It looks like the content wars have begun. Matterport 3D tours have been getting special branding on Realtor.com for some time now. Now Zillow.com has created their own 3D tour product that features the following marketing perks.

• Premium placement in search results on Zillow.com for the first seven days that the listing is posted.
• Inclusion in special email pushes to home shoppers prompting them to view the listing and 3D tour.
• Special red 3D home badge that helps them stand out on both Zillow and Trulia search result maps. *See Sample Graphic
• Home shoppers can filter search results to only homes with Zillow 3D tours which helps your listing gain more visibility when people narrow their search

Here is a sample from one of my favorite condos in Islamorada, Summer Seas.

A tiny home in the neighborhood!

Pros

The pros for choosing a Zillow 3D tour in addition to the additional marketing already covered is certainly the affordability and speed. It takes about 15 minutes to get this done at most homes which limits the time needed on site to shoot the home making this the most economical 3D tour option. Great for owner occupied homes and condos with amenities. Homeowners can go for a short walk or simply move out of the way of the camera with me. Exterior areas are included with this option regardless of sunlight and proximity to primary home, can sometimes pose a challenge for a Matterport scan. Currently Zillow is offering perpetual hosting at no charge, which is a huge plus for short term transient rental properties and vacation rental business owners! No annual hosting fees!

Cons

The drawbacks of a Zillow 3D tour over Matterport 3D is the lack of the ever popular “Dollhouse View” which is dramatic and gives the end user another way to navigate the space. Matterport also offers real virtual reality, the ability to measure rooms and create floor plans which is not an option for the Zillow 3D tour as of yet. The picture quality is close, but Matterport still has the edge. We may have a fix forthcoming for that so stay tuned!

Conclusion

Zillow 3D tours are an affordable option offering the proverbial “two birds one stone.” Providing a virtual tour that can be used anywhere with no annual fees (I’m talking to you, vacation rental business owners in Marathon!) plus bonus marketing on the Zillow/Trulia platform at no additional cost. A 2020 NAR study (*Exhibit 3-8) ranked virtual tours "very useful" high among all ages. Zillow 3D upgrade pricing is $75-$150 depending on the home size and complexity of the job. Let’s schedule your new property visual today!