How To Set Up Virtual Tours

A good virtual tour does more than just showcase a property—it sells the experience of living there. Buyers can explore a home in detail, moving through rooms at their own pace, zooming in on key features, and getting a real sense of the space. This has a direct impact on how a property listing performs online.

Studies show that listings with virtual tours receive up to 40% more enquiries than those without. They also keep users on your site longer, which improves engagement and makes them more likely to take action. Virtual tours can also:

• Reduce unnecessary viewings by allowing buyers to filter properties more effectively.
• Attract serious buyers, as those who do book a viewing have already explored the property online.
• Expand your reach by making properties accessible to buyers from other cities or overseas.
• Make your agency look more professional and forward-thinking.

Given how easy and affordable virtual tours are to create, there’s no reason not to be using them. In this guide, I’m going to take a look at the different types of virtual tours, what you’ll need to set them up and how to go about creating your first one.

Types of Virtual Tours

Not all types of virtual tours are created equal. The right approach depends on your goals, budget, and how interactive you want the experience to be.

360-Degree Photo Tours

This is one of the most popular types of virtual tours. Using a 360-degree camera or smartphone, you capture panoramic images of each room, which are then stitched together using virtual tour software. The result is an interactive walkthrough where users can click their way through the property.

• Best for: General property listings where buyers want an interactive experience.
• Equipment needed: A 360-degree camera like the Ricoh Theta or Insta360, or a smartphone with a fisheye lens adapter.
• Software: Matterport, Kuula, EyeSpy360.

Video Walkthroughs

A video walkthrough is a pre-recorded tour of the property, guiding viewers through each space while highlighting key features. Unlike interactive 360 tours, the agent controls what the viewer sees, making it a good option for narrated, highly curated tours.

• Best for: Showcasing key selling points with a structured, guided feel.
• Equipment needed: A smartphone or DSLR on a stabiliser for smooth movement.
• Software: iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve.

Live Virtual Tours

With live virtual tours, the estate agent walks through the property in real time using a video call platform like Zoom, WhatsApp, or CloudPano. This allows potential buyers to ask questions on the spot and request to see specific details.

• Best for: High-end properties or buyers who need direct agent interaction.
• Equipment needed: A smartphone with a stabiliser and a reliable internet connection.
• Software: CloudPano, Zoom, WhatsApp.

What You’ll Need to Set Up a Virtual Tour

You don’t need a huge budget or specialist skills to create a professional-looking virtual tour. The key is to use the right tools and pay attention to lighting, stability, and image quality.

Most modern smartphones can capture high-quality video walkthroughs, but if you want sharper, more professional 360-degree images, investing in a dedicated 360-degree camera is a good idea. Options like the Ricoh Theta, Insta360, or Matterport Pro2 are designed for estate agents and produce crystal-clear panoramic images.

A tripod is essential for keeping shots steady, especially for 360-degree photo tours. If you’re filming a walkthrough video, a gimbal stabiliser will ensure smooth movement as you walk through the property.

Once you’ve captured your footage, you’ll need software to put it all together. Matterport, Kuula, and EyeSpy360 offer powerful virtual tour creation tools, while CloudPano is great for live interactive tours. If you’re editing a video walkthrough, Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, or DaVinci Resolve will help you polish the footage.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Virtual Tour

Step 1: Capturing the Footage

The most important thing when shooting a virtual tour is to make the property look its best. Lighting plays a huge role here—always film during the day and let in as much natural light as possible. If a room still feels dark, use soft LED lights to brighten it without creating harsh shadows.

Camera positioning is just as important. For 360-degree photo tours, place the camera in the centre of each room to capture everything evenly. For video walkthroughs, move smoothly through the space, keeping the camera at eye level to maintain a realistic perspective. Avoid sudden movements or panning too quickly, as this can make the footage feel disorienting.

Step 2: Editing and Enhancing the Tour

Once you’ve captured the footage, it’s time to refine it. If you’re creating a 360-degree photo tour, platforms like Matterport and Kuula will automatically stitch the images together, allowing you to add interactive elements like navigation points, info tags, or even voiceover narration.

For video walkthroughs, trimming unnecessary footage, adjusting brightness, and adding background music can make a huge difference. If you want to highlight key features, on-screen text or captions are a great way to draw attention to things like built-in storage, period features, or new renovations.

Step 3: Uploading and Promoting the Virtual Tour

Once your tour is ready, the final step is getting it in front of buyers. Most virtual tour platforms provide a shareable link or embed code, which you can add to your property listings, website, and property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla.

To maximise exposure, don’t just stop at listing pages. Virtual tours perform exceptionally well on social media, particularly on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. A short teaser clip of a video walkthrough can generate interest and drive traffic to the full tour. Email marketing is another great option—sending virtual tours to your mailing list can put the property in front of serious buyers who might not have seen the listing otherwise.

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Virtual tours aren’t just a nice-to-have anymore—they’re an essential tool for estate agents who want to attract more buyers, generate more enquiries, and stay ahead of the competition.

With affordable equipment, intuitive software, and simple editing tools, any estate agent can create a high-quality virtual tour. Whether you opt for 360-degree photo tours, video walkthroughs, or live virtual viewings, taking the time to get it right will make a huge difference to the way buyers interact with your listings.

The property market is more competitive than ever, and buyers are increasingly expecting interactive, high-quality listings. If you’re not using virtual tours yet, now is the time to start.