TL;DR: The right floor plan depends on what you need it to accomplish. Need accurate square footage? Your best bet is a Professional Floor Plan. Prefer something visually compelling for marketing? Consider a Color or 3D upgrade. Working with a tight budget? Scan Drafter or a Matterport-derived plan may be enough. Already have existing plans? A Redraw can clean them up fast. If you’re not sure what kind of plan you need, our team is happy to discuss!
1 in 5 buyers will skip a listing that doesn’t include a floor plan, according to an article by Rightmove. That’s a big deal— imagine a fifth of your potential audience immediately ruling out a property before they’ve even seen it. Photos and video do the work of generating interest, but floor plans are what help buyers decide whether a property actually fits their life. And when buyers can answer that question on their own, sellers stop fielding inquiries from people who were never going to make an offer.
But not all floor plans serve the same purpose — and choosing the wrong type can mean your marketing materials don’t do the job you need them to do.
Floor plans aren’t one-size-fits-all. The right choice depends on what you need the plan to do for that specific listing: establish accurate square footage, help buyers visualize the space, fit a tight budget or timeline, or simply clean up an existing sketch. Choosing the wrong type won’t just waste money — it could mean that buyers won’t get what they need from your marketing materials.
Before you order, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I need accurate square footage and/or room dimensions?
- Is it more important for potential buyers to visualize the space, or see the numbers?
- Does the property have notable exterior features worth showing?
- What is my budget?
If your priority is accuracy and square footage
Best fit: Professional Floor Plans (Black & white or optional color upgrade)
Price per square foot matters, especially in cities like San Francisco and San Jose, which now command between $1,000 and $1,200 per square foot, according to Startup Fortune. For situations when every inch matters, a professionally drafted floor plan is the right call.
Our professional floor plans are accurate within 1/16th of an inch — but that precision doesn’t come from the measuring device alone. It all starts with the trained draftsperson operating the measuring device and applying the right methodology.
Here’s what most agents don’t realize: the biggest source of error in automated or scanned floor plans isn’t the scan itself — it’s the judgment calls and specific measurements that automated tools simply can’t make. When our draftspersons measure a single-family home, they calculate square footage to the exterior walls, not the interior. That means wall thickness has to be measured and accounted for precisely. Whether it be a door jamb or a window frame, our draftspersons use clues to determine exactly how thick the walls are. Automated tools can’t do this. They just assume a standard wall thickness based on typical US construction practices, and that assumption can cause miscalculations.
Beyond wall thickness, our draftspersons are trained in how to handle the measurement scenarios that require real expertise: grade changes, landings, staircases, bump-outs, and other features where the rules for what counts as living area require nuanced application of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines. These are exactly the situations where automated tools produce inaccurate results — not because they can’t measure, but because they don’t know what to measure or how. For now, at least, LiDAR and 360-degree cameras can’t make those crucial judgment calls.
The data backs this up. In our own testing in which we compared our professional drafting to CubiCasa (a leading automated floor plan tool), we found an average GLA (Gross Living Area) discrepancy of −11.48% — meaning CubiCasa’s calculations averaged about 11.5% smaller than our professionally drafted plans. When we cross-referenced both against county records, CubiCasa showed a −9.36% GLA discrepancy, while our professionally drafted plans came in at just ±0.40% – not even a half of a percentage point! That’s not a measurement accuracy problem — it’s a methodology problem. And it’s the difference between a plan that holds up and one that doesn’t.
More affordable alternatives like Scan Drafter and Matterport-derived plans carry a margin of error of approximately ±10% and do not include square footage information. For listings where those numbers need to hold up under scrutiny, a professional draft is the right choice.
Who this is for: Agents who prioritize accurate square footage measurements, higher-end or complex properties, and any listing where price per square foot is part of the conversation.
If your priority is helping buyers visualize the space or use in marketing
Best fit: Scan Drafter
When the goal is helping buyers understand the layout rather than verifying square footage, Scan Drafter is the best bang for your buck. It’s captured by your photographer during the same visit using LiDAR technology — no separate appointment needed — and gives buyers a clear sense of how a home flows.
It won’t include square footage or precise room dimensions, but for listings where hyper-accuracy isn’t the priority, that’s a reasonable trade-off for the time and cost savings.
Who this is for: Lifestyle-driven listings, unstaged homes, and properties where layout is a genuine selling point and accurate square footage isn’t the primary need.
If your priority is affordability
Best fit: Scan Drafter or Floor Plans from Matterport (if a Matterport 3D Virtual Tour has already been ordered)
For lower price-point listings, rentals, or situations where you need layout context but prefer not to have a separate appointment with a draftsperson, these are the most efficient options.
If you already have a 3D Matterport Tour, a floor plan can be derived from that existing scan, giving buyers layout context without any additional production time.
Scan Drafter is captured by your photographer on the same visit using LiDAR technology — no additional appointment/ draftsperson necessary.
If you’ve heard of CubiCasa, Scan Drafter works on a similar principle — a scan-based floor plan captured on-site without a separate drafting appointment. Like all scan-based tools, neither Matterport plans nor Scan Drafter plans include square footage calculations or precise room dimensions, which is why they’re best suited to layout visualization rather than accuracy-driven conversations. For a deeper look at how scan-based and professionally drafted plans compare, see the FAQs below.
Who this is for: Anyone wanting to keep things budget-friendly, or situations where you’d prefer the photographer take care of everything including the floor plan (rather than sending out a draftsperson).
If you already have an existing floor plan
Best fit: Floor Plan Redraw
Do you have an old blueprint, a rough sketch, or plans from a previous listing? A redraw takes whatever source material you have and transforms it into a clean, professional, marketing-ready floor plan.
One thing to keep in mind: the accuracy of a redrawn plan depends entirely on the accuracy of the source material you provide. If precise measurements matter for your listing, a professionally drafted floor plan may be a better option.
Redrawn plans can also be upgraded with color, 3D, or interactive add-ons — the same options available on a professionally drafted plan.
Who this is for: Agents relisting a property with existing plans, rough sketches, or blueprints that need a visual refresh.
Add-ons worth considering
Color upgrade
Available on Professional Floor Plans and Redraws. A Color Floor Plan carries the same accuracy as a standard professional draft but with more visual appeal — making it well-suited for listings where the plan will do real work in online marketing materials. Includes square footage if you’ve opted for it.
3D upgrade
Available on Professional Floor Plans and Redraws. A 3D Floor Plan uses example furniture to help buyers understand the scale and flow of each room — particularly useful for vacant or unstaged properties. Note that 3D plans do not include room dimensions or square footage, so they’re best used alongside other materials that carry that information rather than as a standalone document.
Interactive Floor Plans
Particularly useful for out-of-area buyers or remote showings. Interactive plans link room photos directly to the floor plan layout, so buyers can understand the flow of a home even before visiting in person.
Site Plans
An artistic overhead view showing the yard, trees, driveway, and exterior features. Genuinely valuable for properties with notable landscaping, large lots, or unique outdoor features. Probably not the right call for a condo or a property with a standard backyard.
Quick reference: which plan do you need?
| Your priority | Recommendation | Room Dimensions available? | Square footage available? |
| Accuracy | Professional Floor Plan | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ |
| Buyer visualization / marketing | Scan Drafter | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| Budget-friendly | Scan Drafter or Matterport-derived plans | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| Revamping existing plans | Floor Plan Redraw | Depends on original source | Depends on original source |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a floor plan for every listing?
Not necessarily — but plans are becoming non-negotiable for some potential buyers – so much so that 1 in 5 buyers will pass on a listing if it doesn’t have floor plans. For higher-end listings, complex layouts, or properties with features that photos can’t fully convey, Professional Floor Plans are often worth the investment. For straightforward rentals or those on a budget, a quick Scan Drafter may be sufficient.
What’s the difference between a Scan Drafter and a Professional Floor Plan?
