The property industry has been evolving and changing with the advancement of technology and the challenges of Covid-19. With the effects and restrictions of the pandemic, the property industry must learn to adapt and overcome the many obstacles in order to survive. A game-changer that has been transforming the way we buy and sell homes in Malaysia is virtual reality (VR).

Typically, homebuyers visit multiple properties before deciding on the one they want to buy. This can be very time-consuming and also expensive if the properties are far from where the buyer lives. VR helps solve this by allowing people to virtually visit and experience properties without leaving the comfort of their homes. One can put on a VR headset or simply view from one’s mobile device and view the property.

LBS Bina Group is one of the property developers which has adopted VR with the use of Matterport. By capturing many pictures, the program combines the pictures and creates a 3D replica of the unit. People can now enjoy virtual tours which allow users to view and move within a property unit with just a click of a button.

Part of the VR advancement that has changed how we design and present property to clients includes virtual home staging and architectural visualisation. Virtual home staging helps to virtually fill up an empty unit with furniture and interior design, enabling homebuyers to view fully furnished units. This can save the cost of actually sourcing and buying suitable furniture to furnish a unit. Architectural visualisation creates 3D models that help potential buyers visualise and imagine the architecture of an upcoming property that has yet to be built. These advancements help to create greater emotional connections when comparing the experience of 3D virtual tours and viewing 2D pictures.

VR allows anyone to view the property over long distances through the use of the internet. Clients are able to virtually visit the properties as and when they want, with no time limit to how long spent viewing the property. The customer experience can be further enhanced with add-ons like mortgage calculators and additional information on the property and neighbourhood. This will help clients get all the necessary information about the property before contacting a real estate agent and arranging a physical visit to the house they are interested in.

In conclusion, VR technology has already been transforming the property industry here in Malaysia. Realising the benefits and uses of VR, an increasing number of property developers, real estate property online portals, and others are adopting VR into their business models.

These values translate into making big changes in the Year of the Tiger. As we march into the new year with the pandemic still strapped to our back, the Yang energy associated with the Tiger will renew everyone’s spirit and everyone will be fired up once again. Generosity is at an all-time high and it will be a year of risk-taking and adventure. LBS is cautiously optimistic that this will set new benchmarks and we will offer an even wider range of products and services to the market, as according to Tan Sri Lim Hock San, the Executive Chairman of LBS.

2022 will be the year where LBS adapts digitalisation in our operation, while continuing our aim to provide affordable homes for all Malaysians. This cannot possibly be done without the joint effort of everyone from all departments, and for that, we are eternally grateful and humbled by everyone’s continuous support. This year, we hope to emulate the strength and ferocity of the Tiger, living life well and to the fullest while we continue fighting against COVID-19.

Despite the challenges we faced, we have managed to weather through 2021 with resilience and perseverance as a unit. We projected RM1.2 billion sales target but achieved miles ahead instead, at an astonishing amount of RM1.58 billion. Be rest assured that we are not resting on our achievements as there will be 14 new launches planned for 2022 across Klang Valley, Johor, Pahang, and Perak.

As a way to show our appreciation to our home-buyers, LBS has launched a Chinese New Year campaign called “Bring Happiness Home” where we will be offering Ang-Pows for our home-buyers. This is the ideal moment to secure your forever home and make this new year an auspicious one with LBS; the campaign will last till the end of February 2022.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year. As we prepare to celebrate the Chinese New Year festivities, remember to remain vigilant and practice COVID-19 SOPs to safeguard our family and loved ones. May this new year bring us good health and good fortune. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may it be a year that outshines the rest! Stay safe and may we all be in high gear in the year of the Tiger!

Believe it or not, another year of living with COVID-19 is coming to an end in just a couple of days. Before diving into this article, pat yourself on the back for surviving yet another year of embracing the new normal. It has not been an easy journey, as a matter of fact, it has been really tough for the past couple of years, but we are all still standing here, and for that, we deserve to be proud of ourselves. 

Letting go of the previous couple of years with a renewed resolution to be human, to survive together, to learn together and persevere in the many beginnings that we have yet to witness, will mark the birth of an all-powerful conscious era for us all. These two years will never be forgotten. Not only will it stay etched in the memories of the ones who lost and lived through it, but for all future generations as the years that reminded humanity to never take things for granted.

COVID-19 spared no one, regardless of their age, status, or designation. It impacted children as much as it did elders, countries worldwide struggled to fight, endure, and overcome. While some of us may have managed to stay healthy throughout the ordeal, some unfortunately did not. With the number of daily cases being still relatively high, coupled with multiple virus mutations throughout the year, this is a great reminder that we are still living in a world with COVID-19 so whether we like it or not, we have to still adhere to the SOPs at any given time, even when having a mask on for the entire day gets really suffocating after a while.

Even though events happening in 2021 are not as shocking as the ones in 2020, the constant roller-coaster ride with the mutations did leave many feelings jaded. The world’s reaction has been an unpleasant mixture of dread, fatigue, and déjà vu. Almost two years into a pandemic that has claimed more than five million lives and affected billions more, people everywhere are finding it hard to summon the energy for another chapter in the story. 

