Matterport Virtual Tours for New Build Properties: How Developers Use Them

Why developers use Matterport for new builds

A Matterport virtual tour of a new build show home lets buyers and investors walk the completed unit from any device without visiting the site. For a development where the show home is open for a defined sales period, a tour extends the reach of that asset beyond the people who visit in person. An investor in London or overseas can qualify the unit remotely before committing to a site visit.

Listings with a virtual tour generate 49% more qualified leads than listings without one. For a new build development where each sale carries significant value, the cost of producing a tour is small relative to the cost of managing unqualified viewings or losing a buyer who could not visit in person.

Show home scanning

The show home scan is the most common use of Matterport on new build developments. Once the show home is complete and dressed to the specification the developer wants buyers to see, the Matterport scanner captures the full interior as a navigable 3D model. The resulting tour shows every room in sequence, allows viewers to use the dollhouse view to understand the layout, and includes the Matterport measurement tool so buyers can verify room dimensions without visiting.

Timing matters. The scan should happen once the property is in the condition you want buyers to see: all finishes complete, furniture in place, and the space clean and dressed. Scanning an incomplete or undressed unit produces a tour that does not represent the finished product. For a show home that will remain open over several months, re-scanning after any significant changes to the fit-out or dressing is worth doing.

Off-plan sales

Where a developer has completed one unit of a type and is selling others of the same layout off plan, the tour of the completed unit serves as a representative view. A buyer purchasing an identical or comparable unit on a higher floor can walk the equivalent completed unit virtually and arrive at the sales office with a clear picture of what they are committing to.

This is different from a CGI or fly-through render, which shows a computer-generated version of the space. A Matterport tour shows the actual completed unit. The materials, finishes, ceiling heights, and room proportions are real. That distinction matters to buyers who have been caught out by renders that oversold the space.

Multiple unit types

Developments with several distinct unit types benefit from scanning each type separately. A one-bedroom, a two-bedroom, and a duplex penthouse each produce their own tour with a unique link and embed code. An agent can share the relevant tour for the specific unit a buyer is interested in rather than directing everyone to a single generic tour.

All scans on a development can be carried out in a single visit once the relevant show units are complete. If different unit types complete at different times, each can be scanned as it becomes ready without requiring a separate mobilisation for each one.

Sharing and embedding the tour

Every Matterport tour is delivered as a shareable link and an embed code. The link works on any device with a browser. The embed code places the tour directly inside a property listing page, microsite, or developer website. Buyers and investors can walk the space without leaving the page.

For investor-focused developments, the tour link is shared by email or WhatsApp before the sales call rather than after. A buyer who has already walked the unit has a clearer set of questions and a shorter path to a decision. See how commercial property marketing works as a package for how a virtual tour fits alongside video and photography in a complete developer marketing brief.

Combining with photography and video

Most new build marketing briefs combine Matterport with photography and video. Photography provides the portal header images and print brochure assets. Video produces the walkthrough content for social media and developer websites. Matterport provides the interactive tour for remote buyers and investors.

All three can be produced in a single visit to the show home once it is ready. The practical sequence is photography first, then Matterport scanning, then video. See how property video production works for what the video portion of a combined shoot involves.

When to book

Book the scan once the show home is complete and dressed. For developments with a defined launch date, allow at least 5 working days between the scan and the launch so the tour is ready when the listing goes live. If the show home is not ready at launch, the tour can be added to an active listing once it is complete, though it will not capture the initial launch traffic.

Frequently asked questions

When should a new build be scanned for a Matterport virtual tour?

When it is complete to show home standard: all finishes in, furniture dressed, and the space in the condition you want buyers or investors to see. Scanning a partially completed or undressed unit produces a tour that does not represent the finished product.

Can a Matterport tour be used for off-plan sales?

Yes, with a caveat. The tour shows the actual completed unit. Where a developer has completed one unit of a type and is selling others off plan, the tour of the completed unit serves as a representative view of what the off-plan units will look like. It cannot show a unit that does not yet exist.

Can different unit types be scanned separately on the same development?

Yes. If a development has multiple unit types, each type can be scanned as a separate tour with its own link and embed code. This allows agents to share the relevant tour for the specific unit type a buyer or investor is interested in.

Does a Matterport tour of a new build replace the need for viewings?

No, but it reduces the number of early-stage viewings needed to qualify interest. Buyers and investors who have walked the show unit virtually and confirmed it meets their requirements before booking arrive more prepared. The physical viewing confirms details and builds confidence rather than establishing basic suitability.