Scan Drafter is captured by your photographer during the same visit using Photogrammetry or LiDAR technology — no separate appointment needed. It’s fast and cost-effective but carries a margin of error of approximately ±10% and does not include square footage information.
A Professional Floor Plan is drafted separately, follows ANSI guidelines, is accurate within 1/16th of an inch, and includes square footage calculations. If accuracy matters, the professional plan is the right choice.
How do you measure Professional Floor Plans?
For our Professional Floor Plan option, our draftspersons measure according to ANSI (American National Standards Institute) guidelines — the most widely recognized standard in the industry. They use laser measuring tools and AutoCAD software to produce plans accurate to 1/16th of an inch.
For single-family homes, our draftspersons measure to the interior walls and then calculate the measurement to the exterior walls — which means wall thickness must be measured, not assumed. Our drafters use door jambs and window frames to determine precise wall thickness — something automated scanning tools simply cannot do.
Are closets and stairs included in the square footage?
Yes — closets and stairs are included in the total square footage calculation. They won’t appear in the room dimension calculated version of your floor plan, however, since dimensions are only shown for primary living areas.
How do you measure site plans?
Site plans are created using aerial views from mapping tools such as Google Maps. They’re designed to give an artistic overhead representation of the property’s exterior features — yard, trees, driveway, and outbuildings — rather than to serve as a precise survey document.
Which floor plan options include square footage?
Professional Floor Plans (Black & white and Color) can include square footage calculations. Scan Drafter, Matterport-derived plans, and 3D Color Floor Plans do not. A Color Floor Plan (non-3D) can include square footage.
Note: Just because certain plans can include square footage does not mean you have to include it. Whether you want that included on your plans is totally up to you! When you submit your order, you will have the chance to decide if you want square footage calculated and included in your final plans.
Why don’t you include square footage calculations on Scan Drafter or Matterport floor plans?
The short answer: we can’t guarantee their accuracy, so we don’t include them.
Scan Drafter and Matterport-derived plans are calculated from the interior perimeter of the home. For single-family homes, this matters a great deal when it comes to square footage. Why? Because square footage should be calculated to the exterior walls, which requires knowing the wall thickness.. Automated tools assume a standard wall thickness rather than measuring it. In addition to this, they can’t apply the judgement-based rules around grade changes, landings, bump-outs, and other features that a trained draftsperson knows how to handle.
In our own testing, we found an average 11.48% Gross Living Area (GLA) delta between our professionally drafted plans and CubiCasa’s calculations. That gap isn’t about scanning hardware — it’s about methodology.
In short, we made the decision to not include square footage figures when we know they carry the potential for that margin of error. Doing so wouldn’t serve our clients or their buyers well.
Why don’t my room dimension measurements add up to my total square footage?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and it’s completely understandable. Room dimensions will almost never add up to the total square footage of a home, and that is due to a few reasons.
First: we only provide the dimensions of primary spaces like bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, etc. Dimensions of stair landings, bump outs, and other small spaces throughout a home factor into the total calculations but don’t appear as named rooms with dimensions.
Second: interior and exterior wall thickness takes up real space that isn’t reflected in room-to-room dimensions. For example, closets and stairs are included in the total square footage calculation but aren’t shown in the room dimensions.
Think of dimensions as a tool for planning furniture placement or flooring — not as a way to work backwards to calculate total square footage. For an accurate number, rely on the total square footage your draftsperson has calculated.
What is Gross Living Area (GLA)?
GLA stands for Gross Living Area (also referred to as “above-grade finished area” under updated Fannie Mae guidelines).
According to an article by Appraisal Partners, GLA is determined by three main criteria: the space must be heated by a conventional heating system (e.g., no space heaters). It must also be finished, meaning it contains walls, floors, and ceilings, among other requirements. Lastly, the space must be directly accessible — usually by hallways or stairs — to another living area.
Garages, unfinished basements, and below-grade spaces are typically excluded from GLA, even if they’re useful or livable.
GLA is the measurement most commonly used by appraisers and is the figure that tends to matter most in price-per-square-foot conversations. When our draftspersons calculate square footage, they follow ANSI guidelines to determine what qualifies as GLA — including rules about ceiling height, grade, and other regulating factors.
What is Non-Living Space?
Non-living space refers to areas of a home that don’t count toward GLA. Common examples include garages, unfinished basements, below-grade rooms (even if they are finished), and spaces with ceiling heights below the ANSI-defined minimum. Porches, utility rooms, and storage areas may also fall into this category depending on how they’re finished and whether they meet ANSI criteria.
Non-living space can still appear on a floor plan; in fact, it’s useful for buyers to understand the full footprint of a property. That being said, it should be clearly distinguished from the GLA total.
Are CubiCasa or Matterport Floor Plans accurate?
CubiCasa and Matterport Floor Plans are useful, but not accurate enough to rely on for GLA square footage calculations — and we have the data to support that.
In our own testing, plans produced by CubiCasa averaged 11.48% smaller than our professionally drafted plans. When cross-referenced against county records, CubiCasa showed a −9.36% difference. Open Homes’ professionally drafted plans came in at only ±0.40% difference .
Why the stark difference? The root cause isn’t actually the quality of the scan; it’s the methodology behind it. Automated tools must assume standard wall thickness rather than measuring it, and they can’t apply the expert judgment required for complex measurement scenarios like staircases, landings, bump-outs, or grade changes. Furthermore, closets, pantries, and other spaces that clients don’t want covered in the Matterport scans can’t be accurately accounted for in the floor plan calculations. If it’s not scanned, it can’t be measured or drawn.
For helping buyers understand the layout of a home, Scan Drafter and Matterport plans are a reasonable and cost-effective visual aid. For any listing where square footage needs to be accurate — especially in Bay Area markets where price-per-square-foot is a central part of the conversation — a professionally drafted plan is the right real estate floor plan service to use.
What is the difference between CubiCasa and Open Homes Scan Drafter?
In short: there is not much difference between them. CubiCasa is a platform for mobile phone based LiDar and Video scans, as is Scan Drafter. The process is very similar, except our real, trained humans draw the Scan Drafter scans, whereas CubiCasa is more automated. CubiCasa is a great platform with a robust feature set, however we chose Scan Drafter in order to deliver drawings and plans that are aesthetically closer to our Professional Plans.
What is the difference between Zillow Showcase and Open Homes’ Professional Floor Drafting?
Zillow Showcase offers a floor plan drawing with their Showcase tours, which by and large is a competitor to Matterport. Just like Matterport, Zillow Showcase tours use 360-degree cameras like the Ricoh Thetas to stitch together 3D Virtual Tours of homes. And, like Matterport, Zillow creates 2D floor plan drawings from this photogrammetry stitching. This means they also suffer from poor accuracy and we recommend agents don’t use the GLA calculations. Note: Matterport Pro Cameras offer much higher dimensional accuracy than 360-degree cameras used in Zillow Showcase or other Matterport scans.
Can I add a Color or 3D upgrade to a redrawn plan?
Yes — redrawn plans can be upgraded with Color, 3D, or made into an Interactive plan, the same way a professionally drafted plan can. An Interactive upgrade would still require you to order an Open Homes photography service.
What if I already have a 3D Matterport Tour?
If you already have a 3D Matterport Tour, a floor plan can be derived from that existing scan without a separate appointment. Keep in mind these plans will not include square footage information.
How much do floor plans cost?
Unlike other companies, we are 100% transparent when it comes to pricing. Check out our Floor Plans Service Page to view our rates, or get a quote instantly — no email, log in, or credit card required.
What file formats are delivered?
All floor plans are delivered as both PDF and JPG files. The only exception is the Interactive Floor Plan, which is provided as an embed code (not as a file). These plans are automatically embedded into your Open Homes property site, if you ordered one).
Does agent branding come included on all floor plan options?
Yes, all floor plan options include versions with agent branding. Versions without agent branding are also included automatically so you can use your floor plans wherever you need them, whether that be your property website , brochures, or the MLS.
