WHY do up a house to sell it when you can revamp it virtually? When we had (borrowed) money to burn, many people would refurbish a house before putting it on the market – but now the owners of jaded properties can just hand over a gorgeous computer image to potential buyers showing the potential of the home.
Prep.ie is the brainchild of architect Paul O’ Callaghan. With the passing of his mother, he and his brothers put their 1970s family home on the market. “The existing house, although in good condition, had a lot of potential for improvement,” says the architect. “Whereas in the recent past, people would take a property, renovate and extend it, and then sell it on, that’s no longer viable. “The key is to do what I do with all my clients: advise them on the potential hidden in their property.”
He uses photorealistic images and drawings to show prospective buyers what their home could look like and gives them a plan for developing it, either all at once or in phases.
There are so many properties on the market now, says O’Callaghan, and lots need updating: “The vast majority of viewers have no means of visualising beyond what they see in front of them,” says O’Callaghan.
And that’s where Prep architects can help. It costs €950 (plus Vat) and a further €3,750 when you sell. The service is also open to those who are not selling a home.
