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.