Still have floor plan questions?
Check our other blog post, Floor Plan Drafting By the Numbers, for in-depth answers to other common floor plan questions.
Every listing has different needs, and the right floor plan should reflect that. If you’re unsure which option is the right fit, reach out to our team and we’d be happy to talk it through!
Sources:
How Appraisers Determine Gross Living Area — Appraisal Partners, October 17, 2019
Selling Guide Announcement (SEL-2025-04) — Fannie Mae, June 4, 2025
San Francisco Pays Over $1,000 Per Square Foot as Housing Value Collapses — Startup Fortune, April 18, 2026
- 3D Matterport 11
- Aerial Services 4
- Billing 6
- Floor Plan Services 9
- Most Common Questions 18
- Photography 16
- Print Services 6
- Property Websites 12
- Scheduling 14
- Video Tour Services 4
- Virtual Services 2
3D Matterport
Can I embed a Matterport tour on a listing website?
Yes, 3D Matterport Tours can be embedded on MLS listings and property websites. Open Homes provides your Matterport link through your agent dashboard as soon as your scan is delivered. If you ordered a property website with us, the Matterport will also be uploaded automatically to your site for you.
Zillow partnered with Matterport to allow real estate agents to add 3D tours directly to their property listings, so potential buyers can explore the property in 3D from the Zillow listing. To do this, copy the Matterport link from your Open Homes agent dashboard and paste it into the Virtual Tour URL field in your Zillow account.
Can I transfer my Matterport scan to my own account?
Yes. Open Homes can transfer your Matterport scan to your own paid Matterport account at no charge. To do this, sign up for a Matterport subscription, then email support@openhomesphotography.com with the email address linked to your Matterport account and the team will handle the transfer. This transfer option is worth considering if you manage a high volume of listings and want full control over your scan hosting without paying renewal fees per property.
What is a Matterport floor plan and is it accurate?
A Matterport floor plan is a layout generated from the 3D scan data rather than from physical measurements taken onsite. It gives buyers a clear visual of the property’s layout and room arrangement, making it a useful marketing tool. However, because it is derived from camera scans rather than precision measuring tools, it does not meet ANSI standards and cannot be used to verify official square footage. For listings that require verified measurements, Open Homes’ Professional Floor Plan service is the right choice.
How long does a Matterport shoot take?
Shoot time depends on the size and layout of the property. As a general guide, plan for about 45-60 minutes. Properties with detached structures such as a garage or ADU that need separate scans (Detached Scans) will require additional time onsite.
What is Matterport and how does it work?
Matterport is a 3D scanning technology that creates a complete, navigable digital model of a property. During the shoot, an Open Homes photographer moves through the home with a Matterport camera, capturing overlapping 360-degree scans in each room. Those scans are stitched together into an interactive “dollhouse” model that buyers can explore room by room on any device, at their own pace. It can also be viewed in virtual reality for a fully immersive walkthrough experience.
What if I want my garage to be included in my Matterport floor plans?
If you want the garage to be included in the floor plans derived from the Matterport Tour, it must be scanned an included in the 3D Matterport Tour. Garages are not usually scanned, so be sure to let your photographer know ahead of time or onsite if you want it included!
What is a detached scan?
Detached Scans are our term for the scans that are created when it is necessary to break the flow of 360-degree scans (360-degree scans are what make up your dollhouse). Sometimes, detached scans are necessary in order to accommodate an ADU, in-law unit, or an additional level not connected by an interior staircase. This added cost is calculated to account for the additional hosting fees imposed by Matterport, the added time editing in post-production, as well as the time spent creating a new scan(s) on site.
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
What’s the difference between Professional Floor Plans and Matterport Floor Plans?
At Open Homes Photography we offer a few different types of Floor Plan options in order to meet our clients different needs, budgets, or aesthetic choices.
Our “Professional Floor Plan” service, which is the commonly known drafting service, includes sending out a qualified and highly trained draftsperson to your property to physically take measurements in person using precision measuring tools. This service is completed in accordance with ANSI standards, offering very accurate renderings of the property. These plans also include dimensions (room sizes) and square foot calculations free upon request, as well as fully measured non living spaces (such as closets, decks, etc..) by request.
We also offer a “Matterport Floor Plan” service that can be generated from Matterport scans. Because these are derived from camera scans and not precision measuring tools, they are not based on the same ANSI standards and cannot include square footage, some room dimensions, etc. However, as a low cost add-on to our Matterport service these are a perfect marketing tool to give potential buyers the lay of the land, so to speak. While these plans DO NOT include closets, other storage rooms or non-living spaces, you can add on any additional “detached” space needed to these plans (such as decks, garages, and some other spaces) for $25 per additional scan, by having the Matterport artist specifically scan those areas.
How long are Matterport Scans live and available to access?
Matterport scans are kept live and accessible for 6 months. After that they are archived but not deleted. You can reactivate a scan at any time for a link renewal fee of $75 for an additional 6 months. This cost is a hard cost for us as part of our Matterport account limitations and simply passed on to the end user.
If you want to keep scans active long term, Open Homes can also transfer your scan to your own Matterport account at no charge. Matterport’s own subscription plans start at around $120 per year depending on how many active spaces you need.
What is the difference between a virtual tour and a Matterport scan?
The term “virtual tour” is used in a couple different ways across the industry. Some companies use it to describe a listing’s property website. At Open Homes, a virtual tour means a 3D Matterport scan: a navigable, room-by-room walkthrough that buyers can explore on any device, at any time, at their own pace. The Matterport scan can also be viewed using virtual reality glasses, giving buyers an immersive walkthrough experience. If you are comparing vendors, always ask what the term means to them.
Aerial Services
Is aerial photography included in your pricing?
Aerial photography is included in the Premier Agent and Elite Agent packages. If you are booking individual services, aerial photos (up to 7 shots) start at $200 as an add-on. Aerial video (15 to 30 seconds) starts at $250. Note that aerial add-ons require the purchase of a Premium Photography or Cinematic Video service and cannot be booked on their own.
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
Can I get Aerial Stills of a neighborhood?
We no longer offer neighborhood aerial video as part of the services we provide. FAA rules prohibit flying drones over populated areas and areas in which people aren’t aware of and/or participating in the shoot.
Should I reschedule Aerial Stills or Aerial Video if it is cloudy?
Yes, please reach out to us via email to reschedule.
Billing
What is your cancellation and rescheduling fee?
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. You can reschedule once at no charge, and additional reschedules after that may incur a $50 fee. Twilight and aerial shoots have a weather exception: if bad weather is the reason for cancellation, you can avoid the cancellation fee if you give us at least 2 hours’ notice for Twilight shoots, and any advance notice for aerial shoots. For aerial shoots, we simply ask that you give us as much notice as possible.
Is aerial photography included in your pricing?
Aerial photography is included in the Premier Agent and Elite Agent packages. If you are booking individual services, aerial photos (up to 7 shots) start at $200 as an add-on. Aerial video (15 to 30 seconds) starts at $250. Note that aerial add-ons require the purchase of a Premium Photography or Cinematic Video service and cannot be booked on their own.
Do you offer packages that bundle multiple services?
Yes. Open Homes offers four packages designed for different listing needs. The Essentials package ($800+) covers photography, three Virtual Twilights, and a property website. The Deluxe Tour ($1,000+) adds Matterport. The Premier Agent ($1,500+) includes aerial photos and cinematic video. The Elite Agent ($2,000+) is the full-service option with luxury video and lifestyle content. Additional services can always be added a la carte to any package.
Use our instant quote tool to get exact pricing for your listing in minutes.
What affects the price of real estate photography?
The main factors are property size, the services you add, and whether you book a package or individual services. Photography alone starts at $300 and scales at $50 per additional 1,000 square feet. Adding services like a 3D Matterport tour, cinematic video, or aerial photography increases the total, but bundling them into a package saves you between $150 and $750.
