Doing your own architectural visualization can be exhausting when you’re also trying to do everything else involved in running a business
Last updated: 7th February, 2023
Have you ever found yourself in a position where your architectural or real estate company is finding it difficult to create 3D renderings for your clients quickly enough due to overwhelming demand? Or are you faced with a lack of enough architectural visualization expertise in-house to help you seal the deal with prospective clients and stakeholders? Maybe you’re a developer who needs 3D renderings for office building to residential conversions.
If yes, you’re a prime candidate for outsourcing your 3D rendering projects to a professional 3D rendering company like us here at Render 3D Quick.
Outsourcing your 3D rendering projects to the right 3d rendering company will yield high-quality images with great turnaround times and affordable prices, but if you choose the wrong company you can end up wasting time, money and increasing your frustration levels.
With that in mind, should you outsource your 3D rendering projects, learn how to use 3D rendering software, or hire an in-house designer to resolve these problems yourself?
In this article we'll address the pros and cons of hiring an in-house CGI artist or learning to use 3D rendering software yourself, and the pros and cons of outsourcing 3D rendering projects.
Pros and cons of getting an in-house 3D renderer or learning to use 3D rendering software YOURSELF
Pros
Immediate and potentially less communication
Having an in-house renderer who knows how you like to work, understands your language and the company's specifications and is familiar with the types of projects you work on might mean you don’t have to spend as much time briefing projects. Giving instructions can be immediate if your renderer is sitting right beside you, or unnecessary if learning the software yourself.
This of course depends on the skill and competency of the person who will be doing your renderings, and can be negated by working with a company who has streamlined processes requiring a minimum amount of communication to achieve a great outcome.
Unlimited revisions
The ability to have unlimited revisions can be both a pro and a con. It’s great to be able to make as many changes as you feel are necessary, but if you are a perfectionist this can cause projects to go far beyond scope very quickly.
Cons
Can be time-consuming
Learning how to use 3D rendering software is no joke. Most people spend around 6 months just learning the basics of how to create architectural renderings. Similarly, finding high quality talent can take a significant amount of time. By outsourcing your work to a 3D rendering specialist company instead you can draw on our many years of experience and know you will get great renderings at an affordable price with the minimum amount of work required on your side.
More expensive
3D rendering software and the high spec computers need to run it and generate high quality renderings are expensive.
Hiring a renderer in-house can also add up, especially if you aren’t keeping them constantly busy as hiring an in-house 3D renderer means that your company will spend more on salaries, allowances, and any extra or ongoing training you may want to give them ensure they deliver the best quality 3D renders.
Difficulty in finding experienced 3D rendering employees
There are lots of 3D rendering “specialists” out there. But finding one who will fit your team and company culture, who can take instructions as well as initiative and who has high attention to detail can be a tough ask. Even when you do find the right person, expect them to charge for their worth. Outsourcing your renderings takes away a lot of these concerns straight away.
Pros and cons of outsourcing 3D rendering projects
Pros
There are lots of benefits to outsourcing your 3D rendering projects to professionals like us:
Better quality renderings, more affordably
Since you are outsourcing your 3D rendering project to a company who just does architectural rendering with years of proven experience, it goes without saying that company must have developed and honed the needed team, skills, software and hardware to get the job done right.
At Render 3D Quick, for instance, our renderers are creative professionals who not only possess top-notch architectural training but have also gathered a great deal of experience working with clients from all around the world. You can therefore rest assured that you will get the best service and speed in the market. Just see what our previous clients have to say for instance.
Cost-effective
Unlike hiring an in-house 3D renderer or learning 3D rendering yourself, both of which can end up being incredibly expensive, when outsourcing your 3D rendering projects you only pay for what you need, when you need it. Individual renderings may be a bit more expensive than doing it in-house over the longer term, but you save money not only in avoiding excess and wastage, but in the time you can save in training, putting it instead towards something else like prospecting, working on other projects etc.
Takes less time
Imagine the time it'll take you to learn 3D rendering and to perfect the skill to a level where you and your clients or stakeholders will be satisfied with it. On average, learning 3D rendering takes about 6 months to one year at a minimum, and that's just for learning the basics!
When you outsource to professionals you cut out that learning curve. You can also work with a company (like us) with employees in multiple timezones, allowing us to work on your project 24/7 and have your 3D renderings done in a matter of days. Compare that with the amount of time and stress involved with hiring someone in-house or learning rendering yourself.
Experience is important
A real 3D rendering professional has worked with lots of clients and many different types of projects and has over the years come to understand what clients need out of a project. This experience can be invaluable and can greatly streamline and improve the outcome of your projects, as well as making the creation process more efficient.
Experience also comes in the form of working on a wide range of different projects. While an in-house designer may have specialized in a particular type of rendering, working with a specialized 3D rendering company means that amongst the staff there will be designers who have worked across almost every type of project imaginable. If your in-house designer has not had experience with some of the less commonly used types of renderings - doll’s house renderings for instance - or types of drawings with specific requirements like cadastral map drawing services then they can waste a lot of time and money learning the requirements. The experience of your rendering team then becomes very important!
Increase your profit margin
Since you can end up spending less overall when you outsource 3D rendering to a professional company, you can increase your profit margin on projects. This extra capital can be reinvested or paid out to staff, which is so important in times of inflation and potential recession.
Cons (only an issue If you choose the wrong company to work with)
Outsourcing 3D rendering projects to professionals can come with some disadvantages if you work with the wrong company. Here are some of the potential disadvantages to be aware of:
Lack of control
When you outsource your project you give the reigns of that part of the project to someone else, meaning you no longer have full control over it. This is totally fine if you work with a seasoned professional you can trust, but if you work with a company that is either too busy and overwhelmed or not professional it can be a problem. This may also be a problem if you have very strong micro-management or perfectionist tendencies, in which case you may be better off keeping it in-house.
Some companies may not include revisions without requiring extra payment, or may only allow you to give feedback right at the end of the project. At 3D Render Quick, however, we prioritize quality relationships with our clients. We show you the project at different stages throughout it's progress, allowing you to make any corrections or requests needed at any point.
Communication gap
This can be most common if you try to cut corners by using a 3D renderer who is not completely fluent in English. If the 3d renderer you hire is from a different country, you may experience some communication issues including a language barrier (if they speak a foreign language), time zone issues leading to delayed communication and cultural differences. Render 3D Quick is a North American company, ensuring that you won’t have any communication difficulties at all!
Drafting standards
Being unfamiliar with the building standards of your company or country can sometimes also be a problem if you hire someone who is not local. Again, this risk can be mitigated by working with a North American rendering company like us here at Render 3D Quick.
If you’d like to talk more about outsourcing your 3D rendering projects and how it could benefit you over hiring in-house or learning the software yourself we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us here, or give us a call directly on 1-877-350-3490
Alex Smith
Manager & Co-Owner Render 3D Quick
Alex Smith is a manager and co-owner at Render3DQuick, with over 6 years’ experience project managing their large team of 3D rendering professionals. Alex is obsessed with architecture and is a CAD design specialist in his own right and an expert in the field of architectural visualization, 3D rendering, and virtual reality tours.
As the first point of contact when you get in touch with Render3DQuick, Alex loves sharing his knowledge and answering any questions you may have about architectural visualization or the latest technologies and techniques they utilize.
Connect with Alex on LinkedIn here.