17th April 2000

Homeowners selling direct via the Internet now have a unique opportunity to give potential buyers a tour of their property without them actually visiting it.

HouseWeb.com, the UK's leading property web site, is using the latest net technology to give house hunters a 360-degree, walk around video tour of its sellers' homes.

HouseWeb.com's 'V~Tour' is quick and easy, with huge advantages for both buyers and sellers alike. House hunters can get a genuine feel for properties of interest and cut down on wasted trips, while sellers no longer need to tidy their home for every viewing appointment and can rest assured that buyers viewing their property after seeing the tour are serious.

And even if you're not buying or selling, you can order a V~Tour of your home as a memento or to e-mail to friends and family across the globe*.

Priced at just &169 (plus VAT), the premium V~Tour service - which includes a virtual tour on the HouseWeb.com site, one photo, a property advert and a tour in e-mail format - will initially be available to customers in London, the South East and Cambridgeshire and on offer to sellers nationwide from next month.

Customers can order online and a HouseWeb.com videographer will visit the property and shoot four panoramic images.

The videographer will advise on the best shots, although customers can specify which areas they would like photographed. The session only takes an hour and a series of images illustrating the décor, size and overall ambience of the house, gardens and its surroundings will be placed on the HouseWeb.com site.

Said Mark Desvaux, founder and managing director of HouseWeb.com: "The virtual tour is not only visually exciting and fun to use, but also a very effective weapon in every seller's armoury. HouseWeb.com's V~Tour moves home buying and selling into a completely new generation and gives homeowners yet another reason to sell direct."

View V~Tour in action at the HouseWeb.com website: http://www.houseweb.com/vtour/

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For further information, please contact:

* The standalone tour in e-mail format is priced at &129 (plus VAT).

About HouseWeb.com

Launched in May 1996, HouseWeb.com created the online private sales market for homeowners allowing them to directly sell on the Internet, saving thousands of pounds in fees. The site also includes comprehensive guides covering everything from first mortgages to finding a dream home. Whether a first-time buyer or housing professional, HouseWeb.com is an indispensable resource packed with properties, information, news, advice, discussion forums, web directories and financial services.

HouseWeb.com receives over 100,000 visitors each month and has won numerous awards and accolades, including 'Top Property Site' from Internet World. It is also featured in the Lycos and BBC Online Web guides. HouseWeb.com is owned by HouseWeb Ltd, a privately held company based in Cambridge, UK.