![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Adam Cheong bought a new apartment almost entirely online. Picture: Nicky Connolly
Adam Cheong bought his first home almost entirely from his lounge room earlier this year.
And with developers increasingly turning to technology as efforts to fight COVID-19 expand, his approach might soon be the norm.
The shiftworker has infant children and quickly gave up on traditional open for inspections, instead buying off the plan at Caydon’s Home project in Alphington.
RELATED: Coronavirus: off-the-plan sales tipped to weather COVID-19 storm
Melbourne home values: March improvement despite looming falls
Melbourne’s most unexpected developments of 2019
A visit to a display suite convinced his mum, but by that stage Mr Cheong was already comfortable with the purchase online.
The Home by Caydon development that Mr Cheong bought into.
“I would say this could be the norm once the technology is all there,” Mr Cheong said.
Caydon marketing director Steve Williams said aside from contracts, which could be posted to minimise direct contact, the developer was ready to work with buyers entirely online.
“From the developer and buyer perspective, all parties are being forced to embrace digital, and finding that a positive experience,” Mr Williams said.
“The reality is that you can go through the entire process without leaving your lounge room.
“That isn’t that common, but it will become more common given the current situation.”
Burbank will soon give buyers the ability to fully customise a new home plan from the comfort of their own home.
Some developers are going further.
Volume builder Burbank is using gaming technology to allow customers to explore and eventually customise home designs from their home computer or phone.
The first aspects of the technology, launched last week, give buyers a 360-degree view of rooms and lets them mix and match from more than 800,000 combinations of existing floorplans, colour schemes and style options.
A more in-depth version, to be released for computers and virtual reality headsets later this year, will allow for real-time customisation from the facade to tap fittings.
The first tranche of the software has been named MyPlace3D and the second will be called MyPlace4D.
“Customers will now be able to experience their dream home exactly as it will be built,” said Burbank Group general manager Jarrod Sanfilippo.
“MyPlace will enable people to visualise every aspect of the home in a fun and exciting way.’’
A render showing the community facility planned for Villawood’s Redstone estate in Sunbury.
Villawood Properties boss Rory Costelloe said his firm would later this month launch a secure online deposit facility, completing a series of technologies allowing house and land buyers to research and even exchange contracts digitally. Those buying into the firm’s Redstone at Sunbury estate from April 18 will be among the first to do so without needing to camp out or visit a sales centre.
Developer Mirvac will have virtual sales offices running later this month.
An elevated view of Tullamore by Mirvac’s virtual display suite and sales office.
“We will have prerecorded info, but most of it will be so you can interact with a live sales consultant, both on desktops and on phones,” said Mirvac’s Diana Sarcasmo.
“It will be like going to the sales office and you can be guided through by a sales consultant if you choose, or you can guide yourself through.”
It adds to the digital apartment tours they have had on offer for most off-the-plan developments for more than a year.
MORE: Gerard Healy: Jan Juc beach house listed by AFL personality
Sassafras Harry Potter manor brings magic to Dandenong Ranges market
Chin Chin owner Chris Lucas sells luxury Lorne ‘KFC house’