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Sotheby’s Harnessing Power of AR to Sell Dream Homes
The use of Augmented and Virtual Reality in the world of marketing is growing at a rapid pace, with the technology on a steady trajectory of improvement.
One of the latest companies to make it part of its armoury is Sotheby’s International Realty, which is harnessing the power of AR and VR to sell prospective buyers their dream homes.
The so-called “staging” of a house is one of the most effective ways to lure in buyers, with prospective customers wanting to know what a house will look like with furniture in it. Until now, sellers have tended to hire professional decorators known as stagers to fill the home with furniture and décor items to make it look its best.
However, Sotheby’s is cutting out the staging process through the introduction of an app called Curate. Using Google’s AR Software platform, the app allows consumers to visualise a house as their own before purchase, thereby curating the home buying experience.
“Buying a house is not only a significant financial decision, but is also deeply personal and emotional,” says John Passerini, global vice president of interactive marketing of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.
“Introducing an augmented reality component to the homebuying experience takes the consumer on a personal journey that allows them to see a house transformed into a home, their home, through the magic of technology.”
Curate will launch in an iOS avatar sometime this year.