Why did virtual viewings surge in January?

Online property viewing activity continues to surge due to stay at home demands from the UK government.

It has also been noted within the sector that buyer behaviour has changed – perhaps irrevocably – to include an initial viewing stage.

Whereas initially a prospective buyer might select a number of properties to visit in-person, those decisions are now being made more and more commonly online, leading to property shortlists and speeding up how quickly it can take someone to find the right property for them by maximising exposure to the whole market early on.

Now that those within the sector have had 12 months to respond to the pandemic, we've been able to make great advancements in virtual viewing technology as an industry, and this has seen virtual viewings reach a record high in usage of 850% throughout the beginning of 2021.

Potential buyers now have access to incredibly realistic ‘walk-through’ property tours, giving them and sellers peace of mind with the sales process.

Ultimately, virtual viewings have provided protection during the pandemic, whilst maximising the exposure of properties on the market.

However, another bonus is the convenience and ease provided to all parties, as sellers find they no longer need to live in a constant state of 'showroom ready' conditions, and buyers can cut down on the amount of back and forth travelling across different cities to find the home that matches their criteria.

To learn more about how we've adapted our processes to accommodate safer viewings and appointments, contact us today.