How to prepare an apartment for 3D tour photography: a checklist of 12 items
How to prepare an apartment for shooting a 3D tour: a 12-point checklist Preparing an apartment for a 3D tour directly affects the quality of the final tour. The Matterport Pro3 scanner captures literally everything - from dust on a shelf to a protruding wire under the TV. Go through this checklist the day before the shoot, and the tour will be clean, spacious and selling. Step 1: General cleaning Wipe off dust from all surfaces: window sills, shelves, kitchen units. Wash mirrors and glass surfaces - they are included in every panorama. Vacuum carpets and baseboards. Filming a 3D tour takes 1–3 hours, and during this time the scanner “sees” every centimeter. Step 2: Remove personal items and documents Family photos, children's drawings on the refrigerator, personal documents, medicines - all this reduces the neutrality of the space and distracts a potential buyer. Put away in drawers or cabinets. The exception is beautiful decorative items that add coziness: vases, books, plants. Step 3: Maximize Natural Light Open all curtains and blinds. Matterport Pro3 shoots in HDR, and the more natural light, the more voluminous and attractive the rooms look. If the windows face north or the tour is planned in the evening, add portable lamps of neutral white light (4000–5000 K). Step 4: Turn on all electric lighting Turn on chandeliers, sconces, kitchen lighting, LED strips - each light source adds depth to the photo. Check that no bulbs have burned out. Dark corners on a 3D tour look like “holes” in space. Step 5: Hide wires and equipment Place charging wires, extension cords, TV and computer cables behind furniture or tie them with cable ties. If the system unit, printer or other bulky equipment is not part of the interior, put it in the closet while filming. Step 6: Clear passages between rooms For a complete scan, the scanner must be positioned at several points in each room. Cluttered aisles create “blind spots”—unphotographed areas that will show up as gray spots on the tour. The width of the passage is at least 60-70 cm. Step 7: Prepare the toilets Close the toilet lids - an open lid looks sloppy on the 3D tour. Remove personal hygiene products (shampoos, toothbrushes). Hang fresh towels and put out decorative soap. A clean mirror in the bathroom is a must. Step 8: Arrange decor and fresh flowers Small details make the space “alive”: a vase of flowers on the dining table, a couple of throw pillows on the sofa, a beautiful book on the coffee table. Don't overload - 2-3 accent elements per room are enough. Step 9: Check the Balcony and Loggia Balconies often turn into storage. The day before the shoot, remove everything unnecessary from there, wipe the floor and railings. An open, neat balcony adds a feeling of spaciousness and is perceived as a bonus to the area. Step 10: Remove the car from the yard (if shooting with a facade) If the tour includes shooting a facade or entrance, remove the car from the parking lot in front of the house. Other people's cars block the view and “clutter up” the façade panoramas. Agree with your neighbors in advance if necessary. Step 11: Tidy up the entrance area Scanning begins at the front door. A clean rug, neat shoes on the shelf (no more than 2-3 pairs), a mirror without smudges - the first seconds of the tour form the impression of the entire object. What the buyer sees at the beginning of the virtual tour is what he will remember most. Step 12: Final walk-through 30 minutes before shooting Walk through the apartment again immediately before the 360° Space specialist arrives: turn on all the lights, remove accidentally left objects (keys, glasses, shopping bags), ventilate and close the windows. These 30 minutes are insurance against small details that will not be corrected later. See all projects → Typical mistakes when preparing for a shoot Leaving personal belongings in sight - the buyer is buying space, not someone else's life Do not check the lighting - a burnt out light bulb or closed curtains kill the depth of the frame Clutter the passages - the scanner will not be able to go around all the corners, blind spots will appear Forget about the balcony and bathrooms - these are the areas that most often turn out to be unprepared Calculate the cost Project catalogMatterport