Why more and more real estate agents are choosing a virtual tour (and what it delivers)
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The way homes are sold has changed dramatically in recent years. Potential buyers research online before even contacting a real estate agent. The first impression of a home is no longer formed at the front door, but behind a screen. A virtual tour directly addresses this.
What is a virtual tour for real estate agents?
A virtual tour is an interactive, digital tour of a home or property. Using a special camera—such as the Matterport—the space is scanned and assembled into a seamless 3D experience. Visitors can navigate through the rooms themselves, zoom in on details, and consult the floor plan. All at their own pace, on any device.
The difference compared to ordinary photos is significant. Photos provide a snapshot. A virtual tour provides context: how spaces flow into one another, what the proportions are, and how the light falls.
Higher ranking on Funda
Funda offers real estate agents the option to add a virtual tour to a property listing. Homes with a virtual tour are displayed more prominently than listings without. This translates directly into more clicks and more viewers even before a potential buyer has visited the property.
For real estate agents active with NVM or VBO, this is a concrete competitive advantage that is relatively easy to realize.
Fewer unnecessary viewings
A viewing takes time for the real estate agent, the seller, and the buyer. A virtual tour for real estate agents acts as a first filter. Interested parties who have viewed the tour come with a specific purpose. They are already familiar with the layout, have already explored the spaces, and know what to expect.
The result: higher quality viewings with more seriously interested parties.
Available 24/7, accessible worldwide
A home is not only viewed by people from the neighborhood. Expats, foreign buyers, and people who cannot easily visit due to work or personal reasons are all potential buyers who benefit from an online tour.
A virtual tour is available at any time of day. No appointments, no travel time. The home speaks for itself.
Valuable even after the sale
The value of a virtual tour does not end with the transfer. Buyers frequently use the tour afterward to prepare for renovations, take measurements, or visualize remodeling plans. That is a service that sets real estate agents apart and that clients remember.
Matterport vs. standard 360° photography
Not all virtual tours are created equal. There is a fundamental difference between simple 360° photos — taken with a consumer camera — and a full-fledged Matterport scan.
Matterport uses a special 3D camera that scans spaces and converts them into a detailed digital model. This provides not only a smooth virtual tour, but also an accurate floor plan and a so-called 'dollhouse view': a top-down view of the entire building. That level of detail cannot be achieved with regular 360° photography.
At Bergstra Media, we work with Matterport as standard. The scans are processed professionally and can be added directly to Google Maps if desired — so that the location is also findable via Street View.
What does it cost and what does it yield?
A professional Matterport scan for an average home is a relatively small investment compared to the property's selling price. The added value lies in a faster sale, higher-quality viewings, and a stronger online presence.
Real estate agents who work systematically with virtual tours view this not as an extra, but as a fixed part of their service. It increases the attractiveness of their package for sellers and strengthens their position relative to competitors who do not offer it.
Conclusion
A virtual tour is no longer a luxury. It is a logical step for real estate agents who take seriously how buyers orient themselves today. It increases visibility on Funda, filters viewings by quality, and makes a property accessible 24 hours a day to the right target audience.
Curious what a Matterport scan can mean for your portfolio? View our virtual tour services →
