Creating a virtual tour for real estate is a powerful way to showcase properties online and attract more buyers or renters. Here’s a clear step-by-step guide to help you build one:
1. Choose the Type of Virtual Tour
There are a few different styles you can create depending on your budget and goals:
-
360° Virtual Tour – Uses panoramic photos that viewers can click through (most common in real estate).
-
Video Walkthrough – A guided video (with or without narration).
-
3D Virtual Tour – Fully interactive tours using platforms like Matterport, Zillow 3D Home, or Cupix.
2. Gather the Right Equipment
-
Camera:
-
For budget setups: smartphone + 360° camera attachment (e.g., Insta360 ONE X2).
-
For professional setups: DSLR/mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens or a dedicated 360° camera (e.g., Ricoh Theta Z1, Matterport Pro2).
-
-
Tripod: Ensures stability and smoother stitching of 360° images.
-
Software:
-
Free/entry-level: Google Street View, Zillow 3D Home.
-
Professional: Matterport, Kuula, EyeSpy360, CloudPano.
-
3. Prepare the Property
-
Clean and declutter every space.
-
Stage the home with lighting, furniture, and decor to make it inviting.
-
Open curtains for natural light, turn on all lights to avoid shadows.
4. Capture the Media
-
Take 360° photos from the center of each room, about 4–5 feet high.
-
Cover every major room: living areas, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, backyard.
-
Avoid standing in reflective surfaces (mirrors/windows).
-
For video tours: move slowly, keep the camera at eye level, and use a gimbal for stabilization.
5. Build the Virtual Tour
-
Upload your 360° photos into a virtual tour platform.
-
Link hotspots so users can navigate between rooms.
-
Add extras: floor plans, info tags, property descriptions, or embedded videos.
-
Platforms like Matterport even create 3D floorplans automatically.
6. Publish & Share
-
Embed the virtual tour on your real estate website or listing.
-
Share on MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, and social media.
-
Use QR codes on print flyers that link directly to the virtual tour.
7. Optional Enhancements
-
Drone footage for exterior and neighborhood views.
-
Voiceover/narration explaining key features.
-
Virtual staging if the home is empty.
-
Live guided tours (some platforms let you walk clients through the tour remotely).
⚡ Pro tip: If you want maximum polish without handling the tech, many real estate photographers now offer turnkey virtual tour packages.
Would you like me to put together a step-by-step checklist with recommended tools and prices (budget vs professional setup), so you can choose what fits your needs?
You said:
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a checklist for creating a virtual real-estate tour, with two budget tiers (Entry / DIY vs Professional), along with recommended tools and estimated costs (based on current Australian market). You can mix-and-match depending on how polished you want it and how much you want to invest.
Virtual Tour Checklist
| Step | Task | Details / Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define scope | Which rooms/areas to include (interior, exterior, garden, pool, neighbours view). |
| 2 | Prepare the property | Clean, declutter, stage, lighting, open curtains, remove distracting items. |
| 3 | Equipment / Capture | Choose camera (360° or video/3D scan), stabilisation, tripod, possibly drone. |
| 4 | Capture media | Shoot from centres of rooms; ensure good lighting; avoid being visible in reflections; take overlapping/360° photos or video walkthroughs. |
| 5 | Editing / Post-production | Stitching 360° images, colour correction, gallery, hotspots between rooms, annotations/floor plans, voiceover or background music if needed. |
| 6 | Hosting / Platform | Choose software or service to build and host the tour; link rooms, embed floor-plans, allow navigation; ensure it works on mobile. |
| 7 | Publish & Share | Embed into your website or listing, share via social media, MLS, promote via flyers with QR codes, maybe virtual open days. |
| 8 | Optional enhancements | Drone/sky views; virtual staging; live guided tours; extra features (measurements, detailed floor plans, analytics). |
Tool / Setup Options & Cost Estimates
Here are two tiers and what you might expect to spend. Prices are approximate and in Australian Dollars (AUD) where known.
| Tier | Equipment & Software | Estimated Costs & Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Entry / DIY | • 360° action camera or mid-range 360° camera • Tripod or mini tripod • Basic editing software / tour platform • Good lighting (use existing lights / inexpensive lamps) |
• Camera: something like Insta360 X3 / X4 / X5 models: these cost around AUD $800-1,100 for decent 8K or high-quality 360° photo/video capability. Camzilla+3Camera House+3TechRadar+3 • Lower number options: older 360 cams or used ones may be cheaper. But want something with good stitch / HDR. • Tripod: cheap to moderate cost: ~ AUD $50-200 • Software / platform: free or low cost (many platforms have free tier or small subscription) • Time: more of your time in doing shots, editing, hosting. |
| Professional / High-End | • Dedicated 3D / scanning camera (e.g. Matterport Pro) • Drone for aerial views • Professional lighting and staging • High quality editing & post-production • Paid subscription hosting / floor plan / analytic features |
• Matterport subscription & plan: free/entry up to more advanced tiers. Matterport has Free, Starter, Professional, Business, Enterprise plans. The higher tiers offer more “active spaces,” more users, more storage, more advanced features. buy.matterport.com+2support.matterport.com+2 • The hosting & subscription cost could run to a few hundred $/month depending on how many properties / spaces • A professional 3D scan camera or sensor can cost several thousands. • Drone: depending on model, maybe AUD $1,000-3,000+ • Lighting / staging: depends on scale but extra cost • Editing / labour cost: if you pay someone, that adds significantly. |
Example Budget Scenarios
Here are two sample budgets to give you numbers to work with.
| Scenario | What’s included | Approx Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small home, DIY approach | Insta360 X4 / X5 camera (8K 360°), tripod, basic tour platform subscription, you do capture & editing, no drone | ~$1,200-2,000 AUD (mostly hardware + some software subscription) |
| Mid-size property, polished tour | Pro scanning (Matterport or equivalent), drone shots for exteriors, professional staging & lighting, edit + floor plans, paid hosting, possibly voiceover | ~$3,000-6,000+ AUD depending on service rates, property size, location, and extras |