Can You Virtually Stage a Matterport Tour for Free?
Virtual tours have changed how real estate professionals present properties online. Instead of relying only on traditional photographs, agents can give prospective buyers an interactive view of a property’s layout, rooms, and features. However, an empty property can sometimes be difficult to visualize, particularly when buyers are trying to imagine how furniture would fit into the space.
Matterport virtual staging offers a way to address this challenge. By adding digital furniture to a virtual tour, real estate professionals can show potential buyers how a room might look when furnished.
In a video demonstration, Sean Boyle introduces Upstager, a platform designed to add virtual staging to Matterport tours. The walkthrough shows how users can import a Matterport tour, select furniture, position it within a room, adjust its direction, and publish a staged version for viewers.
The video also discusses a free plan that, at the time of recording, allowed users to stage one Matterport tour per month without entering credit card details. Because software features, pricing, and plan limits can change, check Upstager’s current offering before getting started.
For real estate photographers, agents, and property investors in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, this type of tool may provide a practical way to experiment with virtual staging without immediately committing to a paid service.
What Is Matterport Virtual Staging?
Matterport virtual staging involves adding digital furniture and decor to an interactive Matterport property tour. Rather than physically furnishing an empty room, users can place virtual items into the digital environment to illustrate how the space could be used.
For example, an empty living room could be furnished with a sofa, lounge chair, coffee table, and television. A bedroom could be presented with a bed, bedside tables, and decorative elements. These additions help viewers picture how the room might function once someone moves in.
Traditional property staging involves arranging physical furniture in the actual property. Virtual staging takes a digital approach, which can be useful when a property is vacant, furniture is unavailable, or coordinating a physical staging session is impractical.
The important distinction is that virtual staging presents a possible design rather than the property’s current physical condition. The original layout and permanent features should remain accurately represented, and staged content should be clearly identified.
Introducing Upstager for Matterport Tours
In the video, Sean demonstrates Upstager, a platform introduced to him by its creator, Bram Osman. The recording describes the software as a tool for bringing virtual furniture into Matterport tours through a straightforward workflow.
The goal is to make staging accessible to people who may not have the budget or resources for a more expensive virtual staging process.
The demonstration highlights several features:
- Importing a Matterport tour using its link
- Creating a new design for the property
- Browsing a furniture library
- Placing digital furniture within a room
- Adjusting furniture orientation
- Enabling a design and previewing the staged tour
- Showing multiple designs to demonstrate different styling options
These features can help users explore how different furniture arrangements might work within a space.
Upstager’s current capabilities, supported Matterport links, subscription options, and furniture library should be verified directly with the provider, since the video reflects the platform as it existed when recorded.
How to Stage a Matterport Virtual Tour Using Upstager
The original demonstration follows a simple process. Here is a practical breakdown of the workflow shown in the video.
Step 1: Create an Upstager Account
Start by visiting Upstager’s website and creating an account, if the service and its current registration options are available.
The video begins with the Upstager dashboard, where the presenter can see his account plan and existing projects. The dashboard provides the starting point for importing a Matterport tour and creating a new staged design.
Before signing up, review the available plans and confirm whether a free option is still offered. Check the monthly tour allowance, any design limitations, and whether payment details are required.
This is particularly important for photographers and small real estate businesses that want to test a new service without taking on unnecessary expenses.
Step 2: Add Your Matterport Tour
Once inside the platform, the next step is to import the property tour.
In the video, Sean copies the Matterport tour link, enters it into Upstager, and adds the tour to his account. The platform then loads the property information into the dashboard.
This allows him to begin working with the virtual space instead of building a new room from scratch.
For the smoothest workflow, make sure you have access to the correct Matterport tour and that the link works as expected. If you are staging a property on behalf of a client, confirm that you have permission to use the tour and its associated content.
Step 3: Create a New Design
After importing the tour, create a new design and give it a recognizable name.
In the demonstration, Sean creates a test design and waits for the Matterport environment to load. The interface then displays the tour alongside the tools used to add furniture.
Naming designs clearly can be helpful when working with multiple properties or preparing different looks for the same room.
For example, you might create separate designs for a contemporary living room, a neutral minimalist arrangement, and a more traditional interior. This makes it easier to compare options and choose the presentation that best suits the property.
