The last few years have seen a digital transformation across many sectors, and the property sales industry is no different. With a shift towards immersion and interactivity, let’s take a look at some of the key technological shifts for property and real estate.
Virtual Experiences
Over the past few years, the advance in technology has allowed traditionally in-person experiences to develop digital alternatives. This has particularly been seen in the entertainment industry, especially for experiences like online casinos. Players can try online slots for fun like Vegas Royale Super Wheel, Joker Jackpots Prize Mania, and Fire and Roses Joker 2, which have a classic casino vibe from the comfort of their homes. The games use traditional motifs and ambient sounds of a casino floor to provide an immersive and authentic casino experience through a virtual, online platform.
This same logic, then, can be applied to the property industry. While house tours are typically conducted in person, there are some limitations to this approach. Firstly, not everyone will naturally be available for viewings when the marketing agent is open due to employment and responsibilities. In addition, one estate agent can only show one party around at once, limiting the possible number of viewings in a day. Instead, immersive virtual tours can be produced using video or 360° cameras and stitched together with navigational buttons. This allows potential buyers to have an accurate tour of the property without stepping foot in the building, at a time that best suits them, generating higher quality leads.
Source: Pexels
Augmented Reality (AR)
It is universally known that visuals can make or break a sale. One study found that 75% of consumers rely on product photography when making purchasing decisions. This is why we always include a carefully crafted photographic portfolio when listing properties online or in a brochure. But what happens when it’s a new build, and all that’s available is the developer’s floor plans?
This is where AR can come in very handy. Put simply, while virtual reality (VR) creates a whole new virtual environment, AR superimposes digital elements on the user’s real-life environment. This means that AR can be used to show realistic models of the fully conceptualised property. The graphic can appear to grow out of the blueprints, and the technology can even be used to show what the property will look like on the bare site before any building has taken place.
Source: Pixabay
3D Visualisations
Following on from the above, it is also important to be able to visualise the interior of any home. This could be because the property is still in its ideation and planning phase, or even for those who undertook virtual tours to refer back to. This allows the interested parties to gain an enhanced understanding so that they can make more informed decisions, increasing engagement and satisfaction.
It is even better if the 3D visualisations are interactive, allowing people to zoom in and out and navigate between rooms. It is a good idea to have accurate dimensions built into these visualisations, as this can allow people to really connect with the property and imagine what they can do with it. With many retailers now offering AR, the size and scale can provide people with an accurate view of how furniture would look in each room.
And there you have it – just a few ways in which technology has begun to enhance property and real estate. With these ideas at your fingertips, and much more innovation to come, the future is looking exciting.
