A Gainesville-based homebuilder is seeking to streamline the process of finding the perfect home by offering prospective buyers virtual-reality tours.
Barry Rutenberg and Associates of Arthur Rutenberg Homes – which has built at least 1,000 homes in Alachua County over nearly five decades – has stepped up its game recently by providing an immersive home shopping experience.
Homebuyers can try on the virtual reality goggles to view up to 50 Arthur Rutenberg model homes nationwide while walking around a model home in Gainesville. The homebuilder started offering the virtual tours because it has the potential to reduce driving time for buyers, said Brenda Banks, vice president of sales and marketing.
“It isn’t unusual for our buyers to drive to Naples, Sarasota, or even the Carolinas to tour our homes. Now, they don’t need to travel any further than our model in Gainesville,” she said.
Homebuilders have also been using drones to help people survey properties before buying, Banks added.
Despite making the decision process a little easier, the company does not expect virtual reality tours to replace the real thing.
“People still like to look and feel,” Banks said.
She noted it could one day be possible for potential buyers to request a customized virtual tour before having a homebuilder make them a custom-built home.
“That’s two, maybe three years away,” she said.
DeVore Design offers affordable 3D tours for real estate agents, vacation property managers and new home builders.
Source: Gainesville Sun (09/21/18) Smithson, Daniel
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