Step 4: Choose Furniture From the Library
Once the room is loaded, browse the available furniture categories and select an item.
In the video, Sean opens the comfort chair category and chooses a Cliff lounge chair. He selects the item and adds it to the room.
A furniture library gives users a starting point for designing the space. Instead of sourcing physical furniture, they can choose digital pieces that fit the intended style.
The presenter also explains that users who cannot find a particular item may be able to contact the Upstager team to request additions to the library. Confirm whether this option is still available and whether any conditions apply.
When choosing furniture, consider the room’s size, architectural style, and likely audience. Oversized furniture may make a compact condo feel crowded, while pieces that are too small may not demonstrate how a larger room could be used.
Step 5: Place Furniture in the Correct Position
After selecting a piece of furniture, move it through the virtual room until it appears in the desired location.
In the walkthrough, the selected chair follows the cursor. Sean moves it around the room and clicks to place it.
This is an important step because furniture placement affects how viewers interpret the space. A chair positioned near a window may suggest a reading area, while a chair oriented toward a television or sofa may form part of a living room arrangement.
Think about the practical use of the room before placing each item. Keep walkways clear, respect door and window positions, and avoid arrangements that make the room appear more spacious or functional than it actually is.
The goal is to help buyers understand the property’s potential, not to create a layout that would be difficult to use in real life.
Step 6: Adjust the Furniture’s Direction
Furniture placement involves more than choosing a location. The direction an item faces can also affect the design.
In the video, Sean rotates the lounge chair to change its orientation. Rather than facing only toward the television, he adjusts the chair so it faces more toward the room.
This helps demonstrate how users can refine an arrangement after placing an item.
When staging a room, check the relationship between furniture pieces. Seating should appear arranged for a clear purpose, dining chairs should relate naturally to the table, and larger items should fit the room’s actual proportions.
Small adjustments can make the overall design feel more intentional and believable.
Step 7: Enable the Design
After completing the arrangement, the design needs to be enabled so it can be viewed through the staged tour link.
In the demonstration, Sean uses the enable option before opening the preview. He then selects the option to show the design inside the tour and checks whether the virtual chair appears in the correct location.
This preview stage matters. Do not assume a design is ready simply because the furniture appears correctly in the editing interface.
Review the tour from the viewer’s perspective. Check the furniture’s placement, orientation, appearance, and relationship to the surrounding space. If anything looks unnatural, return to the design and make adjustments before sharing it with a client.
The exact controls and publishing process may differ as the platform evolves, so follow the current instructions within Upstager.
Step 8: Preview and Share the Staged Tour
The final step is to review the staged Matterport experience and share it where appropriate.
The video demonstrates how a viewer can open the tour and use the option to display the new design. It also shows the possibility of using multiple designs to present different furniture arrangements or interior styles.
For real estate agents, this can be useful when discussing design possibilities with sellers or helping buyers imagine how an empty property could be furnished.
Before sharing the link, make sure the correct design is enabled and that viewers can understand which elements have been digitally added. Keep the original tour available when appropriate so people can compare the staged version with the property’s actual condition.
Why Free Matterport Virtual Staging Can Be Useful for Small Businesses
Virtual staging services can add value to a property marketing package, but costs matter, especially for businesses that are still developing their service offerings.
The free plan described in the video offered a way to experiment with the software before paying for a larger allowance. At the time of recording, the presenter described an option for one Matterport tour per month without a credit card.
If a similar plan is currently available, it may be useful for photographers or agents who want to evaluate the process before investing in a paid subscription.
Potential benefits include the following.
A Lower Barrier to Testing the Software
A free entry-level plan can allow users to learn the interface and assess whether the results suit their workflow. This can be particularly helpful for businesses that have not offered virtual staging before.
However, always verify the current terms. Free plans may have limits on tour volume, design access, exports, or other features.
An Opportunity to Expand Photography Services
Real estate photographers can consider virtual staging as an additional service alongside property photography and interactive tours.
For example, a photographer working with a Philadelphia real estate agent might capture an empty condo, deliver professional photographs, and offer a staged virtual tour as an optional enhancement.
This gives clients another way to present the property while allowing the photographer to explore a broader range of services.
