Quality render is expensive —  cheap one is costly

The key to a successful real estate project is in the pre-development stage. A well thought-out plan goes far — an appealing presentation of the plan doubles the prospect of success. Today, implementing 3D visualization has become an essential part in the real-estate development process on every stage: from planning, to financing, to construction and to, finally, operation. 

Diving deeper into the processes behind the making of a 3D architectural visualization, let’s see how technical and artistic factors influence the pricing and why, after all, high-quality renders are so worth it?

The role of 3D visualization

A good 3D render plays a huge role in the development stage and demonstrates how a design would work in real life, how it would integrate into the potential environment considering the landscape, already existing buildings around, climate, lighting and various other factors. Turning your 2D plans into 3D visualization can streamline the paperwork, facilitate coordination with stakeholders, get you faster approvals and permits from the local authorities, attract potential investors and build trust with clients.

During the construction stage it smoothes out the communication between the architect and the builder, clearly demonstrating the vision and preventing potential misunderstandings on site. For example, an all-encompassing BIM model will integrate the design of the future construction as well as eliminate disruptions between the plumbing and electric systems, identify misaligned elements, faulty measurements or structural errors.

At any stage of the process, even before the structure exists, 3D visualization is a powerful marketing tool that you can display on your website, social media or brochures. It will help you advertise the property for commercial leasing, leverage a bigger customer engagement and boost your sales. 

Technical costs:

Considering the fundamental role of 3D renders in the real estate business, it becomes clear that a high quality visualization is worth investing into. First of all, it would be wise to narrow down the choice of visualization studios and go with those specializing in architecture. When determining the price of a 3D render, every case is evaluated individually, and answering the following questions will help you get the idea regarding the prospective costs:

Do you already have 3d models or the studio will have to create them from scratch?

If yes, the costs go up, because the artist spends more time on the project creating 3D models from 2D plans. 3D modeling and 3D rendering are different processes. Some artists or studios specialize in 3D modeling, others — in 3D rendering, some offer both specializing in either of the two. Therefore, you need to figure out clearly what stage of the process you are at and what you need at that point in time. 

Do you need close ups? 

If yes, more work hours would be put into polishing the details and developing realistic textures and materials. Besides the creative human input, working with highly detailed close-ups takes up longer rendering time and requires significantly heavier hardware resources. 

How complex is the model?

The more complex the model is the more turnaround time it will take to complete the work. Being familiar in advance with the level of complexity will give you a better understanding on how your product will be priced. 

How soon will you need the result?

The studio will estimate approximately how long it will take to complete your project. Depending on your level of emergency, you might decide to move the deadline to a sooner date. In this case, the price increases: the studio has to prioritize your project, resulting in longer hours of work for the artists. To sum up, the sooner the deadline, the higher the cost.

What type or render will you need – exterior, interior, VR360, architecture animation?

Each one is priced differently, for example, architecture animation and VR360 are priced higher. Considering the much more complex nature of it, the immersive views and the interactive experience they offer, it can take a whole team of artists to create it. Exterior visualization, on the other hand, stands at a lesser price, while interior is the most affordable of the four.

Do you have the references ready?

Working with references is a standard practice when creating architectural renders. This significantly reduces the research time and narrows down the task for the visualization artist. The process can go both ways, the client can present the references they had picked themselves beforehand or work with the artist and choose something from their library.

What’s the size of the rendered space and the scale of the project overall?

Bigger scales and spaces consist of more elements and consequently require more time and technical skill as well as hardware resources. In addition, the cost depends on the project type, for example, a wellness resort or an office building would cost more than a private house.

How many 3D renders do you need?

The more 3D renders you require, the higher the pricing will be, although, sharing the same elements between different renders may help to keep the price down.  

What quality of execution do you require?

This is probably one of the most important questions. A higher resolution, lighting specifics, 100% accurate measurements, shadows and the level of realism are among the things that make the costs grow. And, to reiterate, on top of visualizer’s skills and work hours, comes the cost of maintaining advanced hardware and heavy software that are essential to produce high-quality 3D renders.  

Furthermore, in the revision process, if you need some extra sessions, it also counts towards the cost. While in the revision process, it’s better to trust the eye of a professional 3D artist regarding possible modifications both in technical aspects and aesthetic design choices. 

Artistry and its cost

When in doubt about what aesthetics to follow it’s better to adhere to the advice of designers and 3D visualizers who have extensive experience in the field. A style in the highest demand on the market right now is contemporary. It emerged from the most prominent architectural movements of the XX century like modernism, bauhaus, functionalism, brutalism, minimalism. Below you can see some prominent examples all designed and created in the XX century. Combining the ideas and visuals from those styles resulted in an eclectic approach named mid-century modern design, which in turn became the main inspiration to the contemporary style of today. 