When do I pay for my order?
We will charge the credit card on file once all services of your order have been completed and delivered.
Why do you require a credit card on file before I can place an order?
We require customers to add a credit card to their profile before placing an order to ensure that payment can be processed once the order is complete. Please note: you will not be charged until all services of your order have been completed and delivered.
Floor Plan Services
What is a Matterport floor plan and is it accurate?
A Matterport floor plan is a layout generated from the 3D scan data rather than from physical measurements taken onsite. It gives buyers a clear visual of the property’s layout and room arrangement, making it a useful marketing tool. However, because it is derived from camera scans rather than precision measuring tools, it does not meet ANSI standards and cannot be used to verify official square footage. For listings that require verified measurements, Open Homes’ Professional Floor Plan service is the right choice.
What formats do you deliver floor plans in?
All three floor plan types are delivered as PDF and JPG files. These formats work for MLS uploads, listing websites, printed materials, and digital marketing. Professional Floor Plans and Matterport floor plans can also be upgraded to an Interactive Floor Plan for an additional $100, which allows buyers to explore the layout digitally. Color floor plan upgrades are available for $50 and 3D floor plan upgrades for $100 across most plan types.
Are Open Homes floor plans accurate enough for MLS listings?
Yes — all Open Homes floor plan types include both agent-branded and MLS-compliant (unbranded) versions, and all are appropriate for marketing use. The key distinction is what each plan type can and cannot claim.
Professional Floor Plans are the only plan type that includes total square footage calculations and follows ANSI guidelines. If your listing requires an officially stated square footage figure, this is the plan for you.
Scan Drafter and Matterport-derived plans are accurate enough for buyers to understand a property’s layout and flow, but should not be used to assert official square footage figures.
All Open Homes floor plans include the following disclaimer:
“Rendering by Open Homes Photography. All measurements are approximate and may not be exact. Do not rely on the accuracy of this floor plan when determining the price of a property or making decisions regarding buying or selling without independent verification.”
When in doubt about your MLS’ specific requirements, we recommend checking with your board or broker before selecting a plan type.
Do I need a floor plan for every listing?
Not necessarily — but plans are becoming non-negotiable for some potential buyers – so much so that 1 in 5 buyers will pass on a listing if it doesn’t have floor plans. For higher-end listings, complex layouts, or properties with features that photos can’t fully convey, Professional Floor Plans are often worth the investment. For straightforward rentals or those on a budget, a quick Scan Drafter may be sufficient.
What’s the difference between Professional Floor Plans and Matterport Floor Plans?
At Open Homes Photography we offer a few different types of Floor Plan options in order to meet our clients different needs, budgets, or aesthetic choices.
Our “Professional Floor Plan” service, which is the commonly known drafting service, includes sending out a qualified and highly trained draftsperson to your property to physically take measurements in person using precision measuring tools. This service is completed in accordance with ANSI standards, offering very accurate renderings of the property. These plans also include dimensions (room sizes) and square foot calculations free upon request, as well as fully measured non living spaces (such as closets, decks, etc..) by request.
We also offer a “Matterport Floor Plan” service that can be generated from Matterport scans. Because these are derived from camera scans and not precision measuring tools, they are not based on the same ANSI standards and cannot include square footage, some room dimensions, etc. However, as a low cost add-on to our Matterport service these are a perfect marketing tool to give potential buyers the lay of the land, so to speak. While these plans DO NOT include closets, other storage rooms or non-living spaces, you can add on any additional “detached” space needed to these plans (such as decks, garages, and some other spaces) for $25 per additional scan, by having the Matterport artist specifically scan those areas.
How long does a Floor Plan Drafting appointment take?
For Professional Floor Plans, plan for approximately one hour onsite per 1,000 square feet. Scan Drafter floor plans are captured by your Open Homes photographer during the regular photo shoot, so there is no separate appointment needed. Matterport floor plans are also generated from the Matterport scan already being done onsite, meaning neither adds meaningful time to your existing booking. If you need a Professional Floor Plan, it can be scheduled at the same time as your photography appointment to keep the total visit to a single day.
There is a discrepancy between your measurements and the county records. Why is that?
Open Homes Photography can not confirm how previous square footage estimates were calculated. However, there are several possible explanations for discrepancies. While assessors and appraisers are supposed to follow ANSI standards, measurement tools and methodologies have varied widely over the years. Simple measurement errors are often to blame, and these mistakes can originate with the home builder, the assessor, or the home appraiser. Communication errors may also be to blame if the wrong information is provided to the county assessor’s office. Typically, builders submit the plans before breaking ground, and while plans frequently change during the building process, revised plans are rarely re-submitted.Measurements provided by Open Homes Photography are approximate and may not be exact. Please do not rely on the accuracy of the floor plan drawing or measurements when determining the price of a property or making decisions regarding buying or selling without independent verification.What is Non-Living Space?
Non-Living Space is any area in the home which is inhabitable. This includes garages, basements, and attics.
How do you measure floor plans?
For our professionally-drafted floor plans, our draftspersons follow ANSI standards and use a Bosch laser measure. They round to the nearest half-inch and all measurements are entered into AutoCad onsite.
Most Common Questions
What is your cancellation and rescheduling fee?
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. You can reschedule once at no charge, and additional reschedules after that may incur a $50 fee. Twilight and aerial shoots have a weather exception: if bad weather is the reason for cancellation, you can avoid the cancellation fee if you give us at least 2 hours’ notice for Twilight shoots, and any advance notice for aerial shoots. For aerial shoots, we simply ask that you give us as much notice as possible.
What are the turnaround times for all services (photos, videos, virtual services, etc)?
The status of all of services ordered can be found within your Agent Dashboard. Completed materials are also available to download from your Dashboard.
Standard Turnaround Times for Services:
Photography & Aerial Photos – Will be available to you by 9am the morning following the photoshoot, Monday-Friday. If the appointment is on a Saturday, the materials will be available to you by 9am the following Monday.
Twilight Photography – Will be available the afternoon following the photoshoot, Monday-Friday. If the appointment is on a Saturday or Sunday, the materials will be ready by 9am the following Monday.
3D Matterport – Will be available to you by 9am the morning following the appointment, Monday-Friday. If the appointment is on a Saturday or Sunday, the materials will be available to you by 9am the following Monday.
2D and 3D Matterport floor plans will be available to you the following day of the scan by 9am, Monday – Friday. Scans that take place on Saturday and Sunday will be available to you by 9am the following Monday.
Floor Plan Drafting – Will be available to you by 9am the morning following the drafting appointment, Monday-Friday. If the appointment is on a Saturday, the materials will be available to you by 9am the following Monday.
Video & Aerial Video – Will be available to you within two (2) business days following the video shoot.
Website – The morning following your appointment.
Please reach out to us regarding items that are “In Production”. We’ll be happy to provide an ETA on finished materials.
We do not offer same-day turnaround.
Can I schedule a “Go Anytime” appointment for a certain time?
Unfortunately, this can be difficult to coordinate, as our photographers will often complete a “Go-Anytime” appointment between their other scheduled shoots and they may not know for sure when they’ll arrive. If you have very specific shot requests, have important instructions for the photographer, or need to be onsite to provide access, it may be best if you choose a scheduled time instead, so that you can be onsite with the photographer.
What does “Go Anytime” mean?
“Go Anytime” means just that – go anytime! Our photographers may arrive at the property any time between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Agents may select the “Go-Anytime” option if they don’t have to meet the photographer and can provide via a lockbox, hidden key, etc.
If you have very specific shot requests, have important instructions for the photographer, or need to be onsite to provide access, it may be best if you choose a scheduled time instead, so that you can be onsite with the photographer.
How much do your services cost?
Pricing depends on the services you would like to book and the square footage of the property.
Please see our pricing page for a listing of all of our services and prices, or use our instant quote tool to get exact pricing for your listing in minutes.
