera to capture high-resolution images, creating a clean, and accurate, representation of your space.
• No size limits – Remember we said size was an issue with 3D virtual tours? Not the case with 360 tours. 360 tours are the best option for showcasing larger spaces. They’re perfect for spaces like commercial warehouses and airport hangers that might be too large to capture using a 3D virtual tour.

Cons: 

• Varying quality – This can be a big one. Even if you have perfect image quality, using a lower quality software to put the 360 tours together can produce poor results. This means it’s crucial that you shop around to ensure you’re working with a top-tier 360 virtual tour provider.
• A less comprehensive view – By less comprehensive, we mean 360 virtual tours lack detail compared to a 3D virtual tour. Because 360 tours don’t capture spatial data, that means we can’t produce interactive floor plans or dollhouse views of the space.
• Issues with sharing – Embedding a 360 virtual tour on your website means using a plugin, such as JAVA or Flash. The drawback with this is that you won’t be able to share the tour itself – you’ll have to share a link to the entire page on your website. This does limit how shareable the tour itself actually is.

Video Tours

And here we come to our final type of property marketing: the video tour. 

We can all picture what’s meant by a video tour, but what exactly sets it apart from a 3D tour and a 360 virtual tour? 

Well, it’s a lot more traditional and straightforward than the other options. A video tour uses simple videography techniques to film a walkthrough of a space. It’s a solid option for an individual or business dipping their toe into the world of virtual and video tours for the first time.

Here’s an example of a video tour of Paris’s famous Louvre Museum:

Alright, that’s enough background info – pros and cons list number three coming right up.

Pros:

• A tailored view – No one knows your space better than you. Use your knowledge of the space to plan the tour and help a professional videographer capture the best features of the space to create an accurate, yet flattering, final product. 
• Show your personality – Video tours help you to show what you’re all about. Give users a sense of the ‘vibe’ of your business or property by using music, voice over or visual effects, for example. 
• Spread the word quickly and efficiently – Familiar with video hosting platforms like YouTube and Vimeo? Course you are. Uploading your video tour to such platforms is so easy and will give it more exposure to a wider audience. Another Thanks to video hosting platforms like YouTube & Vimeo, uploading your video tour  bonus – no additional hosting fees. Winner.

Cons:

• ‘Passive’ content – Passive, in this context, means that users can’t interact with the content. Unlike 3D and 360 virtual tours, a video tour is exactly that – it’s a piece of video. This means that you won’t be able to add any fancy features to encourage users to engage with the tour. 
• You might get lost in the noise – As ever, with every pro, there’s often a pesky con. The world of video content is enormous. Just think how much content there is on a platform like YouTube. Over 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Almost hard to believe, right? That figure helps beg the question: ‘how can I make my video tour stand-out from the crowd?’ It’ll be an uphill struggle, that’s for sure. 

Well, I guess that’s everything. Your guide to choosing the right form of tour has come to a close. We hope you’ve learned more about the benefits of the different options: virtual tours vs video & 360 tours 

If you’re learning towards a 3D virtual tour as the best solution for your property or business our experts are on hand to help answer any questions.

Click here to contact us now.

Or to learn more about 3D virtual tour pricing click here.

The post Virtual Tours Vs Video Tours & 360 Tours – What’s The Difference? appeared first on Scene3D.

Top 5 Matterport Problems

It’s no secret that we absolutely love Matterport, its a fantastic platform for virtual tour experiences that we feel is unrivalled in its quality, accuracy, usability and variety of application. That’s not to say Matterport is perfect though, like any technology it has it’s challenges.

At Scene3D we want any potential customer to understand the ins and outs of Matterport virtual tours before deciding whether it’s the best tool for you and your property or business. With Matterport virtual tours becoming more prominent around the world, we understand that an increasing number of property and business owners are interested in utilising this technology and we believe that no one should be left in the dark about how it all works. 

In this article we will discuss the most common problems we’ve encountered with Matterport, and more importantly, what you can do to the avoid them. 

Matterport Problems #1: Direct Sunlight

In order to capture data about the size and shape of a room, a Matterport camera sends out an infrared signal that bounces off the surrounding surfaces and then back to the camera’s sensor. Sunlight has a substantial amount of infrared light, which can interfere with the way the camera senses depth data. This can even be true on cloudy days.

This means scanning in, or near, sunlight can cause alignment errors. This is when the software cannot locate the correct position of the 3D scan in relation to the space itself. It also means that there can be poor 3D geometry, which leads to issues when navigating the virtual tour, and ultimately, a substandard end product.

Matterport uses infrared light to determine the size & shape of a space, sunlight contains infrared lightwaves so can effect the camera’s accuracy.

What’s The Solution?:

It’s possible to minimise bright, direct sunlight in indoor spaces by partially blocking the light with blinds, curtains, or shades. We also look to time our visit appropriately so bright spots are avoided where possible, our team will often continue scanning other areas of a property before returning when bright spots have dissipated. 

For outdoor areas, where escaping direct sunlight can be near impossible, we recommend using the 360º views option. 360º views are captured using the Matterport system, but in this setting, the camera just takes a high resolution panoramic image without any 3D data. Because the 360 view does not capture any 3D data, direct sunlight does not impact the quality of the 360 views. These can then be added to the dollhouse and appear as icons on the tours, which can be accessed simply by clicking on them. 

