Aussie House Hunters Sold On Internet Speed

New research revealed that parking spaces and pools are no longer the biggest considerations when purchasing a new home.

First homebuyers are now placing fast broadband connections higher up on their list of key priorities when it comes to making purchasing decisions.

The NBN Ready Homes report revealed when searching for a new property, the majority (80 per cent) of Aussie house hunters rate a good broadband service as a major factor in their decision making process.

Two thirds (66 per cent) of Aussie buyers say they would negotiate a lower price or even reject their potential home altogether (16 per cent), if it is not available.

NBN General Manager of Build Partnerships Julian Nachmias said for many buyers, a fast internet connection is no longer a luxury but an expected addition to Australian properties.

“Whether you’re a prospective buyer with a large family, a young couple who works from home or retirees with a passion for online entertainment, access to fast broadband is increasingly as important as having running water and electricity available in your home.”

Tech-savvy real estate agents are also taking advantage of the NBN network by using new technologies to market properties in pursuit of a competitive edge for their business.

“High resolution photography has always been a staple of real estate marketing, but now home owners want to see more of a property before they even attend an inspection," Keyes & Co Property Founder Damien Keyes said.

"Since connecting to the NBN network, we have become ‘virtual-agents’ and are now able to offer online tours, which allow buyers to inspect the property through 3D walk-throughs and 360 degree photography taken by drones.

“It’s proving to be a profitable way for us to attract home buyers who are relocating from across the country and gives us a point of difference from other agents," he said.

Emerging technologies for real estate agents include:

• Smart photography: drone photography and 360 degree videos mean home buyers can be immersed in a space from a remote location which limits the need for international or interstate buyers to travel.

• Interactive floor plans: provides potential buyers a sense of the true layout and design of the home and takes the guesswork out of viewing a property.

• Virtual viewings: the recent introduction of affordable virtual reality headsets has enabled real estate professionals to tap into immersive customer experiences by offering virtual tours which allows buyers to walk through their prospective home without disturbing the current occupants.

NBN

 is building a new and upgraded, fast wholesale broadband network to enable communities across Australia to access fast broadband from their retail service provider, with a goal to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020.