What areas do you cover?
We currently serve the following counties:
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Clara
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Solano
- Napa
- Sonoma
- Marin
- San Joaquin
- Sacramento
Although we have a robust Visual Artist team, we may not be able to offer our full suite of services in all areas. For example, we can complete photos and aerial services in San Joaquin and Sacramento county, but we do not have a local draftsperson or videographer in these areas, but we may still be able to accomodate your request. Just ask us!
If you have a listing outside of one of these areas, please feel free to reach out to our team. We can sometimes accomodate appointments with a travel fee (subject to Visual Artist availability).
Outside of our radius? Consider ordering just a website.
Did you know that we can make websites for any property, anywhere in the world? Just order a standalone website service, send us your home’s photos, and we’ll handle the rest. Please note, we will not be able to provide our usual neighborhood photos and description in these cases.
What do we do if it is raining?
Please be sure to track the weather and let us know as soon as you can if you will need to reschedule. Same day cancellations incur a $150 cancellation fee.
Blue skies will automatically be added (a complimentary service) to still photos, but all other services will show gray skies. Learn more here.
Can I book a specific photographer?
Yes, you can, but we cannot guarantee availability. We will let you know if they are available at another time/date, or if you’d rather proceed with a different photographer. You can make your request in the “Special Requests” section of the Order Form.
You can also let us know if you have a preferred Visual Artist and we’ll automatically try to schedule them whenever possible. Similarly, if you would not like to work with a particular Visual Artist again, let us know and we will not schedule them for your shoots in the future.
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
When will I get my photos and video back?
We deliver photography and most other services to your inbox the day after your shoot by 9:00am (unless appointments are scheduled for Saturday, in which materials will be returned the Monday by 9:00am following the appointment)! More complex services like Video and virtual staging services can take up to 48 hours.
You can also check your Agent Dashboard for completed services.
What locations do you cover?
Open Homes Photography currently covers all of the Bay Area and Wine Country! While we specialize on San Francisco, Silicon Valley, South Bay, North Bay, East Bay, Napa and Sonoma counties, we can usually accommodate special circumstances with a small travel fee. Just let us know where and we can give you a quote!
What is the difference between a virtual tour and a Matterport scan?
The term “virtual tour” is used in a couple different ways across the industry. Some companies use it to describe a listing’s property website. At Open Homes, a virtual tour means a 3D Matterport scan: a navigable, room-by-room walkthrough that buyers can explore on any device, at any time, at their own pace. The Matterport scan can also be viewed using virtual reality glasses, giving buyers an immersive walkthrough experience. If you are comparing vendors, always ask what the term means to them.
Can I give the photos I commissioned to a third party (stager, contractor, etc)?
As the purchasing agent, you have the right to use the photos as desired in order to market, sell, and otherwise promote the listing that was photographed (in addition to promoting your own brand). However, you cannot offer the photos to a third party such as a stager, contractor, architect, or designer without first contacting Open Homes. These groups must first purchase license rights before using the photos for their own commercial purposes.
What days of the week do you perform services?
Monday through Sunday. Weekend availability depends on our photographers’ availability. Availability is limited.
Please note: services completed on a Saturday or Sunday will not be available until Monday morning.
I just need a few photos taken. Can you do that and how much is it?
Yes! We offer hourly pricing ($250/hr) if you’re not sure what you need, have a large commercial space, or just don’t need a full standard photoshoot.
If you just need exterior images for pre-marketing or you need a few more photos of that new landscape after we’ve already done the standard shoot, we can offer a supplemental shoot called a “pick up” and they start at $150. We’ll provide up to 1-10 photos, fully color corrected and delivered the next day! Check out our pricing here. However, Pick Ups and Pre Marketing shoots must be ordered in conjunction with standard shoots (at the same time or after). Unfortunately, we cannot offer stand alone pickups at this time unless they are only “go anytime” exterior images only.
Pick-Up Shoots are ideal for a number of situations when just a handful of new photos are needed, such as:
- New staging or re-staging a room
- Better weather
- New paint
- Remodeling
- Pre-market advertising
- New landscaping
Note: Standard shoots cannot be substituted for pick-up shoots. If you need standard photography, please choose from the square footage pricing tiers or contact us for our hourly pricing options.
What are “Pick Up” shoots?
Pick up shoots are very small, supplemental photo shoots that we provide to save you some coin when you need just a few exterior shots for pre-marketing, or say, the landscaping was redone after your primary shoot has taken place. We want to make sure you get real marketing value with Open Homes Photography, so we’re not going to charge you for a whole new standard shoot when all you need are a few “pick ups” to make your listing perfect. Pick Ups must be ordered in conjunction with standard shoots (at the same time or after) and cannot be substituted for standard photography. However, we do offer a Pre-Marketing shoot that is 1-10 exterior photos and can only be scheduled as a “go anytime” on a specific date. No interiors are included with the Pre-Marketing shoot.
Pick-Up Shoots are ideal for a number of situations when just a handful of new photos are needed, such as:
- New staging or re-staging a room
- Better weather
- New paint
- Remodeling
- Pre-market advertising
- New landscaping
That said, if you don’t need full coverage of a property, we can offer hourly photography (minimum 1 hour) for any sized property, and this will typically start you off at 15- 25 images.
Note: Standard shoots cannot be substituted for pick-up shoots. If you need standard photography, please choose from the square footage pricing tiers or contact us for our hourly pricing options.
How long will my appointment take?
Your appointment is largely dependent on the property size. We typically spend about 45-60 minutes per 1,000 sq ft for Photography and 60-75 minutes per 1,000 sq ft for Video. Aerial photos, aerial video, and 3D Matterport usually take about 45-60 minutes. If you book photos AND another service like video and floor plans, we try to send multiple visual artists to keep our time on site to a minimum.
For example, if you have a 2500 sq ft listing photos to take about 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you booked video for that same listing at the time of photography, expect about 2.5-3 hours for total time on-site.
We also spend roughly 90 minutes of post processing time (color correction, photoshopping, etc) per 1,000 sq ft. This is done after your on-site services, so you don’t need to factor it in to your scheduling.
What is your availability & lead time on photos?
99% of the time we can accommodate any order that can be scheduled 72 hours in advance (except some weekends). Photos are also delivered fully color corrected and processed the next morning after the photoshoot by 9am (unless appointments are scheduled for Saturday, in which materials will be returned the Monday by 9:00am following the appointment). That is to say, if you order on a Monday, and schedule for Thursday, you’ll have your photos waiting in your inbox Friday morning.
We can often accommodate orders on very tight timelines – just shoot us a quick email to inquire.
Want to schedule services? Order now and pick your date and time.
Photography
What affects the price of real estate photography?
The main factors are property size, the services you add, and whether you book a package or individual services. Photography alone starts at $300 and scales at $50 per additional 1,000 square feet. Adding services like a 3D Matterport tour, cinematic video, or aerial photography increases the total, but bundling them into a package saves you between $150 and $750.
Can I schedule a “Go Anytime” appointment for a certain time?
Unfortunately, this can be difficult to coordinate, as our photographers will often complete a “Go-Anytime” appointment between their other scheduled shoots and they may not know for sure when they’ll arrive. If you have very specific shot requests, have important instructions for the photographer, or need to be onsite to provide access, it may be best if you choose a scheduled time instead, so that you can be onsite with the photographer.
What does “Go Anytime” mean?
“Go Anytime” means just that – go anytime! Our photographers may arrive at the property any time between 8:00am and 5:00pm. Agents may select the “Go-Anytime” option if they don’t have to meet the photographer and can provide via a lockbox, hidden key, etc.
If you have very specific shot requests, have important instructions for the photographer, or need to be onsite to provide access, it may be best if you choose a scheduled time instead, so that you can be onsite with the photographer.
How much does real estate photography cost in the Bay Area?
