CA2843576A1 - Computer-implemented method of real estate sales - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of real estate sales is described. A first step involves positioning on a web page an interactive image of a house that is for sale that enables a potential purchaser to toggle between various interior views selected from a dollhouse view, a floor plan view, or an individual room plan. A second step involves positioning an interactive furniture display within the various interior views that enables the potential purchaser to reposition individual pieces of furniture in the interactive furniture display and substitute individual pieces of furniture from a virtual furniture inventory, thereby personalizing the online real estate sales experience.

Description

TITLE
[0001] Computer-implemented method of real estate sales FIELD

[0002] There is described a computer-implemented method of real estate sales that is particularly beneficial when the house for sale is vacant, or contains unappealing or dated furnishings.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Home buyers (consumers) searching in every price range are increasingly time conscious, educated and Internet savvy, and generally review many listings online before electing to view an actual property. Selling features, particularly floor plans but also virtual tours and home staging, are very effective in helping to narrow down their search, but not available for average properties because of the high cost to Realtors.

[0004] Consumers typically look first at actual photographs of property listings, and form lasting impressions of the home based on those photographs. This is nonsensical because existing furnishings and decor are generally not part of what is being sold, and problematic for Realtors attempting to show the full potential of the home.

[0005] Further, many properties listed for sale are either vacant, or contain unappealing or dated furnishings. Most consumers cannot see past inappropriate decor, furnishings and clutter when viewing a home, and any Realtor will tell you such properties are difficult to sell.
SUMMARY

[0006] There is provided a computer-implemented method of real estate sales. A first step involves positioning on a web page an interactive image of a house that is for sale that enables a potential purchaser to toggle between various interior views selected from a dollhouse view, a floor plan view, or an individual room plan. A second step involves positioning an interactive furniture display within the various interior views that enables the potential purchaser to reposition individual pieces of furniture in the interactive furniture display and substitute individual pieces of furniture from a virtual furniture inventory, thereby personalizing the online real estate sales experience.

[0007] As will hereinafter described, the computer-implemented method of real estate sales assists a potential purchaser to visualize the potential of a house that is vacant, or contain unappealing or dated furnishings.

[0008] Although the use of the method is of benefit to real estate agents, the method can also be made of benefit to furniture retailers by providing a sales portal enabling the potential purchaser to purchase the individual pieces of furniture displayed furniture or any of the substituted individual pieces of furniture selected from the virtual furniture inventory.

[0009] Furnishing company and other E-Commerce websites currently host online catalogues consisting of either photographs or three-dimensional images for use with 'space designer' software. In all cases the problem is in getting clients to visit the website. Where the space designer software is made available, the challenge is in enticing very busy people to take the time to 'sign up', download software, measure their home and create floor plans, all before even looking at furnishing products. Most do not have the necessary patience or design abilities to combine colour, fabric, decorative items and furnishing product and therefore many consumers may not take advantage of such sites, rendering them generally ineffective.
Real estate websites have a steady stream of traffic and the present method gives potential purchasers visiting the real estate websites the necessary tools to both deteimine whether a selected house suits them and assess their additional furniture requirements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1, labelled as PRIOR ART, is a flow diagram depicting a Prior Art process of preparing a listing for sale.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting a process of preparing a listing for sale in accordance with the method.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a first screen shot of house exterior as it would appear on Realtor's website.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a second screen shot of a dollhouse view of the house interior as it would appear on Realtor's website.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a third screen shot of a view of an individual room of the house interior as it would appear on Realtor's website.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] A method of computer-implement real estate sales will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5.

[0017] Broadly described, the method involves positioning on a web page an interactive image of a house that is for sale that enables a potential purchaser to toggle between various interior views selected from a dollhouse view, a floor plan view, or an individual room plan.
An interactive furniture display is provided within the various interior views that enables the potential purchaser to reposition individual pieces of furniture in the interactive furniture display and substitute individual pieces of furniture from a virtual furniture inventory, thereby personalizing the online real estate sales experience.

[0018] The method provides exceptional value to Realtors in that it incorporates all of the benefits of virtual tours, three-dimensional imaging, home staging, virtual reality and photography into one affordable package. This invention is built around the three-dimensional floor plan format generally preferred by consumers and best representing the structure of the home. An elevation or 'dollhouse' view serves as a new starting point within realty websites for viewing real estate listing information.

