A Matterport tour and a property video solve different problems. That is the honest starting point, and most agents who ask which one they need are actually asking the wrong question. The better question is: what do you need the content to do?
What Matterport does
Matterport gives the viewer control. They navigate the space themselves, at their own pace, from any room they choose. They can open the floor plan, take measurements, zoom in on specific details, and come back to areas they want to check again. The experience is useful in the same way a good floor plan is useful: it answers questions, reduces uncertainty, and lets viewers qualify the space before committing to a viewing.
Listings with a virtual tour generate 49% more qualified leads than listings without one, and 95% more phone enquiries. That uplift comes from self-qualification. A viewer who has spent ten minutes in the Matterport model before calling already knows the column positions, the ceiling height, and whether the floor plate works for their team. They are not calling to check; they are calling to proceed.
What video does
Video gives us control. The viewer sees what the camera shows them, in the order the edit decides. That is not a limitation. It is how video works best. A well-produced walkthrough takes the viewer through the space the way a skilled negotiator would: leading with the features that matter most and ending on the view, the light, or whatever closes the pitch.
Video is also the format that travels. It plays without any setup, works as a social asset, and can be cut into clips for LinkedIn, Instagram, or an email campaign. Matterport requires the viewer to open a link and spend time inside it. Video asks nothing of them.
When to choose Matterport
Matterport is the stronger choice when:
- The property has a complex floor plate that is difficult to read from photographs alone
- The target viewer is based outside Leeds or outside the UK, and is unlikely to visit in person before making a shortlist decision
- The listing has a long run time and the agent needs to qualify viewers before spending time on physical viewings
- Floor plan accuracy is commercially important, for example when tenants are planning a fit-out before heads of terms are agreed
For a deeper look at how this plays out in office lettings specifically, see how a 3D virtual tour helps let office space faster.
When to choose video
Video is the stronger choice when:
- The property's appeal is atmospheric rather than technical: a converted heritage building, a high-spec boutique office, a retail unit on a prominent street
- The listing needs content for social channels rather than portals
- The target tenant is younger or more digitally engaged, and social reach matters as much as portal placement
- The agent wants to present the space through a directed narrative rather than letting the viewer find their own way around
For a breakdown of the different video formats available for commercial property, see different ways to market your commercial property using video.
When to use both
The two formats work well together on premium commercial lets. Matterport handles the due-diligence stage: viewers who find the listing online can explore the floor plate in detail before deciding to get in touch. Video handles the first impression: it runs on the portal listing, gets shared between agents and decision-makers, and sets the tone before the Matterport tour is opened.
For properties where speed of let matters and the target tenant pool is geographically spread, commissioning both on the same day is usually the right call. The property only needs to be prepared once, and the two assets serve different stages of the same viewer journey.