Of course for some properties or businesses a walkthrough of exterior areas is absolutely essential. In scenarios like this we recommend the use of a Leica BLK 360 scanner in conjunction with a Matterport camera. A Leica BLK360 is a high-spec piece of equipment more suited to capturing 3D data in direct UV light.

Matterport Problems #2: Number Of Scan Limits

To achieve the high quality, accurate 3D virtual tours only possible with a Matterport system, the camera needs to capture large amounts of both photographic and 3D data. Unfortunately, if a space is too large there can be limitations in the maximum number of 3D scans before the project starts to become unwieldy.   

The limiting factor placed on your scans is entirely dependent on the amount of detail in your space and the total surface area that’s being scanned. This means that, for example, a large empty office could have up to 400 scans, but an office filled with lots of appliances, partitions and desks may max out at 300 scans – this is because small parts require more detail and will take much longer to process. In addition, the office filled with objects will be harder to navigate, because of the added surface area. 

What’s The Solution?:

The main solution to effectively 3D scan particularly large spaces is to break the space into separate 3D models. These smaller 3D models will be more manageable and can be linked together through data-tags. For example, if you have an office space consisting of 800 scans across 6 floors, we would have floors Ground to 3 in one model, and floors 3 to 6 in a separate model with both being linked to each other by data-tags.

If it is totally necessary to have a large space as one 3D model, there is a service from Matterport called Stitching. This process involves Matterport manually combining two or more Matterport 3D models into one model. This means that spaces that require 400 scans can be made into a singular model. It’s important to be aware that this is a time intensive and intricate process, meaning it may take longer to create a final finished 3D tour.

Matterport Problems #3: Sensitive Or Personal Info On Display

With the high definition quality of  Matterport virtual tours, a major factor to consider when capturing different spaces is the private and personal information that could be visible. From legal documents to family pictures – all these items can potentially be on show in a home, office or other type of occupied space. 

This could obviously be a major concern for any business or home owner. Most Matterport virtual tours see a high volume of visitors so there could be hundreds or even thousands of people privy to things they shouldn’t be.

For this property we used the blur tool to obscure private family photos from potential buyers.

What’s The Solution?:

Fortunately there are a couple of key ways to combat this important problem. Firstly, before any Matterport Service Provider (MSP) arrives on-site, it is important to make sure the space not only looks presentable, but to also ensure that any sensitive data is hidden. Secondly, Matterport has also recently introduced a new tool that can be used to blur any photographs or any sensitive data that may not have been missed during the 3D scanning appointment. Finally, we recommend giving the client the chance to review the virtual tour prior to it being published. This way they can sign off that they are happy with the final product, and confirm that absolutely no private or sensitive data is visible. 

Matterport Problems #4: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Due to the high quality resolution and comprehensive view of a space offered by Matterport 3D virtual tours, you really get to inspect every nook and cranny of a space in great detail. However, there are two sides to this. 

On one hand, this is fantastic as it offers a complete view, showing all the positive aspects of a space and helping to get viewers really invested and interested. On the other hand however, due to this quality it also highlights the negatives of a space, such as fading paint work, undesirable mess, poorly positioned furniture – you get the picture.

What’s The Solution?:

The 3 P’s: preparation, preparation and preparation.

Before every scanning appointment it’s important to have a walk around the property to ensure that the space is up to standard. Any good MSP will be able to advise what will stand out in the tour, and what the best remedy is to fix it. Preparation is key when it comes to getting the best results possible from your Matterport virtual tour. 

Fortunately, if there is any unsightly mess that needs removing, a Matterport camera captures one room at a time so there is always the opportunity to shuffle things around to make sure each room is looking its best.

Matterport Problems #5: Matterport Hosting Fees

Once the 3D Virtual Tour has been scanned and the model has been trimmed, it is then uploaded to the Matterport servers so that it can be processed. Matterport does things in this way to be able to provide the amazing functionality while making each virtual tour easy to share & embed on websites. Unfortunately the drawback to this process is the tour can only be hosted on the Matterport servers and there is an associated cost with this. Some Matterport services providers prefer to charge for this annually while others will spread this out monthly. Depending on the provider and the size of the model the cost is usually around £15 to £35 per year. 

What’s The Solution?:

Unfortunately, right now for this problem there is no solution without exploring a different method of showcasing your space. However, we feel that the pros of Matterport’s tried and tested platform definitely outweigh the cons. Matterport tours are easily shareable, have amazing functionality, are incredibly accurate and can be easily added to websites without slowing anything down.

Here’s an example of a Matterport virtual tour we created: 

What next?

There you have it. A full breakdown of what we at Scene3D have found to be the top 5 issues with Matterport, and some suggestions on how best to remedy them. If you have any questions regarding Matterport virtual tours and would like to speak to an expert, we have a great team who are always on-hand to offer their expertise. 

Click here to contact us now.

Or to learn more about 3D virtual tour pricing click here.

The post Top 5 Matterport Problems (and how to fix them) appeared first on Scene3D.

Virtual Tour Price – How Much Is My Virtual Tour Going To Cost?

If we had to pick one question that our clients and prospects ask us repeatedly – it’s definitely about the virtual tour price. It’s completely normal to want to know what you’re going to pay for something but with many factors that can effect the price of a virtual tour it’s not always a simple question to answer. Because of that, we’ve created this guide to help you determine the virtual tour cost by explaining the factors that affect it with ballpark prices and examples.