[0019] The method is an exciting alternative to existing online marketing practices. It will provide not only high quality two and three-dimensional floor plans but also virtual staging, photographs, property details and an online home store as well, for less than the current cost of floor plans.

[0020] The method comprises an intuitive online CAD design tool. Detailed renditions of actual properties listed for sale are created by employees and/or Franchisees trained in interior design, computer-assisted drawing and photography, and locked down so the consumers do not have to measure, create or modify floor plans. Consumers view a complete representation of the actual property.

[0021] Employees and/or Franchisees professionally stage plans with actual product appropriate for room sized and cost of the home prior to being displayed on realty websites.
Staged floor plans help consumers to visualize properties seamlessly where they are shopping online for a home at a Realtor's website, as opposed to having to visit a third-party website.

[0022] The initial view of a property listing is an exterior photograph.
The second view is a 'dollhouse' image of multiple levels of the home set on a stage at the centre of the page.
Also on the stage is information specific to the current view on the stage.
For example, a view of the master bedroom might include room, closet and balcony dimensions and details about the ensuite. To the left of the stage are contact information for the listing Realtor, and possibly some combination of a photograph, logo and slogan.

[0023] To the right of the stage are logos from participating Retailers.
Clicking on any logo will open an online catalogue of three-dimensional images that can be dragged onto the stage to replace products used in the initial staging. At the bottom of the catalogue is a 'shopping cart' button that generates itemized orders for products currently on the stage and takes the consumer to the E-Commerce part of the site. There is also button access to a "Wish List' that consumers can share with friends and family via email, along with images of their new home.

[0024] Consumers access interior rooms by clicking on the corresponding area of the home in the 'dollhouse' view. The 'home store' portion of the window to the right of the stage contains logos of participating Retailers at this point. The stage in the middle contains an interior view of the property. Consumers use their mouse to drag around the interior living area, viewing the configuration and images from every possible angle.
Consumers can click on any logo to access a catalogue of three-dimensional images for that company. They click or drag a chosen image onto the stage and position it inside the room. That item automatically appears in the shopping cart until it is ordered or deleted.

[0025] The stage may also include buttons that reset the view (Dollhouse, 3D, 2D or angled, for example) as a quick alternative to using the mouse.

[0026] Outside walls of the dollhouse image may drop away as consumers use their mouse to 'drag' around the exterior of the structure, enabling them to view the interior of the home from all exterior viewpoints.

[0027] Another set of buttons on the stage enable consumers to focus in on a specific level of the home. When a button is clicked the view adjusts to the corresponding level.
Simultaneously the selected level appears brighter while the levels not selected are dimmed.

[0028] Consumers click on any room in the 'dollhouse' view to 'enter' a specific living area. They may then use their mouse to 'walk' through the virtual image, viewing room configurations and three-dimensional product images used to stage the home from any angle or viewpoint. The products are moveable and scalable providing a realistic image of how they would fit and appear in the actual home, and can be deleted. Where applicable, alternate fabric styles or colours can be applied to the product image.

[0029] The method means Home Buyers do not have to wait for possession day to shop for furnishings for their new home. They can replace the product used to stage the home initially with those provided in the online home store, effectively furnishing their new home according to their own particular taste. Button clicks generate and submit orders to applicable product Retailers including such details as square footage for paint and flooring.

[0030] Consumers return to the 'dollhouse' view with a click of a button and then move around the exterior of the structure and select other levels or living areas to view.

[0031] Simple mouse clicks and 'drag and drop' movements will change between three-dimensional and two-dimensional views. As well, three buttons situated on the stage will toggle the viewpoints to specific pre-set angles, and return the consumer to the 'dollhouse' view.

[0032] An email distribution feature will make it easy for Buyers to invite friends and family to view their new home, staged according to their own particular taste.
Selected products can be added to a 'wish list', taking the guesswork out of finding the perfect housewarming gift. The added website traffic will benefit both Retailers and Realtors.

