Buy or order a virtual tour: what is the difference and what is more profitable

Clients often contact us with the request to “buy a virtual tour.” And this is logical: people are looking for a ready-made solution that can be applied immediately. But in reality, “buying” a virtual tour is, as a rule, ordering an individual service to create it. After all, each object - be it a restaurant, hotel, warehouse or residential complex - has its own layout, lighting, and accents. There is simply no universal 3D tour that would suit everyone. We, as the 360° Space team, are creating such tours from scratch, taking into account all the customer’s wishes.

Why do you need a 3D tour: practical benefits

A virtual tour is not just a pretty picture, it is a powerful marketing tool that solves specific business problems. Here are some examples from our practice:

• Increased conversion: On average, the presence of a 3D tour on a website increases the depth of page viewing by 30-40%. Visitors stay longer, explore the property, and are more likely to contact or purchase. For example, one of our clients from the hotel business in Sochi noted an increase in direct bookings by 25% after the introduction of the tour.
• Saving time for managers: Imagine how many questions are removed by the opportunity to “walk” around the property online. Managers spend less time on initial consultations and demonstrations, answering more substantive questions. For a large business center in Moscow, we did a tour that reduced the number of initial introductory visits by 15%, relieving the leasing department.
• Expansion of sales geography: Potential clients can “visit” your property from anywhere in the world. This is especially true for real estate, tourism and education. We created a tour for a Russian university, which allowed applicants from other countries to get a complete picture of the campus without coming in person.
• Standing out from competitors: A 3D tour is a modern and technologically advanced way of presentation. It demonstrates your company's openness and customer focus. In a market where competition is high, this becomes a significant advantage. One restaurant on Nevsky Prospekt, for which we did a tour, noted that visitors began to choose their establishment more often, citing “the opportunity to see everything in advance.”
• Improving SEO indicators: Google, Yandex and other search engines love interactive content. 3D tours improve behavioral factors (time on site, bounces), which has a positive effect on positions in search results.

How it works: the process from shooting to result

Creating a virtual tour is a multi-step process that requires a professional approach. At 360° Space we work according to a clear algorithm:

1. Planning and coordination: We start by discussing your goals and objectives. What information needs to be conveyed? Which points should be included in the tour? Do you need to add interactive elements - videos, photos, text descriptions? We analyze the object, its features and offer the optimal shooting plan.
2. Shooting: Our team goes to the site with specialized equipment. This is not just “photography”, but the creation of a series of high-resolution spherical panoramas. We use professional cameras and tripods to obtain the most detailed and high-quality images. When shooting a restaurant of 600 m², we can take up to 50-60 panoramas to cover all the rooms and interior details.
3. Post-processing and stitching of panoramas: After the shooting, the “magic” begins in the studio. Panoramas are stitched together, color and exposure are adjusted, and minor defects are removed. The goal is to create a seamless, realistic image that immerses the viewer in the space.
4. Tour assembly: We collect all panoramas into a single navigation system. “Hot spots” are added to navigate between locations, information pop-ups, video, audio, links to a website or order form. These can be branding elements, logos, corporate colors.
5. Placement and testing: The finished tour is placed on the selected platform. We offer several options: (1) 360° Space cloud with high-speed servers and technical support; (2) the customer’s server, if the customer wants to deploy the tour on his infrastructure; (3) an offline version for PC or a separate assembly for a VR headset that works without the Internet. After placement, we always conduct final testing to ensure it works correctly on all devices.

Examples of our work

Khersonskaya 7e

st. Arkhipova

Nine-story building

Iskona Dacha on Yandex Maps

virtual tour of the villa

Loft House

High Life Residential Complex

Venue

How much does it cost: price range and factors

The cost of a virtual tour is always an individual calculation, because each project is unique. You cannot simply “buy a virtual tour” at a fixed price, like a product in a store. The price depends on several key factors:

• Object size and complexity: The number of panoramas directly affects the cost. The larger the area, the more separate rooms or zones, the more shooting points will be required. For example, a tour of a small apartment will cost significantly less than a tour of a multi-story shopping center.
• Number of interactive elements: Do you need additional photos, videos, text descriptions, links? Each such element requires separate preparation and implementation work.
• Additional features: Voice guidance, integrated maps, distance measurement function, the ability to order or book directly from the tour - all this expands the functionality and affects the final price. When we were asked to make an offline version for an exhibition, this also added to the cost, as it required separate assembly.
• Urgency of completion: As with any industry, accelerated deadlines can impact project costs.
• Posting format: Hosting on our servers is already included in the price, but if specific assembly for a VR headset or integration into the customer’s complex IT infrastructure is required, this may require additional resources.

In general, the starting price for a simple virtual tour of a small property (for example, a one-room apartment or a small office) can start from 15,000 - 20,000 rubles. More complex projects, such as large hotels, factories or residential complexes, can cost from RUB 100,000 and above.

To get an accurate estimate, use our online calculator or contact us for a personal consultation. We are always ready to offer the optimal solution to suit your budget and objectives.