Former estate agent launches new virtual viewings platform

A former London estate agent with a 20-year track record in the industry is spearheading the launch of a new virtual viewings platform that claims it will be the first to offer accompanied online property walk-throughs directly from portal listings.

Called Property Jigsaw, soon house hunters will be able to click on a property listing, open the virtual viewing attached to it and then invite the agent to give them a guided tour.

Kevin Pearcey, who until two years ago worked for Ellis & Co at its Willesden Green branch in NW London, has spent the time helping develop the platform.

Pearcey admits his company is entering a crowded market and like its competitors, must overcome estate agency resistance to technology in order to succeed.

“I think a lot of agency staff, and in particular negotiators, are wary of tech like ours which they think takes a part of their job away from them,” says Pearcey.

“But the Coronavirus crisis has made both agents and consumers realise how useful a tool virtual viewings can be and how much time and effort it can save both parties.

Pre-qualifies buyers

“I guess systems like ours may reduce both the number of physical viewings needed to sell or rent a property and the opportunities to speak to people, but Jigsaw saves agents time and ultimately pre-qualifies buyers.

“I know that there are a lot of high-tech systems out there but, using my experience as both a sales and lettings agent, we’re tried to simplify the process of making a virtual viewing – it’s the property on show not our technology.”

Property Jigsaw can be a subscription-based model that requires agents to buy a 4k camera such as a Ricoh Z1 and, in return for doing “quite a bit of the work”, offers an affordable way to get the tech. It also has two other way agents can pay for the service.

The system is currently being trialled at a branch of Winkworth. See one of its property’s Jigsaw virtual tours.

Read more about virtual tours.