100%. You won't even need any extra hardware to accomplish that.

However, I would encourage anyone going this route to think closely about the incentive structures behind the product they're building, and validate them with real estate agents, photographers, and sellers. It's a lot more complicated than what many of us may give it credit for.

It actually sounds like they're saying it's definitely feasible and encouraging people to build the right product. Their comment from 7 months ago indicates this is something that's obviously important to them.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20753553

It reads more as cautious encouragement to me, but if you are correct, a disclosure would be appropriate.

Great question. In theory - yes I think it would be possible. But there is a lot of software involved in producing and distributing such scans. Matterport does a great job in packaging and distributing these scans in a way that is easy for real estate agents to produce & share, and for buyers to view. There is probably a great business out there, but it does require a lot of development work.

How common are those? I've looked at a lot of properties and am yet to run across a 3D scan, but it may be very location dependent/value of property.

Very common in my area. When we just put our previous home up for rent, the agent had somebody come in, scan and photo the house and it was up the next day with virtual 3d walkthroughs and everything. We kinda couldn't believe they would do that just for a rental.

Side effect - these become documents of record if you damage/modify a rental property.

After one ugly experience with a dirtbag landlord, I started taking my own photos and had the landlord sign/date them before moving in.

Always have your own documentation.

Given how absurdly touched up real estate photos can be I really don’t know if that would hold up in court.

If you haven't seen 3D scans yet, you will soon. Virtual walkthroughs surging due to COVID.

I live in a large midwestern city. They aren't common by any means but they definitely exist. I'm sure more expensive properties are more likely to have features like this but I've seen starter homes in the mid $100k with scans.

They really helped me as a buyer and while I don't know what they cost, I think I'd spring a couple hundred dollars to have it whenever we sell our house.

I think the biggest problem is that as a seller, I want qualified leads, but I get the feeling realtors just want leads because there's always another house. This mis-alignment of incentives means that in my experience listing agents don't always want to take steps that would limit foto traffic to a property, even if it would be excluding parties that probably wouldn't buy.

Agreed, can't say I've seen them in use, though not deep into the housing market.

However in the current climate and social adjustment afterwards - such services and uses will certainly see an increase in usage and virtual viewings may well be more the norm.

I've seen some. They aren't actually that useful though. Unless your prospective buyer has a VR headset. Even then, a good floorplan has all the info I need.