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New technology saves flat-hunters' time

The Young Reporter (1994, October 18), 27(01), pp. 8.
Author: Wendy Tsang.
Permanent URL - https://sys01.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/bujspa/purl.php?&did=bujspa0002091

By WENDY TSANG

PROPVIEW, a new computer system, has been introduced to the local property market to save flat-hunters' time and energy to search right flats for their new home.

Mr Pun Hoi-shing, system consultant of VisionTech which developed Propview, said the clients told the agent the desired location, approximate size, floor level and number of rooms of the flats they wanted.

“The computer will show the flats which suit the taste of clients within a short time,” he continued.

Mr Pun added that the enquirer could choose to look at the interior or exterior of the flats and “hear” whether the flat was noisy from the computer.

He also regarded that many property agents in Hongkong were unprofessional and too “hard sell” .

“The agent just bring their customers to see different flats without providing enough information to them in advance,” he added, “Many customers have no idea at all before they see the flats.”

“I think the public will welcome the product as one would like to look through the menu before you order the food in a restaurant,” said Mr Pun.

Besides consumers, landlords would most likely benefit from the introduction of Propview, according to Mr Kwok Chi-man, sales manager of Grand Union Property.

“This programme can act as a screening process. We can know whether our customers are potential buyers before we bring them to look at the apartments,” he said, “this ensures the landlords will not be disturbed all the time.”

Mr Pun said Propview was especially suitable for the overseas property market as no one would like to spend thousands of dollars to visit the sites themselves.

On the other hand, Mr Li Kin-man, director of the Realty Pacific Property Consultants, said this program might not be workable in reality.

“For the local property market, the turnover rate is too high,” Mr Li said.

Mr Li added, “For the overseas’ one, especially the mainland property market, it is hard to guarantee the quality of the videotapes made.”

According to Mr Li, if they were just one of the agencies, they might find it difficult to make good videotapes for that property, or even worse, they might not be allowed to take pictures of the flat for security reasons.

But Ms Law Hoi-yan, who is planning to buy a flat in China, welcomes the idea of Propview.

“There are so many advertisements about mainland properties in the newspapers and on TV. It is impossible for me to visit them all,”

“If I can choose from the TV screen, it can help me to make up my mind easier and save the travelling cost,” she said.

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