AN estate agent has launched a ‘virtual’ valuation service.

Dacre, Son & Hartley – which has an office in Keighley – has introduced the initiative so homeowners can show the company’s property experts their home electronically.

Following the launch of the system, which uses Facetime and other software tools, the firm has already been instructed on a number of sales for when the coronavirus lockdown measures are relaxed.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said: “The property market will inevitably feel the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, but we know from everything the market has faced in recent years that it is surprisingly resilient.

“What is important is that estate agency firms – and the industry as a whole – continue to operate in the safest and most responsible way to ensure that ongoing sales proceed, and that new homes are brought onto the market at an appropriate time.”