Virtual reality bites in house-hunting

House-hunting has changed radically since the days of trudging round estate agents and buying the local paper to check its weekly property pages. Online listings mean we can find, assess and see potential properties in a matter of seconds.

However, we usually still have to actually go and physically check out any house that takes our fancy - until now.

Virtual Reality technology might soon make it possible for all of us to "walk through" property, thanks to a state-of-the-art headset. We might all be in the Matrix now!

The latest in virtual reality for estate agents was unveiled earlier this month at the MIPIM property expo in Monaco. ReView is a CGI-standard tool developed by Manchester-based The Neighbourhood and allows estate agents to "show" viewers around a property from anywhere in the world, so long as they are wearing the headset.

VR has been used in property sales for some time. Rightmove tested its own virtual reality platform in 2016, inviting prospective buyers to view certain London properties from the comfort of their own sofa. All they needed was a smartphone and a Google cardboard headset to watch the 360-degree footage.

The Neighbourhood's own technology took eight months to develop and allows both agent and prospective buyer to "meet" in the space being marketed.

While tools such as this are an interesting development in the world of property buying and selling, for many people, nothing will actually beat the feel of walking into a house for the first time and being wowed or otherwise by the actual reality.

Whatever way you have seen the house you want to buy, your next step is making that place yours. Homeward Legal's panel of property solicitors covers all of England and Wales, ensuring you have access to a specialist conveyancer or solicitor to conduct your transaction professionally and in timely fashion.

For a fast, no-obligation quote, call Homeward Legal's experienced and friendly sales team on or click here.