Sales

Virtual tours have transformed from a luxury to a necessity in today’s digital-first real estate and retail landscape. 

Remember when selling a house meant baking cookies for an open house and hoping the glossy brochure did the trick? While we admire the personal touch, it takes more “digital lifting” to stand out in 2025. Buyers now expect more, such as the ability to explore every room, corner, and countertop on their smartphones. In 2025, this translates to more eyes on listings, faster sales cycles, and higher selling prices. 

According to Realtor.com, listings with virtual tours get 87% more views than those without, and they hold buyer attention 5–10 times longer than standard photos alone. So in a market where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, virtual and video tours aren’t just nice to have, they’re a necessity.

A custom 360° virtual tour is an interactive digital walkthrough of a property powered by panoramic photography. Sometimes, they come enhanced with features like floor plans, embedded tags, room measurements, and even audio narration.

These tours use cameras like the Matterport Pro2/Pro3 or CloudPano’s 4K HDR equipment to capture every angle of a room, allowing users to zoom, rotate, and click through spaces as if they’re physically there. Check out this example of a virtual tour we created for client LaserSkin MedSpa!

And because they’re hosted online, tours are accessible anytime, anywhere, perfect for:

• International buyers
• Out-of-state renters
• Busy parents juggling work and childcare

… or anyone who doesn’t want to waste time on listings that don’t match their needs!

360° photography is the backbone of every successful virtual tour. Here’s how it works:

• Capture: Photographers use a rotating camera to shoot from every angle of a room.
• Stitch: Advanced software blends those shots into one panoramic image.
• Enhance: Floor plans, tags, and callouts are layered in.
• Publish: The tour is hosted online, often embedded on websites, shared via social media, and added to platforms like Zillow, Redfin, and Google Maps.

These tools let potential buyers “walk through” a home, zoom in on finishes, and evaluate layout flow, all without ever stepping inside.

Let’s talk results:

• 90% of homebuyers say they’re more likely to view a listing with a virtual tour.
• Homes with virtual tours sell 31% faster and for 9% more than those without Matterport.
• 54% of buyers skip listings without virtual tours entirely. 
• E-commerce stores using 360° product images have witnessed up to a 30% boost in conversion rates.

In other words, your listing isn’t just competing with other listings; it’s competing with the best listing experience online.

By adding custom virtual tours, you’re giving both Google and your audience what they want: real value and a better experience.

Here’s how:

• Virtual tours increase click-through rates (CTR) from search results thanks to their visual intrigue and interactivity.
• When you embed a virtual tour on your Google Business Profile, you’re extending the time people spend interacting with your listing. That’s what Google calls “dwell time.” Naturally, longer dwell time equals better local SEO rankings.
• Even on Google Maps, a virtual walkthrough makes your pin stand out from the competition.

Let’s zoom in on one real-world win.

A Northeast-based real estate brokerage partnered with Momentum to step up its listing game. Over a single month, our team captured 20 immersive virtual tours across their available properties. No tricks, just high-quality and fully interactive experiences powered by Matterport and our full-stack content strategy.

Here’s what happened next:

• 45% spike in listing inquiries

• 28% reduction in average days on market

• Two homes received full-price offers within 48 hours of their virtual tours going live

No major changes to staging, pricing, or marketing budget, just better visibility and a better user experience for prospective buyers. The only difference was that buyers could engage with the listings on their own time.

Posting a virtual tour is just step one. The real power comes when you slice, repurpose, and distribute that content across social platforms where your audience is already scrolling.

And don’t just post once. Repurpose content from the tour into:

• “Behind the scenes” clips of the shoot
• Time-lapse setup videos
• Comparison reels (before & after staging)
• Testimonial snippets from happy sellers or clients

Social platforms reward consistency and creativity. Every post is another hook to bring in buyers, boost shares, and get your property in front of the right eyes.

While real estate is one of the top industries to benefit from including virtual tours, the same benefits apply to:

• Retail Stores: Showcase layouts and decor to bring shoppers in.
• Event Venues: Let people explore seating, lighting, and atmosphere.
• Office Spaces: Help tenants visualize functionality.
• Healthcare Facilities: Build trust with families and patients.

A 360° tour of a boutique or showroom doesn’t just showcase products – it encourages more visitors to step through the door. In fact, Home Depot reported a 35% decrease in returns after introducing 360° product spins, while other retailers saw up to a 40% increase in conversions. These results highlight how immersive visuals build trust and boost shopper confidence.

If your listings, offices or storefronts don’t have virtual tours, you’re leaving money and leads on the table. These immersive experiences can and will:

• Build trust
• Capture attention
• Drive conversions
• Improve visibility

The technology is here, and it’s backed by user behavior and high demand. The only thing missing is your very own custom 360 tour. 

Our sister agency Momentum 360 is a top-ranked Matterport and Google Street View provider. With over 1,200 photographers across the U.S., they’ve built thousands of high-impact virtual tours for real estate, retail, and commercial clients. Doesn’t matter if you’re marketing an apartment or an auto dealership, Momentum has the tools to give your space the spotlight it deserves.

It’s time we talked! Let’s build your virtual tour together. Speak with a Momentum virtual expert and start closing deals faster.