Posted on: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Although in some parts of the UK, lockdown is easing and estate agents have been allowed to return to conducting business more traditionally, the Government guidelines released on 12th May stipulate that a prospective buyer or tenant should conduct a virtual viewing before they view a potential new home in person.
Our new Smart Viewing tool allows Guild Members to showcase properties with fully guided tours in real time, tailored to your specific needs. You don't need to download any additional software; simply book an appointment and you can access the virtual tour from any device using a booking link. It's safe, quick, convenient and compliant!
It comes as no surprise that a lot of home buyers and renters don't feel comfortable physically viewing multiple potential properties, due to the potential risk of COVID-19. However, remaining safe isn't the only advantage of attending virtual viewings.
Not only can you remain safe during the pandemic by limiting your face-to-face contact, but you have the ability to view multiple properties in one day without leaving your home. It also allows you to have flexibility in the time you could view the home and if you're relocating, you won't have to travel across the country to visit the property initially.
As lockdown continues to ease and we eventually return to normal, tech innovation will continue to play a major role in how estate agents conduct business and so this will have a lasting impact on the buying process moving forward and can be a highly effective way of efficiently narrowing down your property search and helping you find your ideal home.
For more insight into the home buying process during COVID-19, read our guide to house hunting during lockdown.
Find your local Guild Member and get in touch to begin your virtual property search today.
We are required by law to conduct anti-money laundering checks on all those selling or buying a property. Whilst we retain responsibility for ensuring checks and any ongoing monitoring are carried out correctly, the initial checks are carried out on our behalf by Lifetime Legal who will contact you once you have agreed to instruct us in your sale or had an offer accepted on a property you wish to buy. The cost of these checks is £60 (incl. VAT), which covers the cost of obtaining relevant data and any manual checks and monitoring which might be required. This fee will need to be paid by you in advance of us publishing your property (in the case of a vendor) or issuing a memorandum of sale (in the case of a buyer), directly to Lifetime Legal, and is non-refundable. We will receive some of the fee taken by Lifetime Legal to compensate for its role in the provision of these checks.