Real estate photography at Open Homes starts at $300 for properties up to 999 square feet, with pricing scaling by square footage. Packages that bundle photography with other services start at $800, with options that add Matterport, video, and aerial starting at $1,000. Packages offer savings of up to $750 compared to booking services individually.
Use our instant quote tool to get exact pricing for your listing in minutes.
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
Is there a price difference for commercial property photography?
We regularly photograph industrial and commercial properties, but it really depends on the coverage and number of photos you need, as well as the complexity. Because a commercial space’s complexity varies, we simply charge $250 per hour for commercial properties (including general post production from our creative team). That said, most warehouse type listings can be photographed for $250-$350, but we’re happy to discuss additional needs!
Do you reuse “Common Areas” and other shared property listing photos?
Yes! In order to make our shoots more efficient and cost-effective, we will often photograph common areas, shared property attributes and facilities like gyms, pools, spas, etc. beforehand, afterward, or from other photography sessions. This helps us deliver consistent, timely, and quality photos and marketing materials for our clients. We provide these extra photos (and others like neighborhood photos) at no extra cost to you for use on Open Homes Photography created materials. However, unless a specific photo shoot for these areas or neighborhoods was ordered with an extended license, Open Homes Photography is free to use these across our platforms and for additional listings.
Can I give the photos I commissioned to a third party (stager, contractor, etc)?
As the purchasing agent, you have the right to use the photos as desired in order to market, sell, and otherwise promote the listing that was photographed (in addition to promoting your own brand). However, you cannot offer the photos to a third party such as a stager, contractor, architect, or designer without first contacting Open Homes. These groups must first purchase license rights before using the photos for their own commercial purposes.
I saw a photo of my listing on your website (or in other marketing and promotional materials). Why?
Open Homes Photography is very proud of the work we do, and we try to show it off! And since we hold the exclusive end-use rights to our photos, we are free to use them for marketing and promotion. That said, we typically try to always include the listing agent in promotions, so hopefully it is a win-win for everyone! See our Terms of Use for more information.
Can I use your Neighborhood Photos in my own marketing?
Sorry, we do not share or sell our neighborhood photos for personal marketing use, they are only for the websites we create!
How does Virtual Staging for photography work?
Virtual Staging service offers a convenient alternative to staging a room – with the added bonus of never having to move a single piece of furniture.
Explore our expansive online furniture gallery, find the perfect home decor, and our team will provide a masterfully-edited photo full of virtual furniture after just one day of editing.
The cost is $100 per image and will take one additional day to complete once the images are ready!
Here are some before and after images of virtual staging!
Our editing team places the furniture in a way that best fits the room, so they can move the furniture’s angle so that it looks natural by increasing/decreasing the size of the virtual furniture so it looks better in the room. I hope that helps!
How many photos are included in my shoot?
We want to make sure you get the coverage you need and that we do the best job of telling your listing’s story, so we do not have a hard limit on photos (except in some multiunit or TIC cases). Instead, we price based on the listing’s square footage. That said, you can expect to get around 25 per 1,000 square feet.
Do you offer same day appointments?
We can usually offer same day appointments and deliver photos by 9am the next day! However, because our photographers are busy bees, we do not offer same day turnaround on photos.
Can you use my photos for Virtual Staging or Virtual remodeling?
Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to add Virtual Staging into photography from other people or vendors. We use sophisticated CGI (Computer Generated Imaging) much like Hollywood does, which means the way that we shoot, capture, and process the photography is very important (color and light consistency is key). We would really love to help, but many photos cannot be well re-rendered with new CGI components to sufficient standards. And unfortunately, we don’t often know how well it will work until we’ve put in a few hours of effort.
We are happy to review your photos to see if they are good candidates for Virtual Staging before ordering, but please note that if you wish to proceed with any Virtual Staging processing we will not be able to offer refunds if the processed photos don’t appear to your liking. Please keep in mind that we invest considerable time into manipulating each photo.
I just need a few photos taken. Can you do that and how much is it?
Yes! We offer hourly pricing ($250/hr) if you’re not sure what you need, have a large commercial space, or just don’t need a full standard photoshoot.
If you just need exterior images for pre-marketing or you need a few more photos of that new landscape after we’ve already done the standard shoot, we can offer a supplemental shoot called a “pick up” and they start at $150. We’ll provide up to 1-10 photos, fully color corrected and delivered the next day! Check out our pricing here. However, Pick Ups and Pre Marketing shoots must be ordered in conjunction with standard shoots (at the same time or after). Unfortunately, we cannot offer stand alone pickups at this time unless they are only “go anytime” exterior images only.
Pick-Up Shoots are ideal for a number of situations when just a handful of new photos are needed, such as:
- New staging or re-staging a room
- Better weather
- New paint
- Remodeling
- Pre-market advertising
- New landscaping
Note: Standard shoots cannot be substituted for pick-up shoots. If you need standard photography, please choose from the square footage pricing tiers or contact us for our hourly pricing options.
What are “Pick Up” shoots?
Pick up shoots are very small, supplemental photo shoots that we provide to save you some coin when you need just a few exterior shots for pre-marketing, or say, the landscaping was redone after your primary shoot has taken place. We want to make sure you get real marketing value with Open Homes Photography, so we’re not going to charge you for a whole new standard shoot when all you need are a few “pick ups” to make your listing perfect. Pick Ups must be ordered in conjunction with standard shoots (at the same time or after) and cannot be substituted for standard photography. However, we do offer a Pre-Marketing shoot that is 1-10 exterior photos and can only be scheduled as a “go anytime” on a specific date. No interiors are included with the Pre-Marketing shoot.
Pick-Up Shoots are ideal for a number of situations when just a handful of new photos are needed, such as:
- New staging or re-staging a room
- Better weather
- New paint
- Remodeling
- Pre-market advertising
- New landscaping
That said, if you don’t need full coverage of a property, we can offer hourly photography (minimum 1 hour) for any sized property, and this will typically start you off at 15- 25 images.
Note: Standard shoots cannot be substituted for pick-up shoots. If you need standard photography, please choose from the square footage pricing tiers or contact us for our hourly pricing options.
Print Services
Where is your printer located?
We use Pyramid Printing located in South San Francisco:
325 Harbor Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Office: (650) 871-0290What is a custom brochure layout?
There are two custom brochure layout types:
- A custom layout that we create for you: you can pay us to create your own custom layout. We will keep this layout on file for future use.
- A custom layout you provide: you can provide us with a file, and we will use this for your brochure layout.
How does the print process work?
On the day following the photo shoot, you will receive your first print proof in your email. Your proof will be filled out with the address, a title, and a website URL if you’ve purchased one through us. Please respond to your proof email with the following:
- An updated title (if you don’t like the one provided)
- A URL (if you haven’t already purchased one through us)
- The property price
- Your marketing copy
- Any changes you have to your contact or brokerage information
- Any picture changes (see instructions below)
To make changes to the pictures, please let us know what picture you would like in what lettered position. Use only the picture numbers in the link provided as a reference. Your photo changes should look something similar to this:
A – 34.jpg
B – 09.jpg
C – 52.jpg
Once your changes are sent in, you will receive an email with a revised proof and you can make any additional changes from there until you deem the proof “approved for print”.
One the file is approved, we will send it off to the printer with the quantity and shipping address you provided upon submitting the order. Please make sure to let us know if this address or quantity changes before the order is approved. Always let us know in the beginning of the proofing process when your brochures are needed by so we can both plan accordingly.
What is the print turnaround time?
You will receive a draft of your brochure the morning following the photoshoot. Once approved, the turnaround will depend on the shipping address:
If you’re shipping to San Francisco – you will need to approve by 10am, and you will have them the following day without a RUSH fee. If you approve after 10am, you can still receive them the following day, but there will be a $50 RUSH fee incurred.*
If you’re shipping outside San Francisco – you will need to approve by 10am, and you can have them in two days without a RUSH fee. If you approve after 10am, you can still receive them in two days, but there will be a $50 RUSH fee incurred.*This only applies to orders approved bt 10:00am Monday through Thursday. If you approve your brochure on Friday, shipping times will be different. If you have a question regarding shipping, please shoot us an email.
