Revolutionising Real Estate in VR

Press Release
Revolutionising Real Estate Sales with Virtual Reality

Start Beyond is revolutionising real estate with virtual reality.

Start Beyond launches Australia’s first immersive virtual reality experience for real estate in line with sales launch of new Sydney apartment development edge28.

Start Beyond has developed EDGE 28, a dedicated VR App to be used with virtual reality technology as part of the sales launch for a Sydney apartment development allowing prospective buyers to experience the space even before construction has started.

Virtual reality technology is set to emerge as a powerful tool in selling property developments off-the-plan. Start Beyond is proud to have become the first company to offer a fully immersive, head mounted, virtual reality experience for the Australian real estate industry.

This represents a leap forward for the real estate industry which has previously offered 360 degree interactive video tours, sometimes billed as virtual reality, but never a fully immersive, photo-realistic experience available across Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard HMDs.

“Start Beyond has created a truly realistic virtual experience of EDGE 28 by incorporating high quality computer generated architectural and combining these with drone photography allowing buyers to sit in the apartment and see the actual view from the 8th and 11th floors, as well as the rooftop,” Jason said.

“The EDGE 28 Virtual Property Tour is a first for Australia’s real estate industry and we are excited to be exploring the potential of VR technology to give buyers more confidence when purchasing off the plan.

The entire marketing solution, including the VR, CG renders and branding was developed by a consortium of companies working together which included Start Beyond, Darling Brands and Electric Art.

The EDGE 28 App includes high-quality computer generated renderings from architectural drawings of the development and combines this with live action 360 drone footage, creating a photo-realistic immersive experience. CG renders have been developed by Electric Art in close consultation with project architects, Mayoh Architects. Overall branding for the Edge 28 project including display suite specifications, branding, website and brochure design was developed by Start Beyond partner, Darling Brands.

Samsung Gear VR headsets will be used in the EDGE 28 display suite to provide a rich virtual reality experience for potential buyers but for those wanting to take the virtual reality tour from the comfort of their home can download the App and use the inexpensive Google Cardboard headsets to use it.

Start Beyond CEO Kain Tietzel said the EDGE 28 project was developed to provide a top quality virtual reality experience regardless of the technology used.

“Virtual reality is a really powerful tool and when applied to the real estate industry gives consumers greater confidence part with their hard earned dollar and purchase off-the-plan”

“We wanted to create an experience that allows people to feel like they are in a finished apartment, feel the true dimensions and space and also enjoy the actual views they would see from either the 8th of 11th floor or the rooftop,” Kain said.

“For off-the-plan apartment buyers, getting a realistic view of what they are purchasing is of utmost importance and we wanted to ensure this VR experience was not only offered at high-quality in the display suite but would also translate well for those downloading the App at home and using Google Cardboard.

“Virtual reality is a really powerful tool and when applied to the real estate industry gives consumers greater confidence to part with their hard earned dollar and purchase off-the-plan.

“Interactive 360 degree tours of homes and apartments have been offered to buyers previously and billed as virtual reality but this is the first time buyers have been able to step through the window and put themselves in the environment which is a true VR experience.

“With this incredible technology running behind the scenes, the beauty of experiencing Virtual Reality is that it’s emotional. You get to have a reaction to a future space that you can’t get in any other way."

"These devices are much more than the sum of their parts for the end user. They are mini time machines and memory makers. They are portal devices that can take you anywhere, real or imagined. We are just scratching the surface this tech’s potential.”

Users of the App can navigate through various views including apartments on two floors, the rooftop common area, and a Street View with all aspects built combining the computer generated renderings and actual photography from the site to create a ‘photo-realistic’ virtual reality environment.

Features of the App include:

  • Multiple internal 3D photo-realistic apartment renderings at different times of day
  • Blended real world & computer generated common areas
  • A 2D finishes gallery to inspect close up details of fixtures in the apartments
  • Atmospheric audio of street noise and wind for an immersive experience
  • A first person street view – showing what the apartment will look like from the street
Real Estate VR Image by Start Beyond 01
Real Estate VR Image by Start Beyond 02
Real Estate VR Image by Start Beyond 04
Real Estate VR Image by Start Beyond 03
Jason Salter
The beauty of experiencing Virtual Reality is that it’s emotional. You get to have a reaction to a future space that you can’t get in any other way. These devices are much more than the sum of their parts - they're memory makers.
Jason Salter
Liang + Simmons
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