A BRAMHOPE estate agent is doing its bit to cut carbon emissions - by embracing 3D technology.

David Phillip Estate Agents believes its use of virtual tours is lightening its carbon footprint by reducing the need for customers and employees to travel to properties. The technology, which allows people to view houses through immersive, 360 degree visual tours, also provides more convenience for sellers and potential buyers.

Managing Director at David Phillip Estate Agents, Lesa Brown, said: “Thinking about being eco-friendly in a busy working office can be challenging but the awful fires in Australia, and the huge current focus on the environment, has really made me think about how an estate agency can be more environmentally friendly.

“An obvious way of reducing carbon emissions is to reduce the number of people driving to and from property viewings. I recently noticed one agent waxing lyrical that they had a high number ‘physical’ viewings of a property: this is great for the owner if all the viewers are genuinely wanting to buy that property but it means a high number of potentially wasted return car journeys.

“Here, we have invested in 3D virtual tours because we feel it is much more effective if potential buyers can, from the comfort of their sofa, undertake an immersive property tour on a mobile phone or desktop before deciding to take a ‘physical’ look around the property.

“This reduces the carbon footprint and prevents having to use over-congested roads whilst eliminating unnecessary viewings for the vendor. Having your property show home ready, the 3D virtual tour also saves on ‘pre-tidying’ cleaning and the products used for it.

“We recently sold a property to a buyer relocating to Yorkshire from Singapore – think of the carbon footprint saving for the viewing there!”

The business also uses local area guide videos to help customers find out about their destination of choice without travelling. And it is one of the area’s Refill Stations - where people can call in to fill up their water bottles for free.