If you’re building a new home, you want it to be perfect. Luckily, new technology is helping take the planning process to a whole new level.
Virtual reality displays are changing the game when it comes to the new home journey, bringing to life homebuyers’ visions of their ideal layouts, finishes and fixtures.
And the revolution is already here — Montgomery Homes has partnered with technology company EnvisionVR to bring a select range of level, acreage and sloping site home designs to life.
Montgomery Homes‘ virtual display home tours will be available from 7 July.
Anne Flaherty, economist at realestate.com.au, says one of the challenges for people looking to buy a new home is trying to envision what their home will look like — a hurdle VR is perfectly positioned to help with.
“Virtual reality technology has actually been around for quite a few years, but the pandemic pushed it into the mainstream,” Flaherty explains.
“It’s especially moving forward in the new home space, enabling people to understand and see the design they’re considering buying.”
Intrigued? Here are six good reasons you’ll want to give it a try.
1. Explore all the options
Montgomery Homes has over 250 home designs, but only a fraction of these can be seen in the display villages. Going virtual means more of their designs can be made accessible.
“We receive a high volume of requests to visit floorplans that aren’t currently on display,” explains Montgomery Homes’ General Manager, Simon Campbell.
“In response, we’ve purposefully included home designs not available for viewing — with attention afforded to level, acreage and sloping site home designs.”
Campbell says the move has already been a game-changer.
“The reaction from focus group trials has been impressive – users are astounded by the realism of the environment they are immersed in and are excited to explore.”
2. Experience layouts firsthand
Do you want to be able to explore your future home in 1:1 scale? There are hundreds of options when it comes to floorplans and picking the right one will mean a better home life for years to come.
VR allows you to visualise the dimensions of your future home.
Previously, most home building clients had to choose the layouts based on a diagram. But now, VR brings 2D floorplans to life.
“The EnvisionVR technology gives users the freedom to move through the home in the virtual world by walking around an unobstructed space in the real world,” explains Campbell.
“Participants simply place on a headset and walk to explore room to room in 1:1 scale using hand controllers.”
There’s also the option to explore layouts using an iPad, where, with a click of a button, you can be in your future entertainers’ kitchen or standing in your personalised living room.
3. It saves time
Virtual reality cuts out all the hours, and fuel, spent travelling to different display villages.
“Whilst Montgomery Homes suite of display homes are located across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, the introduction of virtual reality home tours allows potential clients to explore multiple home designs from the one location,” Campbell says.
“With our virtual reality tours, viewers can experience a range of home designs from the one headset and in the one location.”
Montgomery Homes offers affordable and luxury living through a range of inclusion levels. The Advantage Collection and top-of-the-range Diamond Collection are shown in the virtual reality tours.
4. Private time to plan
Display suites can be busy places, so often, you won’t be alone when taking a tour.
If you’re keen to avoid other people, all you need to do is book a virtual viewing appointment and show up to your fully immersive and exclusive experience.
There’s plenty of great options to check out, with 11 home designs available to explore via virtual reality.
5. See the style
Creating a harmonious overall aesthetic can be challenging. There are scores of decisions to make — from new wall colours, to tiles, benchtops, floor coverings, shower taps and much more.
“To prospective buyers, seeing those details is very, very important,” Flaherty shares. “You don’t want to walk into your new home and think, ‘I don’t like that colour with those tiles’ but knowing it’s too late to change.”
Montgomery Homes has teamed up with style queen Shaynna Blaze for the exclusive Signature Collection of interior design themes.
Virtual reality is allowing you to see how the style fits together in real-time.
Campbell says buyers can check out interior design themes available exclusively through Montgomery Homes, including the stunning ‘Relaxed Bohemian’ style created by Shaynna Blaze.
6. Consider furniture placement
Let’s face it, a massive part of our homes is furniture and décor. VR allows people to visualise the furnishings in the virtual world before locking in their decisions for a new build.
Campbell says the program lets people see their design with couches in the lounge room, beds in the bedrooms and paintings on the wall, giving a more realistic view of the spaces.
VR tours are now available at Montgomery Homes‘ offices at Gateshead and Vineyard, plus its display homes at HomeWorld Box Hill, HomeWorld Warnervale and HomeWorld Thornton.
Pictures are courtesy of Montgomery Homes.
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