Boutique real estate group, Starr Partners, has begun to roll out virtual reality and other interactive tools across its agency network, giving buyers the ability to step inside a property from anywhere in the world.
Starr Partners has equipped 12 of its offices with virtual reality headsets, with plans for an extensive rollout over the coming months.
Douglas Driscoll, CEO of Starr Partners, said: “Starr Partners has always been an early adaptor of interactive tools, but sometimes we can be ahead of the curb. Habits are changing, people are looking for faster, smarter and more exciting ways to connect, and technology is revolutionising how buyers view and purchase properties.”
According to the Starr Partners press release, a recent report indicates that 1 in 4 Australian households are estimated to have a virtual reality headset by the end of 2021.
“Virtual realty has come of age and is the answer to the time-poor, overseas or interstate buyers that want to be able to view a property anytime, anywhere. Vendors can now enhance their listing with virtual reality, allowing buyers to view the property from the comfort of their own home or one of our agencies. The technology, which gives a better perspective of a property than what you can gauge from just a photograph, lets the remote viewer really experience how it feels to stand inside the house, and get a genuine feel of the space.”
Virtual reality is just one of the new technologies Starr Partners has implemented recently. Last year, Starr Partners rolled out other interactive tools for property listings, including digital styling and furnishing tools.
“Buyers can now ‘style’ a property to their tastes and visualise what a listing will look like with, for instance, floorboards instead of carpet, or a glass splashback rather than tiles. With over 500 furnishings to choose from, consumers can also use the furnishing tool to place furniture, plants and appliances on the floorplan. With customers spending an average of 22 per cent more time looking at a property with these features, we’re seeing an increasing number of vendors interested in utilising these technologies.”
