A Matterport alternative for homes that aren’t built yet
Matterport creates a 3D tour by scanning a space that already exists, so it can’t capture a home that hasn’t been built. For pre-construction you need a tour modeled from the architect’s plans instead; once the home is finished, a Matterport scan is a good way to show the real thing.
Matan Assulin, Founder of UnbuiltUpdated · 3 min read
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How scan-based tours work
Matterport and similar capture platforms build a digital copy of a real room. A photographer moves a compatible camera through the finished space, the software stitches the captures into a 3D model, and buyers move through it point to point. Because it’s captured from reality, a scan is accurate to what’s there, finishes and furniture included. For resale homes, rentals and finished model units, it’s a widely used and sensible tool.
Scan pricing depends on the size of the home and the provider. In our market research, scans of existing homes typically run about $130–430; see Matterport’s own pricing guide for current numbers.
Why scanning can’t start before construction
A scan needs walls, light and furniture to capture. During pre-construction there’s nothing there yet, which is exactly when developers most need buyers to understand the home. Waiting for a finished model unit means building and furnishing one before you’ve sold it, and it still only shows that one unit.
How a plan-based tour is different
A plan-based tour is modeled, not captured. We take the architect’s floor plans and elevations, build every level in a real-time 3D engine, then stage and light it. That changes what’s possible:
- It exists months before the building does, so you can sell from day one of marketing.
- Every unit type can be shown, not only the one you furnished.
- Staging is a choice. You decide the furniture style, lighting and time of day.
- It can include things a scan can’t: an aerial view of the whole project, the water and landscaping as designed, a private broker view and a price-on-request form.
- Buyers move freely in first person, rather than jumping between fixed scan points.
The tradeoff is honesty about what it is: a faithful model of the plans, not a capture of a finished room. Finishes are shown as specified or as staged, so label it as a rendering of the design, the same as you would a brochure image.
Side by side
| Scan-based tour (e.g. Matterport) | Plan-based tour (Unbuilt) | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs | A finished, furnished space | The architect’s plan PDF |
| Available | After construction | Months before construction |
| Units shown | The ones you can scan | Every unit type |
| Staging | Whatever is in the room | Chosen and styled for the project |
| Typical cost | About $130–430 per existing home | From $2,500 per home, by sq ft |
| Best for | Resale, rentals, finished models | Pre-construction sales |
Scan range from our 2026 market research; check Matterport’s own pricing guide for current pricing. Unbuilt from our published rates.
When to use both
They fit different stages of the same project. Use a plan-based tour from launch through construction, while buyers are reserving off-plan. When the first homes or the model unit are finished, a scan shows the real result, which is useful for the final resale-style marketing of remaining inventory. Some developers keep both live: the plan-based tour for unit types that aren’t built yet, and scans for the ones that are.
Getting started
All we need is the plan set. Check yours with the free plan checker, then see your price in the quote wizard. If you’re weighing other formats too, read interactive tour vs renderings vs video.
Questions
Can Matterport scan a home that isn’t built?
No. Scan-based tours capture an existing space, so there has to be a finished room to scan. For pre-construction, a tour modeled from the plans fills that gap.
Is a plan-based tour accurate?
It’s modeled from the architect’s drawings, so layout, room sizes and window positions follow the plans. Finishes are staged as specified or as you approve, so present it as a rendering of the design.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many projects use a plan-based tour while selling off-plan and a scan once the model or first homes are finished.
What does a plan-based tour cost?
Ours starts at $2,500 for a home (Essential, $0.75 per sq ft) or $4,500 (Signature, $1.25 per sq ft). Repeat units in a development are 30% of the rate.