How To Prepare For A Virtual Tour

Prepare Smart

Essential tips for booking and readying your space.

After

Once the scan is complete, the captured data is uploaded to the Matterport cloud where it’s processed into a fully interactive 3D tour. Within 24–48 hours, you’ll receive a polished digital model of your property that can be shared online, giving viewers an immersive experience of the space anytime, anywhere.

Before

Before your virtual tour, make sure your property is presented exactly as you’d like it to appear. High-resolution 360° and 3D cameras capture every detail, so tidy each space thoroughly and remove any sensitive items such as letters, documents, or personal photos. If something is overlooked, we can blur it during post-production. The better your property looks in person, the more impressive it will appear in the finished tour.

During a 3D virtual tour scan, a specialized camera is placed at multiple points throughout the property to capture high-resolution 360° images and precise spatial data. As the camera moves through each room, it records every detail and stitches the scans together to create a seamless, interactive digital model. The result is an accurate, immersive tour that allows viewers to explore the space virtually as if they were walking through in person.

During

FAQs

When to book?

Schedule your virtual tour early to secure your preferred slot.
If available, sharing floor plans of your property or provide quick photos of each room before the virtual tour professional arrives. This gives us a clear understanding of the layout in advance, allowing us to spot potential problem areas early and capture the property efficiently with minimal disruption.

How to prepare?

Before we arrive, tidy up spaces and remove personal items for a clean look. The rule of thumb is anything you can see, the camera can see. Ensuring the space it clean and tidy will ensure the final product is flawless.

What happens during the scan?

While scanning, we will move through each room capturing detailed 3D images. Each scan point needs to connect to the previous scans, so we will move from one room to another often starting from the bottom floor and moving up.

Exterior areas?

Our virtual tour cameras are primarily designed for indoor use. Outdoor 3D scanning can be affected by conditions such as direct sunlight & adverse weather due to the infrared and UltraViolet light interference, which can cause errors.

How long does scanning take?

Virtual tour sessions typically take about 30–45 minutes for a small apartment (1–2 bedrooms), 60–90 minutes for a standard 3-bedroom home, and anywhere from 2 to 6 hours for larger properties or commercial spaces, depending on complexity.

What affects scan time?

The time required for a 3D scan depends on several factors. Larger properties need more scanning points, while open-plan layouts are quicker than complex spaces with multiple rooms or floors. Furniture, mirrors, and reflective surfaces can add to the setup, and clutter may slow things down if items need to be moved. Preparing your property in advance helps ensure the scan runs smoothly and efficiently.

What Happens After the Scan?

After scanning, the data is uploaded to the Matterport cloud, where it’s processed into a fully interactive 3D tour. Processing typically takes a few hours, and your completed virtual tour is usually ready within 24–48 hours.

Is Matterport worth it?

Yes! The brief time it takes to scan is a small investment for the big rewards. A 360° virtual tour delivers a realistic, detailed, and easily shareable view of your space helping boost engagement, drive bookings or sales, and provide greater transparency for clients and prospects.

Residential Properties

A 3D virtual tour helps sell homes faster by giving buyers an immersive, true-to-life view of the property. Scans typically take 30–90 minutes, and the result is a high-quality showcase that makes your listing stand out.

Preparing your property for a virtual tour is all about presenting it at its very best. We use advanced 360° and 3D cameras, every detail is captured in stunning clarity, both the highlights and the imperfections. That means a thorough tidy-up is essential, ensuring each room looks polished and clutter-free before we arrive. It’s equally important to remove or store away any sensitive items such as letters, legal documents, or personal photographs that you wouldn’t want displayed. If something is missed, don’t worry we s can blur sensitive details during post-production. By taking the time to prepare properly, you’ll not only make the scanning process smoother but also guarantee that your finished tour reflects the true quality and character of your home. Simply put: the better your property looks in person, the more impressive and inviting it will appear in your virtual tour.

Commercial Properties

For businesses, a 3D tour is a powerful marketing tool that attracts clients and showcases your space online 24/7. Larger or more complex properties may take several hours to scan, but the finished tour provides a professional, interactive experience that sets your business apart.

Preparing your office, commercial property, or business for a virtual tour follows many of the same guidelines as preparing a home. Providing us with as much information about the space as possible before their visit is key. Make sure the environment is clean, organized, and free of clutter, and be mindful of any sensitive materials that could be visible. Unlike residential properties, commercial spaces often have unique considerations that require extra planning.

Because virtual tour cameras capture an exact representation of the space, even small disruptions like someone walking through can affect the results. To achieve the best visuals, it’s recommended to schedule scanning when the premises are closed to the public or foot traffic is minimal. In busier environments, having a staff member on hand to assist the provider and manage access can help keep the process smooth.

Finally, think carefully about which areas of your property you want included in the tour. For example, a wedding venue may prefer to highlight event spaces rather than kitchens or prep areas. Planning these details in advance ensures the tour runs efficiently and showcases your business in the best possible way.