Imagine, it’s Saturday morning in Auckland, and you’ve got a list of ten properties to view before making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. The traffic is heavy, it’s starting to rain, and that flat white you grabbed is already wearing off. Now imagine instead settling into your favourite armchair with your morning coffee, slipping on a VR headset, and walking through all those properties without leaving home.
Virtual reality (VR) technology is transforming the property market in New Zealand, creating new possibilities for both buyers and sellers. But who specifically is using this technology in New Zealand? Consider concrete examples of companies implementing VR solutions in the New Zealand real estate market.
Barfoot & Thompson, one of New Zealand’s largest real estate agencies, has implemented 3D virtual tour technology across their listings. Their platform allows potential buyers to take immersive virtual walkthroughs of properties. According to their website, they offer “3D virtual tours giving you a ‘walk through’ experience of the property” (Barfoot & Thompson, https://www.barfoot.co.nz/property/virtual-tour).
Ray White New Zealand has partnered with technology provider Matterport to offer virtual tours of their properties. Their digital strategy includes VR-enabled property viewings that allow potential buyers to explore homes remotely (Ray White New Zealand, https://www.raywhite.co.nz/about-us/technology/).
Harcourts, another major player in New Zealand’s real estate market, offers their “3D Showcase,” allowing customers to virtually walk through properties. This technology has become a standard offering for many of their premium listings (Harcourts, https://harcourts.co.nz/Services/3D-Tours).
OpenHome NZ is a New Zealand-based company specialising in creating virtual tours for the real estate market. They provide 3D scanning services to real estate agencies across the country (OpenHome NZ, https://www.openhome.nz/).
iVisit3D, a virtual tour company operating in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, creates immersive property experiences using Matterport technology. They work with various real estate agencies to provide 3D virtual tours (iVisit3D, https://www.ivisit3d.com/).
The Real Estate Authority of New Zealand (REA) acknowledged the growing use of virtual reality in their industry outlook report, noting the increasing adoption of VR technologies by agencies across the country.
Trade Me Property, New Zealand’s largest property listing platform, now includes a specific filter for “virtual tour available,” reflecting the increasing number of listings featuring this technology (Trade Me Property.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual property tours in New Zealand. During lockdown periods when physical viewings weren’t possible, many agencies reported significant increases in the use of their virtual viewing platforms.
OneRoof, a New Zealand property platform, reported that listings with virtual tours received 40% more views during the COVID-19 lockdown periods compared to those without (OneRoof, https://www.oneroof.co.nz/).
The University of Auckland’s Property Department has incorporated VR technology into its curriculum, recognising its growing importance in the industry. They’ve established research projects examining the impact of VR on property marketing and buying behaviours.
The future of property viewings in New Zealand clearly involves virtual reality, but in a way that complements rather than replaces human connection. The technology offers convenience and efficiency, but buying a home remains an emotional decision for most Kiwis.
What’s certain is that virtual reality is reshaping the property viewing experience in New Zealand, making the process more efficient, accessible, and informed. For a nation of property enthusiasts facing challenging market conditions, this technological evolution couldn’t have come at a better time.
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