360° virtual tours for businesses: what they are, what drives the price, how they’re made
A Matterport tour lets a client walk into a space before they get there. How it works, what drives the price and what to prepare on the day of the scan.
Giulio Palumbo SchiavonePhotographer · ENAC drone operatorPublishedUpdatedReading6 minWhatsAppLinkedIn
- 01A 360° virtual tour is a walkable copy of the space: it opens from a link, in the browser, on a phone too.
- 02The price depends on floor area and number of rooms, where the space is and what you add to the tour.
- 03Prepare the space as for a photo shoot: tidy, lights on, doors open.
In this article
What a 360° virtual tour is
It is a walkable model of a space. With Matterport the space is scanned point by point: each scan records 360° images and distances, and the platform joins them into a single model.
Anyone who opens it moves from room to room, looks around and understands the proportions: how the kitchen connects to the living room, how big the terrace is, what you see from the window. Besides the walkthrough there is an overview of the model and a floor plan.
Who it’s for
- Hospitality: hotels, B&Bs and holiday homes, so guests choose the room or the house before booking.
- Real estate: agencies and developers, to show a property remotely and get to the in-person visit with a clear idea.
- Spaces to show: showrooms, offices, event venues.
A few figures, with their source. Matterport states listings sell up to 31% faster and for up to 9% more. Vacasa, a holiday-home manager, measured about 12% more bookings on listings with a tour.
How it’s made
- Agreement: which rooms, outdoors included, and where the tour will be published.
- Scan: I move through the space scanning one point after another, close enough for the model to join without gaps.
- Processing: Matterport builds the model; I check the transitions and starting points.
- Delivery: a link for your website, for listings or messages, or to embed in a page.
What drives the price
I work on a quote basis. The main cost drivers:
- floor area and number of rooms, outdoor areas and gardens included;
- where the space is, for travel;
- what you add: interior photos, drone footage.
Whoever commissions the tour gets the link and has nothing to maintain.
For a precise proposal, send me the address, the floor area and the number of rooms: here is the service.
What to prepare on scan day
- tidy rooms: the tour shows every corner, not just the framed ones;
- lights on and curtains the way you want them to look;
- interior doors open, to move from room to room;
- no people in the rooms while I scan;
- for a hotel, rooms free during the agreed time slot.
FAQ
Does the tour open on a phone?
Yes. It opens in the browser, with nothing to install, on phones, tablets and computers.
Can I put it on my website?
Yes: as a link or embedded in a page, as well as in listings or by message.
How long does it stay online?
You get the link and have nothing to maintain. How long it stays published is set in the quote.
