The Types
The Types of Virtual Tours, Explained
"Virtual tour" covers a few different things. Here's what each one is and when it's most useful.
Bottom line: there are four main flavors of virtual tour, and each fits a different moment in your search. Knowing the difference helps you get the most from every listing you look at.
3D walkthroughs
Bottom line: you steer, at your own pace.
A 3D tour lets you move through the home yourself, looking around each room from different angles and getting a real sense of how spaces connect. It's the closest thing to wandering the house on your own time — great for a first, thorough look.
Video tours and live video tours
Bottom line: one is pre-recorded; one is live and interactive.
A pre-recorded video tour walks you through the home in a set path — quick and easy to watch. A live video tour goes further: an agent walks the home in real time while you watch, so you can ask "what's behind that door?" and get an answer on the spot. That's a lifesaver when you can't be there in person.
Interactive floor plans
Bottom line: the bird's-eye view that ties it all together.
Interactive floor plans let you see how the whole home is laid out and how the rooms relate in size and position. Paired with a 3D or video tour, they help you picture your furniture, your routine, and whether the flow actually works for you.
Which tour, when
- 3D walkthrough: your first self-guided look
- Video tour: a quick overview
- Live video tour: guided, with questions answered
- Interactive floor plan: understanding the layout
This is part of our bigger guide, How Virtual Tours Are Changing the Home Search.
Want a live video tour of a Summerville home?
Can't make it in person? We'll walk you through it in real time and answer everything as we go.
Set up a tour