How Much Does a 3D Virtual Tour Cost?

We’ve answered this question thousands of times since we started Scene3D, and these days, prospective clients will ask us for virtual tour quotes or estimates every week — many will raise the question within the first few minutes of our conversation.

We get it.

Price matters. Virtual tour price dictates whether or not a virtual tour is the right choice for you, your business, or your venue. It also influences which functionalities you’ll get, and the type of virtual tour.

And because we believe in transparency as one of our core principles – we’ll share with you what affects the price of virtual tours and a price range for different virtual tour options. Not all virtual tours are made the same, and because of that, it’s important for you to know what value you’ll get for your money. Some people mix up 360 tours with virtual tours and video tours. We’ve explained the difference so you’ll know exactly what you need.

When you’re researching the cost of making a virtual tour, types, and benefits keep in mind that the purpose of the virtual tour is to work in your specific case. To achieve that, you need to develop an initial budget, and a plan and get a general understanding of what you’re paying for and if there are any long-term costs.

It’s completely natural you’re eager to learn the price right away, but it’s a tough question to answer right off the bat. There are so many variables, and it’s not your job to know the specifics. But the more informed you are, the better results you’ll get. Whether you get a £200 or £2000 virtual tour, we always start with getting to know you and your goals better.

Assessing your goals, the results you’re after, and your space will help us figure out if you need some special considerations, and offer you a personalized solution based on that. What works for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.

At Scene3D, we strive to educate every prospective client, even if that leads you to a different solution. Our main goal with this blog post is to offer you information about realistic price ranges for virtual tours based on our real-world experience.

Please keep in mind that all virtual tour prices, whether for residential or commercial projects, are only estimates based on our real-world experience. Virtual tour costs can and often do vary drastically based on the solution(s) you choose, where you live, your chosen provider, and many other factors. This blog post is focused mainly on Matterport virtual tour pricing in the UK, and you’ll get fresh information including virtual tour prices in 2022.

How Much Does A House Virtual Tour Cost?

In 2023, the virtual tour price for residential properties will be approximately £300 to £600 (+VAT). What’s included in the cost of making a virtual tour?

A professional will 3D scan the house to properly capture the whole property. But that’s not all. What happens after determines the quality of your 3D virtual tour, and its functionalities. That’s why post-production to bring your virtual tour together is an indispensable part of the process.

Virtual tour pricing highly depends on the size of the property, scale, and its intricacy. For example, a virtual tour of a studio apartment will take considerably less time & effort to produce than a virtual tour of a large 6 bedroomed country manor house. Most good virtual tour providers will be able to give a pretty good indication of the cost to create a virtual tour from an approximate Sq Ft of the property.

Left: a small 1 bed apartment / Right: a large 6 bedroom detached house

Size is not the only factor to consider however, the intricacy of the property can play an important role in determining the house virtual tour cost. An old cottage with lots of small alcoves, twisty staircases, and cramped attic spaces may be more difficult to 3D scan than a modern property with a similar Sq Ft. If you think your property may have some unique or unusual features it’s important to speak to your virtual tour provider and let them know before they arrive at the property to ensure everyone is on the same page and prevent any surprise increases in costs.

If you’re curious about real estate virtual tour pricing you’ll be happy to learn that many virtual tour providers will also offer discounts to property owners, estate agents, or property developers who are looking to have more than one residential virtual tour created. So if you are thinking of rolling out virtual tours across your whole property portfolio it could be beneficial to have that conversation with a virtual tour provider when enquiring about costs.

Take a look at a residential virtual tour below:

Commercial Virtual Tour Price – How Is It Calculated?

Now, this is where things start to get a little bit more complicated.

The same factors that determine the price of a residential virtual tour still apply, however, commercial projects vary wildly from one space to the next. A local restaurant will (probably) have a very different size & shape to a city centre 12-floor office block.

Each client could have very different objectives they wish to achieve with their virtual tour: a gym may want to increase the number of new members, an education facility wants to attract top talent to attend with a 3D virtual tours for schools, a gallery may want to help those with anxiety feel more comfortable visiting in person or a commercial property agent may wish to simply showcase a beautiful space to potential tenants.

All of these things and more will determine the virtual tour price. We’ve seen commercial virtual tours start from as low as £300 and go as high as £4,000+ based on the physical space, the scope of the project, the objectives & the number of virtual tours required.

Left: floor-plan of a small independent gym / Right: floor-plan of a large 2 floor health clubAll of these things and more will determine the virtual tour price. We’ve seen commercial virtual tours start from as low as £300 and go as high as £4,000+ based on the physical space, the scope of the project, the objectives & the number of virtual tours required.

With this in mind, here are a few tips to help streamline the process of getting a final commercial virtual tour price:

What is the size of the space?

Floor plans can be extremely helpful but knowing at least a rough Sq Ft of the space usually helps narrow down a ballpark cost. We know that sometimes it can be tricky to get this information, particularly if it’s an older commercial space where floor plans may be lost or outdated. If it’s not possible to get floor plans or a rough Sq Ft then some pictures of the space / areas you’d like included in your virtual tour is usually enough to produce an estimate.

What are your objectives? 