To learn more about professional property imagery and virtual tour solutions, visit Momentum 360’s custom 360 virtual tour services.
More Flexibility for Property Marketing
Different furniture arrangements can communicate different uses for a room. A spare room might be shown as a home office, while a large living area could be presented with a conversational seating arrangement.
Multiple design options can help real estate professionals discuss the property’s possibilities without physically moving furniture around.
These visual concepts should still be realistic and consistent with the room’s dimensions. A digital design is most useful when it gives viewers a believable sense of how the space could function.
How Real Estate Professionals in Philadelphia Can Use Virtual Staging
Philadelphia’s property market includes a broad mix of homes, condos, apartments, and investment properties. Vacant units can present a marketing challenge when buyers browse listings online and struggle to understand the layout.
Matterport virtual tours provide an interactive view of a property, while virtual staging can add context to selected spaces.
For example, an empty condo in Center City could be presented with a possible living room arrangement. A renovated property in another Philadelphia neighborhood could use a staged bedroom to demonstrate how the available space might accommodate furniture. An investor marketing a vacant unit could use staging to help viewers understand its potential use.
For agents serving Philadelphia and nearby South Jersey communities, the value comes from matching the presentation to the property rather than applying the same design to every listing.
Keep in mind that staging does not replace accurate property information, professional photography, sensible pricing, or in-person viewings. It is one element of a complete marketing strategy.
Best Practices for Matterport Virtual Staging
A staged tour should make a property easier to understand. To achieve that, focus on accuracy and restraint.
Choose furniture that fits the room. Use realistic proportions and avoid filling every available area with decorative pieces.
Keep the design consistent. Select a style that complements the property’s finishes, architecture, and intended audience.
Review the full tour. Furniture should look appropriate from the available viewpoints, not just from the angle where it was placed.
Avoid misleading changes. Do not use staging to hide damage, alter permanent features, or give a false impression of the property’s size.
Identify staged content. Make it clear when furniture has been digitally added. Where appropriate, provide original views as a comparison.
Confirm software terms before relying on a free plan. Check current pricing, usage limits, supported tour formats, and sharing options.
Following these practices can help maintain buyer trust while making the property more engaging to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stage a Matterport virtual tour for free?
The video describes an Upstager free plan that allowed one Matterport tour per month without requiring a credit card at the time of recording. Availability and plan details may have changed, so check the platform’s current pricing and terms.
What is Upstager?
Upstager is the platform demonstrated in the video for adding digital furniture to Matterport virtual tours. The walkthrough shows how to import a tour, select furniture, position and rotate items, enable a design, and preview the result.
Do I need physical furniture to stage a Matterport tour?
No. Virtual staging uses digital furniture rather than requiring the items to be physically placed in the property. This can be useful when marketing vacant homes, condos, and apartments.
Can I add more than one design to a Matterport tour?
The video demonstrates multiple designs, allowing different furniture arrangements or styles to be presented. Confirm the platform’s current functionality and any limits that apply to your account.
Is Matterport virtual staging suitable for real estate photographers?
It may be a useful additional service for photographers who already create property images or Matterport tours. Before offering it commercially, test the workflow, understand the software’s terms, and establish clear expectations with clients.
Does virtual staging guarantee a faster sale or higher offer?
No. Virtual staging can help buyers visualize a property’s potential, but it does not guarantee a faster sale, more inquiries, or a higher selling price. Results depend on the property, pricing, demand, and the broader marketing strategy.
Final Thoughts
Matterport virtual staging offers real estate professionals another way to present vacant properties and help buyers imagine how a space could look when furnished.
The Upstager walkthrough in the original video demonstrates a straightforward process: import a Matterport tour, create a design, select furniture, position and rotate items, enable the design, and preview the result.
For photographers, agents, and property investors in Philadelphia, this approach may be worth exploring as part of a broader property marketing service. A free plan, if currently available under the terms described, can provide a starting point for testing the workflow before committing to a paid option.
The most important consideration is to use staging thoughtfully. Realistic furniture placement, clear disclosure, and accurate representation of the property help make virtual staging useful to buyers while maintaining trust.
When combined with professional photography and a well-produced interactive tour, virtual staging can help a listing communicate its potential more clearly.