John Lautner – Goldstein Residence, LA, CA, USA, 1963 | Oscar Niemeyer – staircase of the Itamaraty Palace, Brasília, Brazil,1960-1970 | Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater, Mill Run, PA, USA, 1935 | Alvar Aalto – Viipuri Library, Vyborg, Russia 1927-19350

Although these were designed in the XX century, the look turned out to be timeless and laid foundations for contemporary of the XXI century. Let’s analyze these works made in the modernist, brutalist and minimalist styles and define some common features that make them look so sleek and stylish. 

Notice how every house has a limited palette of colors, the walls and facades lack patterns. The choice of materials plays a defining role, adding to the aesthetic typical of the style. These are natural materials like concrete, steel, glass and wood, and, hence, the colors follow suit being gray, brown, green, black and white.

The forms prevailing are simple and clean, using straight lines to guide the attention. In the images of Viipuri Library and Itamaraty Palace the circle of the registration desk and the spiraling curve of the staircase are positioned in the center, being the first and main thing that draws the eye in. Overall, we see that the main focus is on the space and form rather than details and ornaments . 

Another important feature that has been inherited by the contemporary style is the interplay of the built construction and its natural surroundings. The Fallingwater House stands atop the river rocks, blending among the trees and creating the illusion of the water flowing right from its insides.  

The floor plans are open, with lots of air and light, having minimum details. The Goldstein Residence has glass walls on its perimeter and Viipuri Library — holes in the ceiling, filling the space with natural light. It’s not only an aesthetically appealing design choice, but ecologically sustainable as it minimizes the need for electricity use. 

A stylish chic look does not always have to cost a fortune and sometimes a bigger budget does not mean a successful outcome. What matters is the expertise of the people who work on the project. Donald Trump’s Manhattan penthouse below is the embodiment of ‘money can’t buy taste’.

 Donald Trump’s Manhattan Penthouse, NY, USA. Photo by Sam Horine

In the case of Trump’s penthouse, the whole apartment is one big mistake. Wanting to make your space evoke the feelings of wonder or be aesthetically pleasing does not equal investing in a  ginormous crystal chandelier, gilded furniture and mirror walls. 

Less is more — this is what contemporary is all about. Green, airy, decluttered and visually simple spaces allure, bring tranquility and security. It takes years of learning, practice and talent for a 3D visualizer to become a pro, and create such refined projects. 

Sunlit Shores, Bali Serenity, 3D render by Maverick Frame Studio

Renders that make you feel good

Interestingly, the above defined features have also a positive effect on mental health. A knowledgeable 3D artist can turn your home or office into a place that conditions you to feel good. For example, open floor plans instill psychological security, because humans tend to subconsciously gravitate towards spaces where they can observe to far distances while still being able to remain hidden. This mental trick also works with adjacent rooms and wide doorways that you can peek through.  

Lighting is another important aspect to consider when designing a space. Every geographical location has its peculiarities necessary to be taken into account: some spaces are designed to provide shade, whereas in other places sunlight is so scarce that designers come up with ways to let as much light in as possible and even multiply it. A quality 3D render can showcase what the property would look like in the corresponding climate of the region, and help evaluate if the space has appropriate amount of lighting, depending on its purpose. For example study spaces need to be well-lit, preferably having the light come from the left side (for the right-handed students); relaxation rooms need to be designed in a way that blocks out the excessive light. Glare and harsh light tend to be disruptive and increase stress and anxiety, that’s why 3D render can demonstrate if the surfaces work well in the given lighting conditions or maybe there are some material or texture changes needed to be done. 

There were conducted studies that concluded that the views of nature through the window correlate with higher test results among students and faster recovery rates among patients after surgeries. These are just a few examples of how spaces can influence our mental state. 

There are so many more intricacies regarding the tech, artistic and psychological aspects of working with space design and 3D renders, and a competent 3D artist can have an invaluable impact on the already existing design. 

 Conclusion: Why invest in high-quality 3D?

Investing in a top notch 3D render nowadays is crucial for the future success of the project. Whether you’re making a serene family nest or building a commercial property, a high quality 3D visualization will save you money in the long run, giving you a better understanding of what to expect, preventing unwanted surprises during the construction and later on during the occupancy of the building. It is a powerful tool to market the property to future lessees and buyers. Moreover, quality 3D renders establish a good reputation for your business among your clients and position you as a strong competitor to other designers and construction companies. Having become a standard in the industry, 3D visualizations will build trust with your clients, enhance communication during all the stages and between all the stakeholders and, ultimately, lead to the bold success of your project. 

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