The first thing we need to know when hiring an infographic is to know what range of rendering we are looking for.
1.) BOTTOM OF THE BARREL - CHEAPEST 3D RENDERING PRICE: 50€ - 150€ PER IMAGE
IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO HIRE A SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BE CAREFUL WITH THIS OPTION.
With 3D rendering technology available worldwide, the cost associated with 3D rendering can fluctuate dramatically. Many architectural rendering firms in less developed countries can produce economical options for creating 3D images by taking advantage of relaxed regulations and cheap labor.
Often working with 3D companies overseas can pose some problems related to language barriers, time zone, stylistic difference, and overall the final quality tends to be lower. That's not to say that there aren't amazing 3D artists around the world; however, many of these companies that offer rock-bottom pricing focus on high quantity rather than high quality.
Having architectural images created by a company offering prices of 50€- 150€ per image should be reserved for when the purpose of the project is simply to conceptualize ideas and designs for a personal project. Many of our clients have previously tried their luck using the low end pricing option only to realize that "you get what you pay for" and ended up coming to us.
TIMES WHEN THE CHEAPEST PRICE IS BEST:
When the project budget is the only concern, the final quality and personal time dedicated to micromanaging the project are not an issue.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU DECIDE TO CONTRACT THE LOWER RANGE:
- Check if the portfolio is misleading:
- Despite the price, do the images look like hyper-realistic projects or were they created just to make the portfolio look good?
- Do they have 5 or 6 good renders, followed by many very bad renders?
- Are there only small images that cannot be enlarged?
- Are the fine details there?
- Light fixtures
- Good household appliances
- Detailed windows
- Landscaping
- Beautiful interior design and detailed furnishings.
- What are the possible hidden costs?
- Do you charge extra for higher resolution images?
- How much do you charge for extra revisions?
- What is your overtime rate?
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you have a physical address?
- Do they have real reviews?
- Will this company respect your deadlines?
- Does something feel 'weaponized' or 'too good to be true'?
2.) BASIC RANGE - ECONOMIC RENDERING PRICE: 150€ - 250€.
This price range is generally the second price step from the bottom (bottom of the barrel), as it generally represents a more professional experience. Most projects in this price range are outsourced, but must be professionally managed by someone more local or with exceptional language skills, if outsourced overseas.
At JVA Renders - Architecture Visualization, this price range of projects is mainly managed by 1 or 2 experienced 3D artists who can make modifications to the 3D files or correct errors instantly in Photoshop. Occasionally we outsource these services to some very talented professionals, with whom we have a long term relationship. These freelancers allow us to maintain exceptionally high quality while offering competitive prices.
One of the best applications for this type of rendering project is basic exterior rendering of single-family homes or small developments.
TIMES WHEN LOW PRICES ARE BEST:
When the budget for the project is the main concern, the final quality should be very good, but does not need to be at the top level.
The overall goal of the project is to obtain regulatory approval, basic style planning or real estate pre-sales.
These services are excellent for architects, real estate agents, home builders and real estate marketing agencies.
Even when you own a home and are looking to plan your renovation.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
- Do you have an extensive portfolio with projects that appear to be for real clients?
- How long have you been in business?
- Will language and design style be a problem?
- Do they offer any additional quality beyond those priced at the "bottom of the barrel" or are they simply priced higher?
Example of Basic quality (market average):
3.) MID-RANGE - RENDERING PRICE: 300€ - 900€.
Mid-range pricing is the most common choice for developers, architects, real estate agents and designers working on high-end homes and medium to large-scale rendering projects, such as townhouse renderings. This level of quality and price is the bread and butter of JVA - architecture Visualization. We focus on creating great images without spending your entire marketing budget.
For the average client, it can be a challenge to differentiate between a "good" rendering and an "excellent" rendering without having a direct comparison. The best way to judge the quality of the rendering is to look on a site like rew.ca or Idealista.com and see what your direct competitor's renderings look like along with the company you are hiring. At the very least, you should be able to tell that the images from the company you are considering are on par, if not better.
TIMES WHEN THE MID-RANGE PRICE IS BETTER:
- When you need your project to stand out from the crowd
- For professionals:
- Architects
- Developers
- Real Estate Agents
- Marketers
- Designers
- The purpose of the rendering is for sales, design planning, regulatory approval or conceptualization.
- A few hundred euros is not much in the big picture:
- Could more impressive images help you sell faster?
- Could you convince a client or a regulatory board or investment fund to move forward?
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
- Can the company justify the price difference compared to the lower end?
- Do they appear knowledgeable and professional?
- Will the company provide images similar to those they advertise?
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you have testimonials and reviews?
- Do they meet or exceed the rendering quality of their competition?
- What is your response time?
- Are they local, are they available to talk on the phone to explain their services?
Example of average quality (market average):
4.) HIGH-END - TOP OF THE LINE : HIGH END RENDERING PRICE: 600€ - 10.000€.
Customers who tend to focus on the high-end tend to be large, established corporations where price is essential, but top-notch quality takes priority.
In JVA Renders - Architecture Visualization we have an exclusive department for these projects, VERTEX:
You can request information by writing directly to the creative director at: Juan@jvarenders.com
These renderings are not for your everyday client, as most budgets do not allow for such exuberant pricing. However, when you plan to market a major new development or super mall, branding and perception are huge. Tens of thousands of dollars on a $100 million project is just a drop in the bucket, especially when these images could be responsible for hundreds of presales or could be the difference between approval and rejection.
One of the standard benchmarks used when describing what a client would like their marketing images to look like is "I want this rendering to look like Apple (insert your niche)." However, what often goes unmentioned when referencing Apple marketing is the team of experts and the countless revisions it took to get to that level, not to mention the high price tag. However, the money invested in high-end branding seems to have worked out quite well for companies like Apple.
Some of the studios that request these services from us:
TIMES WHEN HIGHER PRICES ARE BETTER:
- You are a top professional and you want to work with top professionals.
- Spending tens of thousands will not break the budget.
- The purpose of the rendering is for sales, design planning, regulatory approval or conceptualization but on a large scale.
- If you are an architect, developer, real estate agent, designer but your project needs to get noticed and be the best by a wide margin
- When you are willing to pay to work with the best companies in the industry.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
- Can the company reasonably argue that it is one of the best architectural rendering firms in your city, country or the world?
- Have you worked on major flagship projects?
- Can you see a jump in quality and service that justifies the price?
- Have you worked with some of the best brands in the industry before?
- Do you offer any warranty associated with rendering quality or response time?
- Who are the customers of the lenders?
- The best local and international companies?
- Do you have testimonials or reviews?
- Are they willing to connect you with one or more previous customers as a reference?
Example of high quality (market average):
Want to know more? Here we leave you:
HOW MUCH DOES A RENDERING COST?
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