Other options: you can pick your materials up directly at the printing company (located in South San Francisco) Monday through Friday. You will still need to approve by 10am, and you will have them the following day without a RUSH fee. If you approve after 10am, you can still receive them the following day, but there will be a $50 RUSH fee incurred.
We can also send you a high-resolution, print-ready version that you can have printed at a local printer (such as FedEx/Kinkos).
Can you remove the Open Homes Photography Logo from my brochure?
Yes! But we have a different rate for this. Here’s why:
We offer industry leading design layouts at incredibly competitive prices and can provide incredibly high quality printing on the best card stocks for unreasonably low prices. We’re able do this by branding brochures with our logo for marketing purposes which helps subsidize the cost for you. Basically, we help cover the cost of YOUR brochures by elegantly adding a relatively small logo mark (usually on the back page) to all brochures. We’re happy to discuss more about this process.
Can I use my own photos in a brochure?
Yes! But we have a different rate for these and we’ll need written consent from the photographer. Here’s why:
First, legally we can’t use someone else’s content (like photos) without their permission. We’re happy to provide a photo release form that can be forwarded to the content owner.
Second, we offer industry leading design layouts at incredibly competitive prices. We’re able do this by branding brochures with our logo for marketing purposes which helps subsidize the cost for you. In order to use another provider’s content, we need to deliver unbranded brochures and charge the unsubsidized price. We’re happy to discuss more about this process.
Property Websites
Can I embed a Matterport tour on a listing website?
Yes, 3D Matterport Tours can be embedded on MLS listings and property websites. Open Homes provides your Matterport link through your agent dashboard as soon as your scan is delivered. If you ordered a property website with us, the Matterport will also be uploaded automatically to your site for you.
Zillow partnered with Matterport to allow real estate agents to add 3D tours directly to their property listings, so potential buyers can explore the property in 3D from the Zillow listing. To do this, copy the Matterport link from your Open Homes agent dashboard and paste it into the Virtual Tour URL field in your Zillow account.
What is included in a property website?
When you order a website through Open Homes, you’ll be able to choose your own URL and template design. Our system will automatically add the photos, video, Matterport, and floor plans of the home (if you ordered these), fill out the Neighborhood section, and upload any neighborhood photos that we have for the local area. All you’ll need to do is add information about the home.
Our websites come in several custom templates to which the following can be added:
- Photos
- Videos
- 3D Matterport Tour
- Floor Plans
- Home Features
- Neighborhood and local attractions
- Agent contact information
- Open House Information
- Ability to schedule a showing with Calendly
In addition to assets that will be displayed on your website, behind the scenes you’ll get insights to plenty of data and information from visitors. You can track:
- Total visits
- Today’s visits
- Unique visitors
- What type of device they’re viewing your site on
- Where your visitors are located
- The source of your visitors (social media, google, etc.)
If you already know the domain you’d like to use when placing your order, you can reserve that domain (if available) directly in the Order Form. Or, if you already own a domain/URL that you would like us to use, please let us know by emailing support@openhomesphotography.com so we can help set this up.
Don’t forget – you can continue to use your website long after the sale! Use the site’s Permalink in your portfolio, presentations, and more. The Permalink is evergreen and free forever.
To learn more about the capabilities of our new website editor, read more here – https://www.open-homes.com/osmos/
Can I edit the Neighborhood Photos on my property website?
Yes! You can “unpublish” neighborhood photos in the Media Manager within the Website Editor. Please note: This will hide unwanted photos from the property website, but they will still appear in the Media Manager so that you can re-select them in the future, if you change your mind.
Do you build the property website for me? What do I need to do?
TLDR: Many of the elements of our property websites are completed for you automatically. However, there are some important tasks you, the agent, need to complete on your own; you are the expert on the property, after all!
The Open Homes website editor automatically includes any products and services as soon as they are returned from post-processing. For instance, if you’ve ordered photos and a video, these will be populated for you without any additional effort. However, you’ll need to add a detailed description of the home’s features, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, important features, and any history about the house. Make sure the basic facts about the home (bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage) are filled in accurately. Additionally, ensure your contact information is up-to-date and that you have a headshot uploaded; this step is only required once.
For those who want to customize further, you can rearrange sections of the website, change colors and fonts, and tweak the neighborhood galleries. Lastly, and most importantly, you need to publish your website and add the link to the MLS. This step is crucial and often missed, but it ensures your listing is visible to a broader audience. By following these steps, you’ll ensure your Open Homes website is fully functional and ready to attract potential buyers. If you need assistance, our support team is here to help!
If I reserve my own domain, can I get a discount on a property website?
Unfortunately, no. While we can certainly use the domain that you have reserved, we cannot discount the price of the website order.
Do you reuse “Common Areas” and other shared property listing photos?
Yes! In order to make our shoots more efficient and cost-effective, we will often photograph common areas, shared property attributes and facilities like gyms, pools, spas, etc. beforehand, afterward, or from other photography sessions. This helps us deliver consistent, timely, and quality photos and marketing materials for our clients. We provide these extra photos (and others like neighborhood photos) at no extra cost to you for use on Open Homes Photography created materials. However, unless a specific photo shoot for these areas or neighborhoods was ordered with an extended license, Open Homes Photography is free to use these across our platforms and for additional listings.
I saw a photo of my listing on your website (or in other marketing and promotional materials). Why?
Open Homes Photography is very proud of the work we do, and we try to show it off! And since we hold the exclusive end-use rights to our photos, we are free to use them for marketing and promotion. That said, we typically try to always include the listing agent in promotions, so hopefully it is a win-win for everyone! See our Terms of Use for more information.
Can I use your Neighborhood Photos in my own marketing?
Sorry, we do not share or sell our neighborhood photos for personal marketing use, they are only for the websites we create!
Do you track web traffic statistics? Where do I find that?
Yes, absolutely! You can find this link this inside by visiting your Agent Dashboard, clicking into the Website tab, and choosing “Edit Site.” Once that page opens up, look for the link that says “View Stats.”
Can I use your neighborhood photos on my own website?
Our neighborhood photos are just one of many favorite features of Open Homes Photography websites and are only available to website clients.
I just published my website; why doesn’t it show up in Google searches?
There isn’t really an easy answer to this, as it relies on a number of variables. However, when your website is published, we use all the proper SEO (Search Engine Optimization) code and mechanics to make sure your property site is indexed by search engines like Google. We even submit the website to Google to begin the robot indexing process. That being said, Google often ranks pages on a number of variables such as “authority,” which means that brand-new sites may take a while to show up because they have not yet been ranked as an authority on the property content.
It’s also important to think about how people find properties and what the value of a custom property site actually is. Links to your custom property site, called “backlinks,” are very important to Google and other search engines because they increase authority. That being said, people don’t typically search for an address or custom domain in Google – instead, they see the custom property URL on your brochures, listing sites, MLS, “For Sale” signs, and other marketing channels, which means your Google rank may not be as valuable as other ways that people find and search for your site. These links through other channels are often the most effective at getting the word out, and the real value of having a custom property site is isolating your property listing to the viewer and tailoring it to your specific brand.
Can I get a property website if I have my own photos?
YES! We have many customers that use in-house resources, but still want to up their marketing game with our Property Websites. Just order the website and send us a link to the photos and we’ll upload them to your site at no charge.
Note: We may often require a photography consent form from the original photographer to legally use the photos on our platform. Shoot us a note and we can provide more info!
Scheduling
How much do your services cost?
Pricing depends on the services you would like to book and the square footage of the property.
Please see our pricing page for a listing of all of our services and prices, or use our instant quote tool to get exact pricing for your listing in minutes.
How much does real estate photography cost in the Bay Area?
