If you’ve got a display home and you’re not putting it online as a virtual walkthrough, you might be leaving warm leads on the table, or maybe not?

Good builder community, let us know!

We’re not talking about over-the-top tech here. Just a simple 3D Matterport tour, the kind where people click through and “walk” the home from their couch. It’s not new; it’s not flashy, but it works.

How did we get here?

On the pod, Aaron brought it up as a casual tip, but it’s one worth stopping on.

“We always found that when you put someone through this experience online… they’re 40% more likely to send you a lead through your website.”

That’s no small number, and when you consider how many potential buyers are browsing after hours, or interstate, or just trying to narrow down their shortlist before leaving the house, it starts to make sense.

You’re giving them something real to experience. It builds trust. It builds confidence, and it makes them far more likely to reach out.

Let’s be honest, display homes aren’t cheap to run. We’ve already covered that on the site here. So why wouldn’t you get more value out of them?

Aaron shared his perspective from the marketing side of the fence,

“Try and make them a bit of a hero feature on your website.”

“If people jump in and take one of those tours from the comfort of their couch, you see a bit of an increase in people actually wanting to talk to you.”

It’s like an open home on autopilot.

Not everyone wants to spend their weekend dragging the family from one estate to another. If you can show them what you’ve got, clearly and confidently, before they even call you, you’re already ahead.

There was a bit of healthy scepticism on the pod, too. Pete added,

“I’ve always thought they’re a bit clunky. You click the little circles on the floor. But they do work.”

They might not be cutting-edge anymore, but they’re still effective. Surprisingly, the tech hasn’t really advanced much in the past few years. That’s both a downside and an opportunity.

“Especially with all the technology that’s coming out,” Aaron added, “you’d think there’d be better versions of it by now.”

There may be, but for now, Matterport is still doing the job, and for a lot of builders, it’s still the best option.

If you’ve already got a Matterport scan of your home:

• Make sure it’s easy to find on your website
• Consider using it in Meta ads or email campaigns (we covered Google vs Meta ads here)
• Feature it on your homepage, not buried three clicks deep.

If you don’t have one yet:

• Talk to a real estate photographer or media crew, they usually offer it
• Prioritise your most popular display home or hero product
• Make sure the space is styled well, it matters just as much as the walk-through tech.

If you’re using something new, like a different 3D platform or VR option, let us know. We’re keen to hear what else is working out there.

“Is anyone actually using VR now?” Aaron asked. “Are there any cool products we need to know about?”

3D walkthroughs might feel old hat, but they still work, especially when buyers want to explore in their own time and space. 

We’ve touched on this before, today’s buyers love being able to sticky beak online first, getting a feel for the place before they commit to a conversation. It’s a small comfort that builds trust and a clever way to keep leads warm while giving them the freedom to browse on their terms.

Author: The Good Builder

The Good Builder is a media platform that provides news and insights for Australia’s home building industry. From exclusive stories and curated insights to bold industry perspectives, we deliver the news and updates that keep builders, suppliers, and the entire home building industry inspired and ahead of the curve.