Welcome to the virtual age of real estate
THE VIRTUAL AGE OF REAL ESTATE New technology allows for virtual tours of a home without ever having to set foot inside of it
Not that long ago, the only way to buy a home was to spend every weekend traipsing through house after house after house until you found the right one.
But the latest 3D technology now makes it quick and easy to narrow down the myriad choices without the overwhelming marathon of open houses, achy feet and armload of feature sheets.
Even if you’re on vacation in Europe, between meetings at work or lounging in front of the TV after supper, you can wander room-by-room through a prospective home to get a clear sense of the space, zoom in for a close-up look at the tile backsplash in the kitchen or crown mouldings in the dining room, even measure the walls in the living room to make sure your couch will fit.
Welcome to the virtual age of real estate.
“Panoramas have been around for 10 years. This is something at a totally higher level,” says Brian Frank, president of Waterbridge Media.
The Ottawa company, which specializes in web design, has just started using the Matterport, an innovative 3D laser camera and software package that maps out home interiors with incredible detail. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Described by Frank as “six cameras within a camera,” the Matterport takes sweeping 360-degree photos of every room in the house, which are then digitally “stitched” together to create a seamless 3D virtual tour and dollhouse model of the house.
“The final product gives the user the unique ability to virtually walk through the home, as though they were actually there. It’s Google (street view) maps for real estate,” says Frank, whose company has photographed about 20 houses so far with the Matterport.
“As a buyer, it’s incredible. Even if you don’t live in the geographic area of the home, you get a full tour experience.”
Saving time and reducing stress during the home-buying process are two key benefits of the new 3D technology, says Amy Stimpson of Keller Williams Ottawa Realty.
“The idea is to eliminate walking through a bunch of houses you’re not interested in whatsoever,” she says, adding she’s confident the technology will reduce the number of days a home is on the market since only “more serious buyers will step forward.”
Ottawa photographer Michael Lem recently partnered with Planitar in Kitchener, Ont., to introduce the company’s iGuide to the Ottawa real estate market.
Like the Matterport, the iGuide uses a high-quality laser camera not much bigger than a standard digital camera to create a 3D virtual tour of a home’s interior, says Lem.
By clicking on the circles on the screen, you can “teleport” from room to room, where interactive floor plans allow you to measure the space.
The online tool also provides a detailed feature sheet, built-in Google maps of the neighbourhood and a photo gallery of the property.
The idea is to eliminate walking through a bunch of houses you’re not interested in ... AMY STIMPSON OF KELLER WILLIAMS OTTAWA REALTY
“It (iGuide) takes all of the desirable real estate tools and puts them into one interface that’s simple to use, works with any browser and is mobile friendly,” says Lem, who charges between $199 and $249 to create iGuide-ready homes that are under 3,000 square feet.
He’s also used the laser technology to help market condos and new builds, as well as student housing, which is especially useful for international students looking to rent an apartment before they arrive in Ottawa, he says.
The new online tools are a winwin situation for everyone involved in the buying/selling process. For buyers, they can preview as many listings as they want without leaving home.
This, in turn, cuts down on showings for agents, allowing them to focus their time and energy on customer service, says Lem.
“This raises the bar and is a game changer for real estate and photography on the Internet,” says Jeff Hooper, broker and operating principal of Keller Williams Ottawa Realty. “The feedback from our agents and their clients has been outstanding.”
Despite the many benefits of using laser technology to sell a property, Frank says quality still photos remain an essential marketing tool.
“Photos are still the professional base for selling a home. They still need to be taken for MLS (Multiple Listing Service),” he says, pointing out that the laser camera can only be used inside.
“But this is an additional service. It’s an extra wow factor.”