Real estate photography at Open Homes starts at $300 for properties up to 999 square feet, with pricing scaling by square footage. Packages that bundle photography with other services start at $800, with options that add Matterport, video, and aerial starting at $1,000. Packages offer savings of up to $750 compared to booking services individually.
Use our instant quote tool to get exact pricing for your listing in minutes.
What areas do you cover?
We currently serve the following counties:
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Clara
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Solano
- Napa
- Sonoma
- Marin
- San Joaquin
- Sacramento
Although we have a robust Visual Artist team, we may not be able to offer our full suite of services in all areas. For example, we can complete photos and aerial services in San Joaquin and Sacramento county, but we do not have a local draftsperson or videographer in these areas, but we may still be able to accomodate your request. Just ask us!
If you have a listing outside of one of these areas, please feel free to reach out to our team. We can sometimes accomodate appointments with a travel fee (subject to Visual Artist availability).
Outside of our radius? Consider ordering just a website.
Did you know that we can make websites for any property, anywhere in the world? Just order a standalone website service, send us your home’s photos, and we’ll handle the rest. Please note, we will not be able to provide our usual neighborhood photos and description in these cases.
What do we do if it is raining?
Please be sure to track the weather and let us know as soon as you can if you will need to reschedule. Same day cancellations incur a $150 cancellation fee.
Blue skies will automatically be added (a complimentary service) to still photos, but all other services will show gray skies. Learn more here.
Can I book a specific photographer?
Yes, you can, but we cannot guarantee availability. We will let you know if they are available at another time/date, or if you’d rather proceed with a different photographer. You can make your request in the “Special Requests” section of the Order Form.
You can also let us know if you have a preferred Visual Artist and we’ll automatically try to schedule them whenever possible. Similarly, if you would not like to work with a particular Visual Artist again, let us know and we will not schedule them for your shoots in the future.
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
When will I get my photos and video back?
We deliver photography and most other services to your inbox the day after your shoot by 9:00am (unless appointments are scheduled for Saturday, in which materials will be returned the Monday by 9:00am following the appointment)! More complex services like Video and virtual staging services can take up to 48 hours.
You can also check your Agent Dashboard for completed services.
Is there a price difference for commercial property photography?
We regularly photograph industrial and commercial properties, but it really depends on the coverage and number of photos you need, as well as the complexity. Because a commercial space’s complexity varies, we simply charge $250 per hour for commercial properties (including general post production from our creative team). That said, most warehouse type listings can be photographed for $250-$350, but we’re happy to discuss additional needs!
What locations do you cover?
Open Homes Photography currently covers all of the Bay Area and Wine Country! While we specialize on San Francisco, Silicon Valley, South Bay, North Bay, East Bay, Napa and Sonoma counties, we can usually accommodate special circumstances with a small travel fee. Just let us know where and we can give you a quote!
How many photos are included in my shoot?
We want to make sure you get the coverage you need and that we do the best job of telling your listing’s story, so we do not have a hard limit on photos (except in some multiunit or TIC cases). Instead, we price based on the listing’s square footage. That said, you can expect to get around 25 per 1,000 square feet.
Do you offer same day appointments?
We can usually offer same day appointments and deliver photos by 9am the next day! However, because our photographers are busy bees, we do not offer same day turnaround on photos.
What days of the week do you perform services?
Monday through Sunday. Weekend availability depends on our photographers’ availability. Availability is limited.
Please note: services completed on a Saturday or Sunday will not be available until Monday morning.
How long will my appointment take?
Your appointment is largely dependent on the property size. We typically spend about 45-60 minutes per 1,000 sq ft for Photography and 60-75 minutes per 1,000 sq ft for Video. Aerial photos, aerial video, and 3D Matterport usually take about 45-60 minutes. If you book photos AND another service like video and floor plans, we try to send multiple visual artists to keep our time on site to a minimum.
For example, if you have a 2500 sq ft listing photos to take about 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you booked video for that same listing at the time of photography, expect about 2.5-3 hours for total time on-site.
We also spend roughly 90 minutes of post processing time (color correction, photoshopping, etc) per 1,000 sq ft. This is done after your on-site services, so you don’t need to factor it in to your scheduling.
What is your availability & lead time on photos?
99% of the time we can accommodate any order that can be scheduled 72 hours in advance (except some weekends). Photos are also delivered fully color corrected and processed the next morning after the photoshoot by 9am (unless appointments are scheduled for Saturday, in which materials will be returned the Monday by 9:00am following the appointment). That is to say, if you order on a Monday, and schedule for Thursday, you’ll have your photos waiting in your inbox Friday morning.
We can often accommodate orders on very tight timelines – just shoot us a quick email to inquire.
Want to schedule services? Order now and pick your date and time.
Video Tour Services
What if I need to Cancel or Reschedule my appointment?
We know there are a lot of moving parts to getting a listing up, and marketing is typically that last effort to go live, so we are happy to quickly cancel or work with you to reschedule appointments. However, we do need to adhere to some strict guidelines in order to keep our staff productive and not affect our other customers.
Cancellation Fees:
Appointments that are cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the appointment time are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Note: This is a differs from our past cancellation policy which was only applied if the appointment was cancelled or rescheduled on the day of the appointment.
Twilight shoots are particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee if he or she gives us at least 2 hours notice.
Aerial shoots are also particularly dependent on weather, and if the reason for rescheduling is based on bad weather, the customer can avoid the cancellation fee.
Rescheduling Fees:
OHP allows customers to reschedule an appointment one time at no charge. Additional rescheduling requests may incur a rescheduling fee of $50.
Can I get Aerial Stills of a neighborhood?
We no longer offer neighborhood aerial video as part of the services we provide. FAA rules prohibit flying drones over populated areas and areas in which people aren’t aware of and/or participating in the shoot.
What is a Neighborhood Video Tour? How far do you go?
A Neighborhood Video Tour is an “add-on” feature to a Video shoot. It is typically the same photographer that does both. The cost for this service is an hourly rate since the neighborhood shoots can be pretty open-ended. In other words, the neighborhood portion of the shoot could be 3 locations or 20 locations – it’s really up to you!
What is the turnaround time on video?
Our dedicated production team takes pride in delivering industry leading videos, which means we need 1-2 business days to craft, edit, and color correct property videos. Most videos are polished and finished the following business day, but complexity, size, and work load can occasionally require an extra business day to complete. As always, you’ll receive a “Ready” email once the service is complete and ready to view.
Virtual Services
How does Virtual Staging for photography work?
Virtual Staging service offers a convenient alternative to staging a room – with the added bonus of never having to move a single piece of furniture.
Explore our expansive online furniture gallery, find the perfect home decor, and our team will provide a masterfully-edited photo full of virtual furniture after just one day of editing.
The cost is $100 per image and will take one additional day to complete once the images are ready!
Here are some before and after images of virtual staging!
Our editing team places the furniture in a way that best fits the room, so they can move the furniture’s angle so that it looks natural by increasing/decreasing the size of the virtual furniture so it looks better in the room. I hope that helps!
Can you use my photos for Virtual Staging or Virtual remodeling?
Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to add Virtual Staging into photography from other people or vendors. We use sophisticated CGI (Computer Generated Imaging) much like Hollywood does, which means the way that we shoot, capture, and process the photography is very important (color and light consistency is key). We would really love to help, but many photos cannot be well re-rendered with new CGI components to sufficient standards. And unfortunately, we don’t often know how well it will work until we’ve put in a few hours of effort.
We are happy to review your photos to see if they are good candidates for Virtual Staging before ordering, but please note that if you wish to proceed with any Virtual Staging processing we will not be able to offer refunds if the processed photos don’t appear to your liking. Please keep in mind that we invest considerable time into manipulating each photo.
Ready to unlock the potential of your real estate business?
Book a strategy call with us to find gaps in your marketing and build a game plan for your next listing. We’ll keep it brief, helpful, and tailored to your business.
Schedule your strategy session