Having a clear picture of who you are hoping will explore your virtual tour can be very useful, for example, one gym may want to appeal to hardcore fitness fanatics while another may want to feel approachable to novice new members. Understanding your target market will help your virtual tour provider find the best possible solution for your needs.

Who is your target market? 

Having a clear picture of who you are hoping will explore your virtual tour can be very useful, for example, one gym may want to appeal to hardcore fitness fanatics while another may want to feel approachable to novice new members. Understanding your target market will help your virtual tour provider find the best possible solution for your needs. 

Take a look at a commercial virtual tour below:

Additional Features: 

Other factors that could impact the price are additional features that take a virtual tour above and beyond the default software. 

These could include:

• Personalisation and branding of the tour
• A navigation menu to aid in sending visitors to key areas
• An introduction screen and welcome video to introduce your tour to new visitors
• Custom data-tag icons
• Facebook messenger intergration

Which of these options to use will be different depending on the requirements of your project. 

For example, a virtual tour of a building under construction is likely to be used for reference purposes and so won’t require branding and additional features. 

A navigation menu can be a great feature for larger spaces, making it easy for visitors to find key areas

Whereas a virtual tour of a school may want to include branding, a navigation menu and a welcome video to help new students get a feel for the life at the school and quickly find where their new classroom will be. 

It all depends on the unique requirements of your property, venue or business.

Our top tips to get your to a virtual tour price quickly:

If you’ve got a project in mind and would like to quickly get a quote for a virtual tour it can help to have the following information prepared when speaking to a virtual tour provider. This will help them to quickly identify the best solution for your project, suggest an approach and put together a quote:

• What is the space (is it home, a commercial office or wedding venue for example)?
• Do you have a estimate Sq Ft of the space? If not do you have any photos of the space you can share so your provider can get a feel for the size and shape
• Where is the property located?
• Is there any other important info (out of hours access, property condition or parking restrictions for example)?

If you aren’t sure on any of the above don’t worry, they’re simply tips to help you get to a quote quickly. Any proffesional virtual tour company will be able t0 talk through your project and help you to get to an estimated quote.

The Exact Virtual Tour Price – Get a Quote Today

There are many other factors that can impact the virtual tour price such as 3D vs 360, interactive data tags, and VR functionality to name a few but a good virtual tour provider will be able to talk you through these options. 

We hope you’ve developed a better feel for the potential virtual tour price including the overall residential & commercial virtual tour pricing range, and what to expect when you start going through the virtual tour buying process.

As we’ve mentioned, everything here is simply an estimate, and your final price may look much different. If you’d like to know the actual virtual tour price for your specific case, we’d be happy to help you. Simply tell us about your property or business below and our friendly experts will put together a personalised, no-obligation quote.

The post How Much Is My Virtual Tour Really Going To Cost? appeared first on Scene3D.

Virtual Tours & Holiday Lets

Domestic holidays have always been popular for families in the UK, but with the Covid-19 pandemic restricting travel, staycations are the safest and easiest option for those of us looking for some respite. 

Just like with any rental property in the current climate, the question is always how do you showcase it in all its glory – safely? Here are some fantastic tips on how a 3D virtual tour from Scene3D can help you gain interest in your holiday lets.

Follow the News

Whilst this might seem straightforward, keeping up with the latest government guidance is the first step to capitalising on the potential of your holiday let with a 3D virtual tour. 

The government has revealed its latest roadmap out of the most recent national lockdown, and it looks as if domestic holidays will be an option for all of us in the near future. This means there’s no better time to look into new ways to market your property to the public. 

A 3D virtual tour gives your property an advantage. Not only can we take high-resolution photographs to highlight the beauty and location of your holiday let, but a 360 tour of its interior and facilities will help it stand out. Potential visitors will be able to walk through the property virtually, allowing them to visualise the space in a unique way. 

At Scene3D, we will always look to get the best out of your space – no matter how big or small. We’re committed to providing you with the best possible package that’s certain to boost your bookings when current restrictions are eased.

All the information, all in one place

There’s often an established formula for giving the details of a holiday let or rental property, and it goes something like this: images, bullet points, extended description. Pretty straightforward, right? But what if it could all be in one place?

Data points can be added to a 3D virtual tour to combine all of these elements into one. You can provide all the information you’d want about your holiday let in one clean, concise and detailed virtual tour. 

These data points can describe anything about the property you’d like – the size of the bedrooms, what kitchen equipment is provided or even some fun things you can do in the local area.

Data-tags can contain images, text, video, audio or links to external pieces of information

Points of difference

These days, everyone’s looking for something a little bit different. Properties that can serve multiple different purposes are sought after to help make experiences unique for visitors. Holiday lets have been used for birthday celebrations, baby showers and even weddings – but how do you convey the versatility of your property effectively?

Scene3D have a wealth of experience showcasing the multiple layouts and options that large event spaces can provide, and we can do exactly the same with your holiday let. We can take images of your property dressed for different occasions through ‘datatags’ to give potential renters an idea of how your space can be used. These datatags can then be added to the 3D virtual tour of your property to showcase its true potential as a multi-purpose space. 

“The internet has allowed us to showcase our business to potential clients all over the world. The virtual tours we’ve embedded on our website take that to a whole new level; people can virtually walk around our properties and explore exactly where they might stay before they make their decision to book with us. It is definitely the way forward and more and more guests are expecting to see this level of visibility on holiday websites as it gives them peace of mind.”

