Sweden's Hemnet launches live-streamed open house viewings

The Corona/Covid-19 has made it so that our daily tasks are more challenging and the interaction with other people non-advisable. Because of this global pandemic, Hemnet, one of Sweden's largest property portals, recognized the need for potential buyers to continue visiting and shopping for properties. 

After some speedy product development, Hemnet announced that they have created a solution for open house viewings, without physically visiting the property. 

The company said in a press release that Hemnet Live, delivered in cooperation with the live video company Bambuser will be available for open house tours during the coming weekend. Available free of charge during an initial test period, Hemnet Live will enable agents to live-stream their property viewings to anyone who is interested in a listing but is choosing or is unable to leave the safety and/or comfort of their own home.

"The serious situation with the spread of Corona/Covid-19 demands us as a company to innovate," said Cecilia Beck-Friis, CEO of Hemnet.

"We have a responsibility to find new solutions that contribute to a slowdown of the spread of the infection. We are therefore giving all real estate agents access to a new feature for streaming open house viewings live online. This means that agents can reach a large group of potential buyers and sellers who can view the open house from the safety and comfort of their home," added Beck-Friis. 

Real estate agents will be able to use their smartphones to show the property by live-stream, displayed via the listing on Hemnet, whereas, potential buyers "visiting from home" will be able to ask questions of the agents in the chat function. 

Beck-Friis stressed that the company worked hard to deliver Hemnet Live as soon as possible to the public. "We are investing so that the real estate market will work as well as possible under the current conditions." Adding that Hemnet conducted a survey which indicated that more than half of the portal's visitors would be happy to view a live "virtual" open house online, provided that it was a high-quality stream. "During current circumstances, the demand for such service is likely to increase," concluded Beck-Friis.

​In addition to Hemnet Live, the property portal is also developing several other initiatives promising to further simplify real estate transactions without physical interaction.