The three options in one table
| Scan (Matterport and similar) | 360° photo tour | 3D tour rebuilt from listing photos (Highbuilt) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who goes to the unit | Someone with a compatible camera | A photographer with a 360° camera | Nobody |
| How the buyer moves | Jumps between scan points | Jumps between photo spheres | Walks freely, plus overview and day/night |
| How exact it is | Very exact, measured on site | Exact images, no geometry | Reconstruction, checked against every listing photo |
| What it shows outside the unit | The unit only | The unit only | The unit, the building floor by floor, the neighbourhood |
| Typical turnaround | Days, depends on the visit | Days | About 24 hours |
| Works for a unit you can't access | No | No | Yes |
Scans (Matterport and similar)
Scans are the reference for exactness: a camera records the space on site and you get measurements and a "dollhouse" view. The catch is the visit. Someone must book access, go to the unit, and scan it with the furniture in place. For a vacant unit in your own city, that's easy. For a tenanted condo, an owner abroad, or 40 listings across a city, it's slow.
Best for: high-value units where buyers will check measurements, and agencies that already own a scanner.
360° photo tours
A photographer shoots 360° photos from a few points and a viewer stitches them together. It's cheaper than a full scan and looks real because it is real. But the buyer can only stand where the camera stood, there's no sense of distance between rooms, and you still need the visit.
Best for: listings that are being photographed anyway, where you want a little more than flat photos.
3D tours rebuilt from the listing photos
This is what we do at Highbuilt. The unit is rebuilt in 3D from the photos and floor plan you already have, then every view is laid over the listing photo taken from the same spot to check walls, windows and furniture. The buyer walks through freely, switches between day and night, and can open the building and neighbourhood: which floor, which way it faces, how many hours of sun, walking time to the train.
The honest limits: it's a reconstruction, not a measurement, so it should say so. Rooms that were never photographed can't be shown faithfully. And it's only as good as the photos.
Best for: units nobody can visit, overseas buyers, and agencies that need tours for many listings quickly.
Which one should you choose?
- You can visit, and exact measurements matter → a scan.
- A photographer is going anyway, budget is tight → 360° photos.
- Nobody can get to the unit, or the buyer is abroad → a 3D tour rebuilt from the photos.
- You sell off-plan → a rebuilt tour from the plans and renders (see our guide on showing a unit before it's built).
FAQ
Is a 3D tour from photos accurate enough to buy from?
It's accurate enough to decide whether a unit is worth a call or a flight. For the purchase itself, buyers should still check the official floor plan and area in the contract.
Can I use more than one?
Yes. Many agencies use a scan for their premium listings and rebuilt tours for the rest of the portfolio, so every listing has something to explore.
Do buyers care about day and night views?
In tropical cities, yes: heat, glare and the view at night are common questions. Showing both answers them before the call.
