Virtual tours have become increasingly popular since the pandemic, and many agents now offer them as standard. They allow buyers to explore a property remotely, reducing unnecessary viewings and attracting serious buyers.
Matterport
Matterport is the industry leader in virtual tours. Their system creates a "digital twin" of the property that users can navigate through in 3D.
How it works: 1. You scan each room using a Matterport camera or compatible 360° camera 2. The scans are uploaded to Matterport's cloud 3. Their AI stitches the scans together into a seamless 3D model 4. You share the tour link with the agent
The Matterport Pro2 camera is the professional standard, but it's expensive (around £3,000). The Matterport Pro3 is the latest model with improved scanning speed and accuracy.
Budget alternatives
- Ricoh Theta Z1: A 360° camera that works with Matterport's software. Much cheaper than the Pro2/Pro3 but lower quality.
- Insta360 X4: Another 360° camera option with good image quality.
- iPhone/iPad with Matterport app: Matterport's free app can create basic tours using your phone's LiDAR scanner (iPhone 12 Pro and later).
Pricing virtual tours
- Basic tour (up to 10 rooms): £150-200
- Standard tour (up to 20 rooms): £200-300
- Large property tour (20+ rooms): £300-500
- Bundle with photography: Offer a discount when booked together
Tips for better virtual tours
- Scan systematically, room by room
- Ensure consistent lighting throughout (turn on all lights)
- Remove clutter and personal items (same as for photography)
- Place scan points 1.5-2m apart for smooth transitions
- Scan from the centre of each room at chest height
- Include outdoor scans for gardens and patios
Hosting and ongoing costs
One important consideration with Matterport is the ongoing hosting cost. Each active tour requires a Matterport subscription:
- Free plan: 1 active space (very limited)
- Starter plan: 5 active spaces
- Professional plan: 25 active spaces
- Business plan: unlimited spaces
Factor this into your pricing. Some photographers absorb the hosting cost; others pass it on to the agent as a monthly or annual fee. Be transparent about this — agents don't like surprise recurring charges.
Alternative platforms
Matterport isn't the only option. Other virtual tour platforms worth considering:
- iGUIDE: Combines floor plans with virtual tours. Popular in North America and growing in the UK.
- Kuula: Simple 360° photo tours without the 3D modelling. Lower cost and easier to create.
- CloudPano: Another 360° tour platform with a one-time purchase option rather than subscription.
- EyeSpy360: UK-based platform with competitive pricing and good estate agent integrations.
Integrating virtual tours with your photography business
Virtual tours work best as an upsell to your core photography service. Offer packages that bundle photography and virtual tours at a slight discount:
- Photography only: your standard rate
- Photography + virtual tour: standard rate + tour fee minus 10-15%
- Premium package: photography + virtual tour + drone + floor plan
This approach increases your average order value while giving agents a convenient one-stop service.
Quality control
Before delivering a virtual tour, walk through it yourself on both desktop and mobile. Check for:
- Smooth transitions between scan points
- Consistent lighting and colour
- No visible tripod or photographer reflections
- Correct room labels and navigation
- The tour loads quickly and doesn't stutter
Key Takeaways
- Matterport is the industry standard for property virtual tours
- Budget alternatives like Ricoh Theta and iPhone LiDAR can produce decent results
- Price virtual tours at £150-500 depending on property size
- Bundle virtual tours with photography for a discount to increase average order value
- Scan systematically with consistent lighting for the best results
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