Are you in the market to buy a new home? So long the days of blocking out your schedule for multiple showings or being limited to perusing a gallery of still images. You can take a virtual tour of you next dream home from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere for that matter! 
Known as Matterport technology, this three-dimensional camera system is used to create realistic experiences in real time from anywhere. How does it work? The Russell Company is able to capture, process, customize, and publish content that serves as a step-by-step virtual walk through. Sounds pretty cool, right?
Though this technology has become increasingly popular due to COVID-19 and the ever-changing landscape of buying and selling homes, The Russell Company has been ahead of the trend, using Matterport for several years.
According to the Financial Times, the world’s leading global business publication, “The use of virtual tours is on the rise. Many in the property industry are investing in the new technology.”
“This can be a very useful tool in helping out of area buyers feel more comfortable purchasing homes “sight unseen,” said Stephanie Kurtz, a broker with The Russell Company. “The full virtual tour and layout of the home are very beneficial.”
Besides being in the midst of a global pandemic, many of us lead busy lives, and for those looking to buy, juggling multiple showings or driving across town, or the country, to an open house may not be practical.
Rachel Uilk, also a broker with The Russell Company said, “I showed a husband a home and he was going to video chat the home to his wife in Colorado. I said that we (The Russell Company) did a Matterport on the home and I sent them the link. That was way better than any phone video. They bought the home!”
For sellers, this is a great way to showcase your home without the hassle of having multiple people come through, reserving in-person viewings for the most serious buyers.
Along with a 3D tour of the home, Matterport also offers widgets including the ability to view the entire floor plan, a floor selector for homes with multiple floors, and a measurement tool.
“I love that Matterport measures the rooms for me,” said Uilk. “That makes it great for double checking prior listings and no measuring for new ones.”