Reactar was founded in 2018 by Richard Penny and Gayan Perera for the purpose of research, design and product development.

Now the start-up has launched HomeAR, a mobile-based platform that lets users view available design options for their homes in 3D, as well as walk through the table scale and see finer points of design.

This allows users to better understand layout, design, spacing, section position, views, and even sun direction which is near impossible for 2D floor plans to offer all at once.

Co-founder Richard Penny says trying to work in 2D renders when clients may not be that way inclined makes things unnecessarily difficult. Yet the new technology, he says, is a innovative step towards solving an old issue.

“We’ve designed HomeAR to make it really easy for people to understand a house design as if it already existed – without needing to find a show home. Trying to understand what a house will look like from a 2D render and a floor plan isn’t easy, and trying to imagine a design on your plot of land is nearly impossible for most of us.

“Because augmented reality is still an emerging technology, we had a bunch of challenges to solve – from optimising the complex CAD models produced by the architects to run well on phones, to designing a completely new mobile UX to allow users to interact with virtual houses.”

The new app has been supported by Bayleys Realty Group and Classic Builders to help further its technology into the home buyers market.

Chris Gwin, the national director of marketing and communications for Bayleys Realty Group says partnering with HomeAR was a logical choice, as the group have tried to position themselves a early adopters of new technologies.

“In HomeAR we saw the opportunity to offer the developers we work with, and their clients, with a tool that adds huge value to both parties in the transaction”. “Longer-term, we can see applications for this technology in other segments of our market, such as commercial.”

HomeAR is the latest example of new technologies working to assist with pre-existing barriers. The app launched in Apple and Andriod app stores in June, and is now a support system available for first – and most likely nervous – home buyers.