This is a fantastic way to appeal to a more varied audience and generate interest in new areas. Who knows – maybe this could be the next big thing for your holiday let?

Get in touch and maximise your holiday lets potential!

We’re always looking for more exciting projects to get involved in, so why not get in touch to see how Scene3D could help you market your holiday let.

With options available for a variety of budgets, we’re committed to your needs and helping you showcase your property. Beyond the photography, scanning and 3D model creation, we will guide you through how to effectively use your 3D space to make sure you make the most of this powerful, digital tool.

Click here to contact our team and find out how we could help you.

Quote: Alexa Voisey, Founder of Bath Holiday Rentals

The post Location, Location, Staycation? – Virtual Tours & Holiday Lets appeared first on Scene3D.

Education, education, education – it’s every child’s right to have one. However, starting school for the first time or entering a new school can be daunting. What can schools do to make it easier for their future students?

We’ve witnessed how quickly things change in the Covid-19 pandemic. Many industries were hit hard, and only those who adjusted to new circumstances came out as winners. Schools are no different. The biggest obstacles were definitely restrictions in terms of how to safely show school facilities without risking anyone’s health. 

But is this relevant only when the global pandemic strikes? Schools don’t have to be limited to open days and school tours. As educational institutions, schools need to set an example and quickly adjust to new technologies and make it easier for students, pandemic or not.  

Virtual tours for schools are an easy way to amaze students with access to school facilities 365 days a year, 24/7. Students and parents could explore the school from the comfort of their own homes, while school staff wouldn’t be overwhelmed with excess work.

Put Students at Ease With Virtual Tours for Schools

Open days and traditional school tours not only present health risks but also logistical barriers. Why would students and parents go through a struggle to visit the school, when they can easily explore it in their free time? 

Some students may not be able to see their classroom and school before it starts. This will make their life harder, as they’ll feel anxious about what to expect. And starting education at a new school should be one of the happiest and most exciting moments of a child’s life. 

This is especially relevant to young, vulnerable students and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Virtual tours for schools are the ultimate solution. Why?

It’s safe, it’s reliable and high-quality school virtual tours will get students excited about what’s to come. They’ll explore with their friends & family a new learning environment where they’ll spend years of their lives, making new friends, falling in love, and learning invaluable information.

Children are great with technology. They adjust more quickly than adults. By giving them a chance to navigate the school facilities, hallways and seeing their school with virtual school tours, your school will be cool in their eyes instead of boring. 

A 3D virtual tour of your school is the first step in building the ever-important relationship between a school, the pupils, and their families. Help students feel more at ease in these uncertain times by offering 3D virtual school tours.

Virtual Tours for Schools Highlight Your Facilities and Expertise

Worried about how you’re going to showcase your school’s high-spec science labs, brand-new gymnasium, or art and design studios if open days aren’t an option?

Virtual tours for schools created by professionals are high-resolution and interactive, with the possibility to add interactive data points to highlight the key features. Do your school justice with school virtual tours, don’t just take pictures and call it a day. 

Virtual tours for schools are meant to be as engaging as possible, and seamlessly incorporate different media types into the virtual tour itself. What does this mean?

 A walkthrough experience is more enticing than traditional photography and gives viewers a unique insight into your school environment and facilities.

For example, insert a video of your science labs in action so potential students can see what their science lessons will be like. These can be implemented anywhere you’d like, to give your students an even clearer picture of what your school is all about!

Schools can show their facilities in an interactive way

School Virtual Tours Take Accessibility to the Next Level

It’s not just about bragging about how great your school is, and what facilities it has. Something that’s often overlooked is displaying how accessible your school is for students with disabilities and SEND.

Many schools are looking to boost their inclusivity. Highlighting the adjustments your school made to make it as accessible as possible should be a top priority. Make it easy for those students by showing them they’ll easily adjust to the new learning environment. 

Whether it’s simply accessible routes for wheelchair users to get around, or interactive whiteboards and other learning tools to support students with dyslexia – demonstrate all of these great benefits in a virtual school tour. 

Parents and other family members want to see how the school will cater to their child’s specific needs way before they start school. It’s the factor they take into account when they decide where their children will go to school. Why not make the most out of virtual tours for schools by including data points to signpost these so parents will clearly see how you’ll support their child?

Show the parents your school is more than capable of providing the best learning environment, facilities, and conditions in which their child will flourish!

How to Create Virtual Tours for Schools That Attract Students?

Focus on parents, not school

Parents are the ones who make the decision about where their children will go to school. Keep them in mind when creating virtual tours for schools. What they’d like to see? What’s important to them? Answer their most burning questions with virtual tours for schools by highlighting key features and incorporating different media throughout the virtual tour. 

Sell the experience

Virtual tours for schools offer an immersive experience for students to feel the atmosphere of the place where they’ll spend the majority of their time before they step foot in there. Make it count by bringing the experience of attending your school one step closer to them by pointing out all the benefits with a show, don’t tell attitude. 

Stand out

Not many schools decide to provide their students with school virtual tours. By including one on your website, you’ll attract more potential students, and stand out from other schools they’re considering. It will increase the chances to choose your school, and not the other way around!

Clarity wins

Include a call to action – whether it’s to fill out an online application or a meeting with admissions. Remove the noise and explain the next steps. 

