Brisbane’s lockdown did not stop house-hunters keen to inspect property last weekend with many switching to a virtual platform.
While 200 physical open homes were cancelled due to concerns of a possible outbreak of a highly contagious strain of COVID-19, other agents were able to carry on showing listings thanks to technology.
Josh Callaghan, CEO of Virtual Tours Australia, revealed they saw 1280 groups walk through open homes across Queensland using their system during restrictions. Each spending a duration of three-minutes-plus on average.
“With the recent events on the weekend in South East Queensland, and the events of 2020, we have seen a huge shift in real estate professionals adopting new methods of attracting and qualifying buyers to ensure they can serve a hot market with no barriers,” he said.
“One of these being the introduction of virtual tours on listed properties. Not to market a property, but to rather allow unrestricted access to view and experience a property as part of a sales and qualification funnel.”
Mr Callaghan said the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed vendor, buyer, landlord and tenant behaviour with ‘new’ methods crucial to the success of the real estate industry.
Virtual inspections also allow for overseas, interstate or time-poor buyers to take a tour of a prospective property at any time.
“This method also means that a buyer calling up on day two of the campaign is likely to have spent more than 10 minutes in the house and is ready to talk offers, fast-tracking the entire sales process,” he said.
