New user-friendly feature presents in-depth looks for new home buyers
Naples / Fort Myers — PulteGroup, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, is now using virtual reality to let Southwest Florida consumers take in-depth looks at homes to help make buying decisions when a model is not available.
“The breathtaking views of our homesites speak for themselves, but what sets Pulte Homes apart is the way it feels when actually living inside – the design of the open gathering rooms and kitchen areas evoke a much larger feeling of space than the actual square footage,” says Josh Graeve, vice president of sales for PulteGroup in Southwest Florida, which includes the Pulte Homes, Centex, Del Webb and DiVosta brands. “This new virtual reality software allows you to experience that.”
The new buyer-friendly feature lets homebuyers walk through and visualize the home right from the computer, Graeve explained. “It doesn’t require wearing any type of headset or goggles. You simply click the link and can interact and view it right from your home computer or phone.”
Currently only a handful of national builders have experimented with virtual reality (an estimate is one to two percent). But the technology promises to revolutionize the industry.
One of the biggest advantages of VR for consumers is being able to make decisions on homes before actual in-person visits. It also allows the homebuilder to start the sales process sooner.
“Consumers who often find floor plans difficult to read, will get comfortable quickly with this new technology and visualize how their new home will look in vivid detail,” Graeve says. “It’s an incredible tool and particularly important for new communities under construction as a substitute for model homes.
PulteGroup worked with Trick 3D to create the virtual experience. Two new VR model tours have just been launched at several of the homebuilder’s new communities in Southwest Florida. They include the Empire, a two-story home design with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and a three-car garage.
The Empire is available for a VR tour at Greyhawk at Golf Club of the Everglades in Naples; The Place at Corkscrew in Estero; DiVosta’s Mallory Park at Lakewood Ranch, and Shoreview at Lakewood Ranch Waterside in Sarasota.
The Crestview design with from two to four bedrooms and up to three-and-a-half baths offers a private owner’s suite in the rear of the home. The home can be viewed in virtual reality at Bridgetown in Fort Myers; Del Webb Naples in Ave Maria; IslandWalk at the West Villages in Venice and Del Webb Lakewood Ranch.
“It’s not uncommon for homebuyers to have difficulties imagining themselves living in one home or another. The new technology helps them effectively experience their new space early in the process. It has already led to increased sales,” Graeve said.
“The idea is to make it as easy as possible for our buyers to consider their potential new home,” he says. “This new technology helps them to really feel at home with their purchasing decisions.”
For a virtual tour visit, http://trick3d.com/clients/Pulte/Empire/ for the Empire model or
http://trick3d.com/clients/Pulte/Crestview/ for the Crestview model.
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For more information media should contact
Josh Graeve, Vice President of Sales, PulteGroup Southwest Florida 239-495-4882 Josh.Graeve@pultegroup.com
Valerie Dolenga, Corporate Communications Specialist, PulteGroup, 847-230-6266 Valerie.Dolenga@pultegroup.com
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications Inc. 407-644-4142 lvershelco@aol.com
About PulteGroup, Inc.
PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in approximately 55 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb and DiVosta Homes, the company is one of the industry’s most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroup conducts extensive research to provide homebuyers with innovative solutions and consumer inspired homes and communities to make lives better.
For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroupinc.com; www.pulte.com; www.centex.com; www.delwebb.com.