Using Renderings to flip homes.

Before

One of the interesting applications for renderings I've just started doing is using them to sell existing real estate for agents and investors.  Using renderings to sell new construction, of even a subdivision in a  development is pretty obvious. Recently though,  I had a real estate investor friend of mine approach me to do a rendering for him showing what one of his houses would look like if it were converted from a bungalow to a Cape Cod.  His reasoning was that Cape Cod design, in his area, was a big seller.

Can you Visualize your Hand with Your Eyes Closed?

The problem was, not everyone could visualize it.  This is not uncommon.  I come across this issue all the time when designing new homes and additions.  Sometimes, one of the clients has great visualization (I can verbalize it and they can understand where I'm going) while the other, well, not so much.  I always refer to it as having a problem "visualizing their hand with their eyes closed".  The more you can show them, the easier it is for them to see...and make the needed decisions.  for me, that usually means deciding what type of roof or what layout works best for their kitchen...as examples.  For the Real Estate Investor, it involved visualizing what the existing house would look like if it was a Cape Cod.

Just Add Water and Stir

After

So I added a dormer, expanded the one car garage to a two car, and changed the siding in the gables to shakes.  Not the perfect custom Cape Cod, but pretty close...working with what was existing and keeping costs down.  Once this was presented to two previously interested, but noncommittal buyers, the magic started to happen. I cleaned up the landscape a little too.  I could have added the actual background and houses on either side, but the client decided that might be a little too distracting. 

As of this writing, the responses from the two buyers led the investor to believe he was going to get not one, but two offers within 24 hours.  The investor was thrilled...and I have an appointment to look at a couple of his other "hard to sell" houses to see if we can make that same magic happen to them.  Can't wait to find out myself.

Put Your Presentations into High Gear with 3D Renderings

Clients are funny, aren't they.  How many times have you put your presentations together, figuring it was a slam dunk, only to find you lost out to the competition...and couldn't figure out why.  You know, and I know, that your's was the best solution to the design problem.  Why didn't the client see it?  Well, unfortunately, it isn't always about the solution.  Sometimes it's about the presentation.  Sometimes, emotion gets in the way of logic, or becomes the "arbitrator" between two or more forms of logic.  Sometimes, the overriding emotions are what they see...or think they see, that wins the day.

Many years ago, when I did my presentations, they were pretty standard.  They looked great...and still do.  However, times change, and we must also change with the times.  In the case of presentations the change must be in ways that turn the heads of our clients so they can't take their eyes off of our work.  If we can hold their attention long enough for our "solutions" to sink in, we have a much better chance winning over clients than if we rely on the clients imagination relating to our imagination.  I've always said, some people can't imagine their hands with their eyes closed.  This is not a fault of theirs since we are all made up differently, but as Designers/builders/Architects, we have the "privilege" of being the one to help bridge that gap between our imagination and the client's.

This, is where 3D Renderings come in.  They have the ability to hypnotize the client...capture their interest, to the point where you are able to show/explain your vision and make the connection between your vision and their project.  Once I started using 3D renderings as part of my presentation, interior as well as exterior, I could see an instant increase in client closings as well as leads.  It is truly amazing how something so simple can have such an enormous effect.

I am now committed to using this tool for all of my presentations, and because of these results I have expanded my services for others to benefit the same way I have.  Take a look at some of the ways I have used 3D Renderings and I'm sure you will be able to see how they can enhance your presentations too.