Make every corner count by hiring professionals for school virtual tours

At Scene3D we’re always looking to take on more exciting projects to help you get the most out of your space. We have vast experience in creating virtual tours for schools and are happy to provide these solutions for a variety of budgets.

Check out the examples of school virtual tours we’ve completed successfully!

Get in touch and find out how we could help your school attract young bright minds!

The post 3D Virtual Tours for Schools: A 24/7 Open Day appeared first on Scene3D.

The pandemic has altered the way we have to approach things that were, at one time, routine. Businesses must continually have one eye on the news to ensure they’re abiding by the latest restrictions and some have been forced to adapt more than others. 

This has created a unique situation in the property market in particular. One thing that the pandemic can’t really dictate is peoples need to move house or find a new property. With this in mind, real estate companies and property owners have had to develop new, and safer, ways to market their properties. 

Could this be the time when virtual property tours become the new normal?

The Advantages of Virtual Property Tours During a Pandemic

The rise of the virtual property tour has been a steep one. For real estate companies and letting agencies, virtual property tours have always been of particular use to those looking to move somewhere far away. Whether that’s a three or four-hour drive away, or a long-haul flight away – virtual tours give these companies a wider net to cast. 

But now, with national and regional lockdowns in place, arranging a house viewing is becoming increasingly difficult – even if you’re looking to move just round the corner. Virtual property tours provide the perfect solution. 

Showcase your space with high resolution imagery

Once you’ve put your contracts through, you can revisit your new home virtually and fall in love with it over and over again. It also gives you a chance to check things through and spot any features that you might not have noticed first time round. 

If you’re not using virtual property tours to showcase your property, then you could, potentially, be limiting your reach. People deemed to be ‘vulnerable’ due to their age or health conditions might be hesitant to attend an in-person house viewing. So, providing a clean, detailed and accurately represented virtual tour of a property would give such people the next best thing. 

Having a Matterport3D tour available on your property listings is a massive time saver for you and your business.

Virtual Property Tours for Students

So let’s say you’re a student. Your tenancy is due to end in a couple of weeks and you’ve found a property you’re interested in. You’re desperate to show your housemates, but you’re all living in different corners of the country and you can’t visit a house together due to Covid restrictions. Luckily, there’s a Matterport 3D tour available.

Instead of just changing it and signing contracts without ever seeing the property, a Matterport 3D tour gives you a chance to see if the property will work for you and your friends. Choose your rooms, plan the layout of the living room – all of this can be done virtually.

Spare time can be hard to come by as a student with a hectic schedule of lectures, seminar prep and essays to plan. So spending time viewing houses in-person is just another thing to try and squeeze in. Virtual house tours provide flexibility and efficiency, giving you the chance to make big decisions about your future living situation, from the comfort of your current one.

Image taken from one of our student property tours in Sheffield

How can Virtual Property Tours Help Estate Agents & Property Sellers?

Virtual house tours aren’t only for prospective buyers and renters – they’re an equally important tool for agents and sellers. From independent sellers to established property developers, the benefits of showcasing your assets virtually are huge. 

As an estate agent, having a Matterport3D tour available on your property listings is a massive time saver for you and your business. Virtual property tours will allow buyers a closer look at a property before coming for an in-person viewing. 

This might not seem like a big win, but just think about how many viewings a house with no virtual tour could take to sell. There could be multiple uninterested buyers who are simply browsing what’s available in their area. 

A virtual property tour gives buyers a chance to pick out properties they’re seriously interested in. As a result, this will reduce the overall time a property spends on the market. Downsides? There aren’t any.

As a property seller, a Matterport 3D tour of your house means less disruption to your personal life. In-person viewings can be stressful and mean that you won’t have your home to yourself whilst it’s on the market. However, if you’re open to accepting in-person viewings, having a virtual tour of your home means that potential buyers will only need to visit once. If they want to check certain details, or simply take a closer look at certain rooms, a virtual tour is the best and most COVID-secure way to do so.  

Explore a 3D virtual tour:

Keep Each Other Safe with Virtual Property Tours

All businesses have been adjusting. The safety of employees has and always must be a priority but now, it’s something more than just we ‘should’ be doing. There are government guidelines to adhere to and full national lockdowns, too. 

But how can you keep business coming in if your workplace is to shut? With real estate agents closing their offices under the strictest restrictions, the need for virtual tours becomes more apparent. As we’ve already told you, 3D house tours will bring you consistent enquiries from prospective buyers whilst also reducing the need for in-person viewings, keeping your property sellers and potential buyers safe. 

This way you’ll be keeping employees safe whilst still receiving quality leads. 

If you have any questions about any of the content in this blog or you have any questions about 3D virtual tours or would like more information on virtual tour production, we’d absolutely love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us today to find out what a 3D virtual tour could do for you and event space.

Quote from here

The post Virtual Property Tours – The Real New Normal? appeared first on Scene3D.

When you own or work for an event space, marketing it to the world can sometimes feel like a mammoth task. With so much competition out there in every city, finding a way to stand out from the crowd can be really tough. Read on to find out how you can use 3D virtual tours to take your event space marketing to the next level. By the way, if you’re wondering what a 3D virtual tour is think Google Street View, but inside your event space, sometimes called Google indoor maps.