[0033] Advertising revenue from home product retailers subsidize the cost of creating floor plans. As an added incentive to Realtors and Franchisees to create an exceptional product and encourage consumers to use the approach described for the method, portions of the advertising revenue are paid to both Realtors and Franchisees, in the form of cash and/or future credit.

[0034] The invention also entails online accounts for every Realtor enabling them to order the service and view their account, which is debited immediately for service rendered and credited monthly with any advertising revenues.

[0035] The method represents an opportunity for furnishing retailers to enter a lucrative online sales program that directly targets their most productive market.
Products are delivered directly to their best customers, where they are shopping online for their dream home. As opposed to website banner advertising and furniture showrooms, the method allows retailers to effectively place product directly inside consumers' homes.

[0036] Retailers are featured prominently in realty websites in a "brought to you by ... "
format. Making the staged home a reality is as simple as clicking a button, submitting an order directly to the Retailer.

[0037] Realtors add value to their service by offering discounts to their clients on behalf of their partners in the retail industry.

[0038] In addition to creating floor plans, Employees and/or Franchisees also take photographs of the property, and those images can be viewed by hovering over symbols incorporated into the floor plans, showing the precise viewpoints from which the photographs were taken. The inclusion of actual photographs means one less step for the Realtor in the process of getting the home ready for market. However, some Realtors may choose to eliminate some or all of the actual photographs in offering a new level of privacy to their clients.

[0039] All of the features of the method have multiple applications, and any reference to homes, listings or properties also applies to industrial and commercial properties, real estate developments, and long term, short term and vacation rentals.

[0040] Home products may include artwork, lighting, paint and wall coverings, window coverings, flooring, furniture, appliances, cabinets, countertops, bathroom fixtures, fireplaces, wood stoves, decorative items, home improvement products, outdoor furnishings and landscaping.

[0041] Throughout this application any reference to 'Retailer' could also mean ' Manufacturer' , 'Distributor' or ' Artist' .

[0042] FIG 1 illustrates the current real estate listing process where the Realtor is required to consider which marketing tools would be most cost efficient and effective in marketing the home. There is no direct relationship between the tool providers, the Realtor's website and/or retailers. The Realtor's deal with service providers individually.

[0043] FIG 2 illustrates how the method will simplify the process of preparing the listing for market, and using advertising revenue from Retailers to reduce the upfront marketing costs currently paid by Realtors.

[0044] FIG 3 is a mock up drawing of the initial page of a listing modified in accordance with the method. The Realtor's photograph and contact information are to the left and the 'home store' with shopping cart and gift registry is to the right. The 'home store' portion of the window at this point contains logos of participating Retailers. The stage in the middle contains an exterior view of the listed property.

[0045] FIG 4 is a mock up of the second page consumers will see when viewing a listing in accordance with the method. The Realtor's photograph and contact information are to the left and the 'home store' with shopping cart and gift registry is to the right. The 'home store' portion of the window at this point contains logos of participating Retailers.
The stage in the middle contains a 'dollhouse' view of the listed property.

[0046] FIG 5 is a mock up drawing of an interior view of a listing in accordance with the method. Consumers access interior rooms by clicking on the corresponding area of the home in the 'dollhouse' view. The Realtor's photograph and contact information are to the left and the 'home store' with shopping cart and gill registry is to the right. The 'home store' portion of the window at this point contains logos of participating Retailers.
Consumers can click on any logo to access a catalogue of online images for that company. They click or drag a chosen image onto the stage and position it inside the room. That item automatically appears in the shopping cart until it is ordered or deleted. The stage in the middle contains an interior view of the listed property. Consumers use their mouse to drag around the room, viewing the configuration and 3D images from every possible angle.

[0047] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0048] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.

Claims (2)

What is Claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of real estate sales, comprising:
positioning on a web page an interactive image of a house that is for sale that enables a potential purchaser to toggle between various interior views; and positioning an interactive furniture display within the various interior views that enables the potential purchaser to reposition individual pieces of furniture in the interactive furniture display and substitute individual pieces of furniture from a virtual furniture inventory, thereby personalizing the online real estate sales experience.

2. The computer-implemented method of Claim 1, wherein the potential purchaser is able to purchase the individual pieces of furniture displayed furniture or any of the substituted individual pieces of furniture selected from the virtual furniture inventory.