The virtual grand tour
Category General
A new era of property viewings has arrived
Tech-savvy real estate companies have increasingly been utilizing technology in order to bring buyers and sellers together in a more efficient way. In the COVID-19 world, this trend is likely to accelerate at a much faster rate as proptech becomes a bigger differentiator in the industry.
Meridian Realty has always been ahead of the curve in this regard. It was the first real estate company in South Africa to use professional photography as standard, one of the very first to utilise video extensively as part of its marketing strategy, and over the last number of years one of the first adopters of Matterport technology in South Africa.
Through the efficient use of technologies like Matterport and ZOOM, our iAgents are able to take prospective buyers through what may be their new home, from the comfort of their own home thanks to virtual viewings.
The virtually viewed property is built off of actual panoramic footage that is synthesised into a dimensionally accurate 3D model on Matterport's unique platform. Going from room to room, viewers will be led through the property and are able to ask questions along the way. Where a virtual tour may, in fact, even trump a physical viewing, is in the ability to view the property as a scale model, almost like a doll's house, giving the prospective buyer the opportunity to see the property in a way they may never have thought of before.
Where Matterport tours are not available yet, basic ZOOM meetings can be arranged where the seller of the property will take the agent and prospective buyer on the grand "virtual" tour. While buyers may not be able to see the doll's house version of the property, they will still have the opportunity to be guided through the property and gain valuable information as the tour proceeds, being able to ask questions immediately if something catches their eye. Meridian Realty's agents have received extensive training over the last number of weeks on how to effectively conduct these virtual viewings.
Offers made during this time, based on virtual viewings alone, will most likely be subject to physical viewings post lockdown. But with the help of virtual viewings, buyers and sellers can ensure they are ready to hit the ground running as soon as the lockdown alert level allows.
The world may never be quite the same again, but when it comes to the real estate industry, that may just prove to be a good thing. Through the technological avenues that estate agents have been using to keep the market as active as possible, a more efficient way of approaching property viewings may be here to stay, even when the world gets a clean bill of health again.
Author: Meridian Realty