At one point, it felt like there was no end to this mess and we will be stuck in this cycle of life forever. We were told the only way for us to be able to end this pandemic is by forming herd immunity, so nations joined together to fight this global public health crisis. Vaccinations were developed and administered and just when we thought we were going back to the old normal, new variations pop in and it’s back to lockdown.

Given the trend, health officials started to sound the alarm about another public health crisis: mental health. The U.S. Surgeon General said the pandemic’s high number of deaths, forced social distancing, and lockdowns of the economies have created new pressure, especially on young people.

He wrote, “It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place.”

Being forced to live in a pandemic era arm-twisted many to become conscious of their inner strengths in the toughest times. It marks the beginning of an era of psychological and spiritual awareness and growth. It is not that we didn’t know earlier, but COVID-19 pushed us in the direction of awareness, acceptance, digging deep to find the power in our resolve, adjust and adapt to survive. Pain, loss and endings have a way of leaving us to process and think, both being strengths of the human race.

2021 has been a year of both triumphs and failures. On top of the emergence of the Omicron variant that has a much higher infection rate, Malaysia was recently hit by one of the worst floods in decades, resulting in rising death tolls and tens of thousands of people displaced from their homes. Despite the challenges, Malaysians have been stepping up to lend a helping hand to those who have been hit the hardest. This strength among Malaysians is what gives us hope, we have to remain optimistic that the future is brighter. We have yet to win but we are getting there, as long as we continue to stay focused, Kita Pasti Menang!

Editor’s note: This article was written in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We know that we’re towards the end of the month but we also believe that this piece will be a timeless advice. We hope you enjoy the read and do share them with your loved ones! 

What if the most impactful method of curing breast cancer was out of the hospital? We are not doctors but what we know for sure is that the ultimate solution to breast cancer starts not from the hospital but from our society. Try this, initiate a conversation with a colleague and have an open discussion on breast cancer. The initial reaction is more often than not anything between the lines of awkward or shyness, yes? Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world and also in Malaysia, but why is it not widely discussed and what can we do about it?

To start things off on a positive note, despite it being the most common cancer, breast cancer is highly treatable and survivable in the early stages (Stage 0 and 1). Of course, that has to be accompanied by early detection measures namely, mammography and clinical breast examination. With the prevalence of the coronavirus, many people would have been financially impacted or concerned about heading to the hospital for check-ups. Thus, while we still very much recommend seeking professional assistance, self-examination is most definitely a viable option on its own. Upon detection, it will ensure the most ideal opportunity for an effective treatment.

However, what is most concerning is that breast cancer is usually asymptomatic at the beginning, where it starts off being a small and painless lump, which may then lead to delayed diagnosis. On following stages, evident symptoms may begin to appear, such as change in the shape and/or size of the breast, a lump in the breast or underarm area, pain and swollen in the breast area, and more severe symptoms would be discharge from the nipple (could be blood), which does not include breast milk. While most breast lumps are not cancerous, it is advised for women to visit a doctor for an examination should they notice a lump on the breast.

Many women also shy away from thinking about breast cancer as the thought of it alone is enough to frighten them. There is also the prevalence of taboo which discourages public discussion on the said topic. To add on, there are even misconceptions that there is currently no effective treatment for breast cancer. All of these are bad practices that will cause one to miss out and delay the best timing for treatment. Overthinking without making any form of resounding action, is in this case a very costly decision. We may lack the knowledge in this aspect but we must never for a moment lack the courage. At this very moment, there is nothing better that one can do than to steel oneself and reach out to someone you can trust and/or experience and seek immediate medical advice.

Equal attention needs to be given to post-breast cancer patients too. This is because, for those who have recovered, more than two-thirds of respondents felt a drop in the confidence of their bodies after a breast cancer diagnosis as well as treatment. Many felt that it had decreased their self-esteem where they experienced a loss of identity as compared to before breast cancer. We must acknowledge the impact that breast cancer diagnosis can bring upon one’s psychological well-being. From not being able to accept the post-cancer version of themselves or the inability to break the news to their partner or children, all of these can ultimately lead to depression and anxiety, which can, in turn, decrease the survival rate of a patient or even lead to recurrence of the cancer. Therefore, psychological treatment is just as crucial when it comes to the effective treatment of breast cancer.

As much as we are house builders, we also believe that a house can only be a home when we have our loved ones with us. To readers battling with breast cancer, like all other forms of cancer, breast cancer is a serious health diagnosis and is deeply personal. While some can be open and expressive about their condition, the rest may choose to keep it a hush-hush, and that’s okay so long that he/she has reached out for help! For readers with loved ones battling cancer, it is not easy on your end too and your unconditional support means the world to them and a strong support system is the foundation for a successful road to recovery. Whichever the approach may be, one must embrace the change in reality but know for a fact that they still have the ability to transform their cancer journey. Breast cancer should be a topic that is widely discussed, be it in October or all year round. Most importantly, don’t delay and keep breast cancer at bay!

#LetsBeSafe