Showcase the potential of your space 

When you walk into an empty house or room, even for the most creative minds amongst us it can be hard to envision the potential of the space. Half of the battle when it comes to convincing someone to hire an event space is being able to show them exactly what can be done with what’s in front of their eyes. Of course, any marketer will know that having a portfolio of professional photos taken at different events will help infinitely when it comes to marketing the space. But it’s always a challenge to really do the size of the space justice in photographs alone. Digital marketing can often be one dimensional, the user can’t explore or get a real sense of depth or scale – and that’s where we come in!

Virtual tours give visitors a “god’s eye” view of an events space

A 3D virtual tour is often the next best experience to being able to view any space in person. But in the case of event spaces, we believe 3D virtual tours to actually be even better. Why? Because a  virtual tour can show a viewer how the event space looks in a multitude of different styles in just a few minutes. Our virtual tour software gives viewers what we like to call a “God’s eye” view – you’re able to zoom in on the space from above, making the process of planning the decoration so much easier than having to rely on simply memory alone as you can use the tour as a point of reference.  Better still, you can embed virtual tours on your website and on your Google Business listing. It’s those kinds of touches that are going to really make your event stand out.

Event spaces that have embraced this technology have found virtual tours to be a powerful influence on their customer journey. Wyboston Lakes, a resort located on Cambridgeshire border that offers a range of leisure and business facilities, made virtual tours a cornerstone of their digital marketing strategy. Louisa Watson, Director of Marketing found benefits in the increased engagement from visitors to their website and in the data they gain from the 3D virtual tour:

The addition of the virtual tour experience, machine learning chat bots and online booking tools give the customers an awesome online experience and gives us unique data driven insight that will enable us to enhance the customer’s booking experience further still.

Though an “in-person” viewing is important, a 3D virtual tour that showcases the space is collectively so much more powerful than standing in an empty room and relying on peoples’ imaginations alone.

Highlight your space’s USPs using data points

Every event space has its own unique selling points and with a 3D virtual tour, you are able to capture these for the viewers using something we call “data points”. Data points are interactive points throughout the tour that viewers can click on to get more information about any aspect of the tour. For example, you can add text data points that let the viewer know what the event space’s maximum capacity is, or if you are able to offer in-house catering, or what time your licence allows music to be played until. But they don’t stop at just text – if you wanted to showcase the impressive acoustics of say, a concert hall, you would also be able to attach audio clips to a data point to show what past concerts have sounded like in the space. 

Data tags can contain images, audio, video and links to external sources of info

Lastly, you also have the option of add pictures and videos to data points to your virtual tour. These are both incredibly helpful when it comes to showing viewers photos and videos of the space at past events and how the space looks with different styles of decoration depending on the occasion. So a 360 tour really does become just that, your potential customer can really get a tangible feel of your space and how it works for their needs. Data points are an engaging way to showcase information to people without bombarding them with lots of text on a website – something that the majority of people.in this day and age just don’t end up reading.

Explore a 3D virtual tour:

Take advantage of this new, engaging way to showcase your space

It’s no secret that videos are becoming an increasingly popular form of content as peoples’ attention spans for large blocks of text are becoming ever-shorter. We believe that 3D virtual tours offer a fantastic return on investment when it comes to marketing your event space. They’re something that gives you a tangible advantage over your competitors who don’t have an engaging, immersive way to showcase their space. 

If you have any questions about any of the content in this blog or you have any questions about 3D virtual tours or would like more information on virtual tour production, we’d absolutely love to hear from you.

Get in touch with us today to find out what a 3D virtual tour could do for you and event space.

Quote from here

The post Looking for ways to market an event space? A virtual tour can help. appeared first on Scene3D.

In today’s blog post we’d like to take you through a recent case study we undertook on behalf of London North Investments, London’s authority on UK property.

The Client

London North Investments specialise in connecting clients in London with investment properties in the north of the UK that require a lower initial investment and therefore higher potential profit. 

The team is made up of property development experts with over 25 years’ experience, who can advise both individuals and businesses on how to start or improve their property portfolio.

London North Investments’ property prior to refurbishment

The Project

London North Investments came to us as all of their clients are London based, however the properties they are renovating are in the North of England and Scotland. As a Virtual Tour company we can cover the whole of the UK.

The great thing about our 3D virtual tours and 360 photography is that it allow investors to see the progress of each property without making the long journey across the UK every time they want to check on the properties’ progress – something that would cost both money and time. A virtual tour production is a cost effective and time effective means of keeping up to date with improvements, and ultimately, can be a superb sales tools that makes an investor truly stand clear from the crowd.

Take a look at the Matterport virtual tour software below, to get an idea of how this ‘Google Indoor Maps’ style technology can work for you.

As we’re sure you’ll agree, the results are impressive! This particular property was in desperate need of some TLC before the London North Investments team set to work.

In the first 3D virtual tour, you can see that parts of the walls are missing, old wallpaper is hanging off and the property was dated and in dire need of significant work before it would be habitable.

When we set to work doing any 3D virtual tour, we make sure that we take as many individual scans of each room as possible to ensure the small details aren’t missed and the viewer gets a 3D, full 360 photography, immersive experience of the space – second only to being there in person. 

In the case of this particular project, we wanted to showcase the outstanding work done by the London North Investments team – not only to refurbish the property but to transform it into every inch the luxury apartment. 

