While the recent government announcement about re-starting the property market in England has seen marketing suites, show homes and estate agencies reopening, virtual viewings and interactive tours are here to stay and increasingly expected by house-hunters.
Here’s a look at some of the latest tech-based property tours.
Farriers Yard, Balsham, Cambridgeshire
Farriers Yard is a beautiful new collection of three-, four- and five-bedroom family homes located at the heart of the quaint but thriving village of Balsham, Cambridgeshire. Built on a site which served as a blacksmiths in the 1800s, all the homes have been thoughtfully designed to blend perfectly with this traditional village setting. Hill’s Helping Hand incentive is available on select new homes at Farriers Yard, which allows first-time buyers to benefit from Help to Buy, but also means that their Stamp Duty costs are paid, just over £2,000 is put towards legal fees and moving costs, and they’ll even receive a luxurious interior design furniture package. Prices start from £459,950. Find out about Hill developments.
Wickfields, Longwick, Buckinghamshire
Sales and marketing director for Bellway North London, Greg Allsop, said: “With our sales office initially re-opening by appointment only, we believe the virtual tours will provide our customers with an opportunity to get a real feel for the home they are interested in before the make an appointment to visit us in person, to ensure safety is at the forefront of our minds. They can discuss buyers’ requirements in detail and send a link to the walkthrough video tour of the property they’re interested in.”
Bellway North London is now offering virtual tours of a range of house types at its Wickfields development, just off Barn Road in Longwick. There are 65 private homes in the first phase, comprising one-bedroom apartments and two- (priced from £335,000), three- (priced from £400,000), and from £600,000, four- and five-bedroom houses. with over 50% already sold. 3D virtual tours are now available of the three-bedroom ‘Blyton’, the five-bedroom ‘Kinney’, and the four-bedroom ‘Farley’ and ‘Jansson’ house types. Find out more about Bellway developments.
360° Barking, London
This NU living development comprises 291 one- and two-bedroom apartments, one-third of which are for sale through Shared Ownership. On the open market, a two-bedroom place with stunning views can be under £335,000. 25% of a £265,000 one-bed is priced £66,250. The scheme will also provide leisure and creative space curated by the borough council. LBBD and has already been recognised for its design excellence. There are shops, parks, major roads and Barking’s Tube/rail station within minutes of this development. More details on www.360barkingig11.co.uk.
Bersted Park, North Bersted, West Sussex
Just a six-minute drive from the Bognor Regis seafront. Bersted Park comprises of stylish two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses and family homes, designed to reflect a quintessentially English village in the 21st Century. Bersted Park boasts a community feel, with a community centre and primary school situated at the development, perfect for bringing residents of all ages together. London Victoria can be reached directly in 80 minutes, and London Waterloo in 90 minutes. Prices at Bersted Park start from £280,000. Find out more about Bersted Park from Berkeley Homes.
South Oxhey Central, Hertfordshire
Countryside is offering a virtual tour of a two-bedroom show apartment at its Soutb Oxhey Central regeneration development close to Watford. It has proven particularly popular with first-time buyers who want to live within close proximity to central London but get more for their money, with one- and two-bedroom – all with private balconies – available from £275,000, and able to be purchased through Help to Buy. Carpenders Park station is very close by and has a 32-minute journey time to London Euston station. Perks include a furniture pack with David Phillips, perfect for first-time buyers without furniture of their own to move in. Find out more at www.southoxheycentral.com.
Developments across London
With London Square sales suites re-opened for viewings by appointment only, potential buyers can choose to have the latest sales offering – a real-time video tour with a sales advisor conducting the viewing in the show home. Also on offer is a virtual tour or the option of a show home visit, with strict health and safety measures in place. For the real-time tour, the sales team will arrange an appointment for the prospective purchaser for a video call. An expert advisor will then conduct a video viewing, moving through the show home and highlighting features, while answering questions from the customer during the tour.
Wintersbrooke, Sunninghill, Berkshire
Kebbell offers a video tour of Wintersbrooke, a new development of an elegant building containing six exclusive two- and three-bedroom apartments within mature, secluded, quiet communal gardens. Sizes vary from 1,235 sq ft to 1,820 sq ft in this gated community with garages, a lift and balconies. Wintersbrooke is located in a quiet, exclusive residential area near to the centre of fashionable Sunninghill, close to Ascot in Berkshire. The luxury specification includes glamorous Lapicida tiles, underfloor heating and instant hot water taps. Find out more about Kebbell developments.
Edenbrook Village in Church Crookham, Hampshire
Comprising bespoke two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom family houses, Edenbrook Village is set on the edge of the stunning 82-acre Edenbrook Country Park. Fleet is located less than a mile away, offering a mixture of high-street necessities, independent stores and restaurants. For residents commuting into London, Fleet station is just a five-minute drive away, where residents can be connected to London Waterloo in just 40 minutes. Prices at Edenbrook Village start at £575,000. Find out more about Edenbrook Village from Berkeley Homes.