A linked 360 tour isn't a continuous video you have to sit through; it's a set of panoramic photos. A visitor can look around at their own pace and click a hotspot when they're ready to move to the next room. You don't need a space-age 3D camera to build one. You just need a sensible route through the house and correctly exported 360 photos. Redfield360 is the browser-based software that lets you upload, connect, brand, and host the final tour.
How to make a 360 virtual tour in five simple steps
Whether you're a seasoned property photographer or an estate agent with a new gadget, the workflow is the same: plan the route, take the photos, export the files, link the rooms, and check your work.
1. Plan the route (before you touch the camera)
Walk through the property exactly as if you were showing a buyer around. Start outside or in the hallway, walk through connecting rooms, and don't magically teleport from the kitchen to the master bedroom. Even Zoopla's official guidance says to start at the front door and mirror a physical viewing.
Jot down a quick list before you shoot. A standard two-storey house might be: front door, hallway, lounge, kitchen, landing, bedrooms, bathrooms. Don't skip the boring bits like hallways—they stop buyers from getting lost.
2. Put the camera where a human would stand
Use a sturdy tripod and keep it at eye level. Don't just dump the camera in the exact dead-centre of every room. Doorways and furniture get in the way. Pick a spot where a buyer can see the room and see where they're supposed to go next.
- Open all the internal doors before you start.
- Turn all the lights on and turn the ceiling fans off (unless you like blurry UFOs in your photos).
- Keep the tripod away from mirrors. No one wants to see your reflection hiding behind the bathroom door.
- Shoot an extra photo if a corridor turns a sharp corner.
3. Export full 360 photos
You can't just upload the raw files straight from the camera. If you're using something like an Insta360 ONE X, run the files through the Insta360 app or Studio first. Make sure you export a full 360 photo (it usually looks like a weird, stretched 2:1 rectangle), not a cropped flat image. (You can test your exported file in our free online 360 panorama viewer to check the 2:1 aspect ratio and look around before uploading.)
Stick to JPGs to balance quality and file size. Check the horizon isn't wonky and look out for weird stitching around door frames. Name your files sensibly—it makes life much easier later.
4. Upload and connect the dots
Create a project and drop all your panoramas in. Pick your starting photo, then choose what a visitor sees when they first "step" into each new room. No one wants to arrive staring blankly into a linen cupboard.
Drop a hotspot where a buyer would naturally walk, and link it to the next photo. Test going forward and backward. Stairs can be tricky, so make sure your hotspots are easy to spot and aren't floating weirdly in mid-air.
5. The final walk-through
Start at the front door and navigate the whole tour exactly like a buyer would. Look for dead ends, unlinked hotspots, or rooms that force you to stare at a blank wall. Check it on a phone, too—fat thumbs and tiny buttons are a bad mix.
Once you're happy, hit publish. Redfield360 gives you one permanent URL for the property. If you need to fix a typo later and republish, the link stays exactly the same.
When you're ready to get it on the portals, check our guides on adding a 360 tour to Rightmove and Zoopla or adding a tour to your MLS.
Your quick pre-flight checklist
- The tour starts at the front door or hallway.
- You can reach every room without getting stuck.
- Every hotspot goes exactly where it should.
- You arrive in each room facing a sensible direction.
- Your agency branding is spot on.
- The whole thing works perfectly on a mobile phone.
Oh, and if a vendor suddenly demands dollhouse views or exact laser measurements, you might need a different tool. Have a quick read of our linked 360 tour vs. Matterport comparison before you promise them the moon.