Housebuilder launches virtual guided tours of new homes

HOUSEBUILDER Mactaggart & Mickel is adapting to lockdown challenges by offering customers the option of virtual guided viewings of new homes.

They are being rolled out in Scotland and England as an alternative to Covid-safe visits and are aimed at homebuyers who are unable to travel or wish to avoid long journeys to new areas.

Glasgow-headquartered Mactaggart & Mickel explained that the initiative will enable people who are unable to make in-person visits to showhomes press ahead with future plans.

The company currently remains open for business in line with heightened government coronavirus-related restrictions. Sales consultants are still welcoming customers on Covid-secure appointments at their sites with government guidance granting freedom of movement to people buying new homes.

Joanne Casey, director of Mactaggart & Mickel, said, “Our colleagues’ and customers’ health and wellbeing has always been our top priority, and never more so than now. We are working closely with customers, partners and businesses to provide the best, safest standards during the coronavirus pandemic, in line with new government guidance.

Joanne Casey

“We want to support customers who want to keep moving ahead with their lives and are keen to move into new homes which is why we’re so pleased to see the virtual guided viewings prove to be popular in Scotland and England. We pride ourselves at meeting changing customer requirements by harnessing new technology. That’s why our guided virtual yours will have a genuine personal touch – which is more welcome than ever amid these current lockdown restrictions.”

Mactaggart & Mickel introduced virtual tours a decade ago to help customers look round prospective new homes from the comfort of their own living rooms. The new virtual viewing platform paves the way for homebuyers to enjoy an accompanied walk-through, led by members of the housebuilder’s sales team who are available to navigate every room in the property and answer questions.

Joanne added, “We’re proud of our prestigious HBF 5 Star Rating for customer satisfaction – which we’ve been awarded eight consecutive years in a row. It embodies our reputation for high levels of customer service and dedication to making the home-buying process a happy and stress-free journey. We have taken steps to ensure customers can still visit sales offices and make appointments to view showhomes in a safe environment if they wish to do so. But we’re keen to explore ways to help our customers begin the next chapter in their lives from the comfort of their own homes or workplace if that’s the most suitable option.”

The virtual guided tours are the latest measure taken by Mactaggart & Mickel to combat coronavirus. Safety measures introduced in July included appointment-only visits, an enhanced cleaning regime, social distancing protocols, protective screening in marketing suites and sanitising stations.