Real-estate listing photos have always accentuated the positive, but computer-generated imagery of the sort Hollywood uses has now become so cheap and prolific that home sellers are taking out walls, removing ugly paneling and even adding digital swimming pools. At the same time, photos are more important than ever: Nearly every home search begins online and deals are often struck without in-person showings, particularly among investors who are putting photos through their own algorithms to price homes as they make an unprecedented...
Photo-editing technology is transforming Hollywood property listings, with legislation under consideration that would expand the use of computer images in property listings even further. Property broker Redfin says 20% of homebuyers had made offers sight unseen based on property photographs. Among the companies in the sector, House Canary uses algorithms to value homes and its technology can differentiate between real and lifelike builders’ pictures. BoxBrownie can change wall colours and virtually renovate a room while roOomy can add virtual furniture and ornaments to interiors. Meanwhile, Roofstock deals with rental properties and can erase personal signs of an existing tenant.