We also made sure to edit the 3D virtual tour in a seamless way and one that showed the dramatic difference between the start of the property refurbishment and the end result. That’s an imporant part of hiring a virtual tour company in the UK that understands the commercial goals of your project.

What we do 

Our 3D virtual tours are not just something that’s nice to look at – they’re designed to engage and impress your audience.

In the case of any renovation project, we can use our expertise to create a 3D virtual tour that seamlessly integrates any “before” and “after” scan – and these needn’t be exclusive to properties.

If you have an events space, for example, we would be able to showcase how the space looks before and after it’s been decorated for a specific event. We could even integrate multiple scans to show the space as a wedding venue, a corporate event or a children’s party venue, for example.

The sky really is the limit and we work with many different industries every week to showcase their spaces in a more immersive way – and a way that stands out from the competition.

If you’re reading this thinking that all sounds amazing, but ‘how do I create a virtual tour’, then we have the answers and we’d absolutely love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with us today to find out what a 3D virtual tour could do for you and your business.

The post Ways to showcase a property renovation with the aid of a virtual tour. appeared first on Scene3D.

Armed with only an objective, a soft pellet BB gun and a small torch, visitors then have free roam of the huge ex industrial building while actors dressed as zombies do their best to frighten and capture the “survivors”.  The mission? To find a briefcase that contains the last remaining copy of the “cure” before they are bitten or time runs out. 

What were our client’s goals?

Although Zombie Uprising have been in business for several years, they are one of the few companies in the UK to offer this unique experience, generating a large amount of business through glowing word of mouth reviews, while maintaining a steady social media presence through regular promoted posts. However, after noticing an increase in competition, the team at ZU wanted to take steps to increase their digital presence and look at new methods of digital marketing in 2020. The ZU team approached Scene3D and commissioned us a virtual tour production company to help them digitally showcase one of their strongest selling points: the Zombie Uprising Chesterfield site. 

When portraying Zombie Uprising to those searching online, the ZU team had found it difficult to portray the sheer size and scale of the Chesterfield site while also communicating the tone of the ZU experience. Taking inspiration from contemporary video games, Scene3D curated a marketing strategy designed not only to showcase the Chesterfield site, but to also; engage potential customers, generate key customer data for remarketing and provide highly interested leads for the ZU sales team. This really is one of the best aspects of a virtual tour project, as the 360 tour and 360 photography can fit seamlessly into new and existing digital marketing campaigns – and, importantly, make an impact!

Zombie Uprising’s sprawling, atmospheric Chesterfield site

Our approach and proposition

Step 01 –

Using 3D scanning equipment, Scene3D will create a 3D virtual tour of a section of the Chestfield site, complete with actors in full zombie make-up, so visitors can digitally explore the venue and gain an immersive impression of the Zombie Uprising experience. Hidden somewhere within this 3D virtual tour will be a briefcase that potential customers will have to find to win a free zombie uprising experience for 4 people.

Zombie Uprising 3D virtual tour:

Step 02 – 

Scene3D will produce a series of short narrative videos. Each video is to be an entry in a  “video-diary”, chronicling a young scientist’s journey from discovering a miracle cure to accidentally releasing the zombie virus upon the world. Taking inspiration from video games such as Bioshock and Resident Evil, each video will then be placed intermittently throughout the 3D virtual tour using multimedia data-tags. This encourages visitors to the 3D virtual tour to thoroughly explore the ZU Chesterfield site in order to learn the full back story. The videos will also contain clues to the location of the hidden briefcase. 

Step 03 –

Scene3D will produce a social media promotional video for the “find the briefcase” competition and a landing page containing the 3D virtual tour, an explanation about the competition and a data capture form where potential customers can enter their details.

Campaign Video:

Step 04 – 

Scene3D will create a Facebook campaign using the promotional video specifically targeted to the ZU potential customer demographic. The budget for this facebook campaign is £300.00.

Through the application of an engaging promotional video, and by acutely focusing our campaign targeting to potential customers who had a keen interest in zombie pop culture and group events, we were able to generate a high number of link clicks. This led to our cost per click (0.43p) being roughly 20% cheaper than the industry average (0.52p)*. We were also able to generate a substantial amount of organic reach through our audience engagement of comments, likes and tags. 

The majority of potential customers that engaged with the ad, then clicked through to our landing page (77%), with the majority of those that visited the landing page going on to explore the 3D virtual tour (74%). This provides the Zombie Uprising Facebook and Google pixels a substantial amount of key data for retargeting campaigns and customer profiling.

Of those that explored the 3D virtual tour, around 8% then submitted a competition entry. This is due to the work required on a potential customer’s part prior to submitting an answer, namely; to explore the 3D virtual tour, watch the videos, “find the cure” and then submit their answer. This barrier to entry was part of our campaign design. As each Zombie Uprising event is booked mostly by larger groups such as birthdays or stag events, our aim was to filter out casual leads and focus on providing the sales team with highly interested leads to increase the conversion rate and ROI.

Overall the team at Zombie Uprising were extremely happy with the results of this unique campaign, leaving a 5 star review on our google business page and putting plans in place to run further campaigns with Scene3D in the near future. 

Interested in a unique marketing campaign like this? Created by a digitally focused and unique 3d virtual tour company then you can contact our team here.

*Industry average from here

The post Case Study – Zombie Uprising “Find The Cure” Marketing Campaign appeared first on Scene3D.