Some buyers may not take to a property simply because its interior design and furniture layout doesn’t jibe with their tastes.
But Modsy could help buyers see a home’s full potential, preventing situations where would-be owners reject listings for mostly superficial reasons.
The San Francisco-based startup uses 3-D technology to help people envision new design and furniture layouts for rooms that fit their preferences. 3-D virtual-staging firm Rooomy and 3-D model providers InsideMaps and Matterport are among other startups seeking to provide a similar service.
Modsy “might be a really neat way to think about designing a space while you’re standing in it,” said CEO Shanna Tellerman. It “could be mutually beneficial” for buyer’s and listing agents.
Modsy, which has worked with some real estate developers and wants to partner with real estate agents and brokers, is still beta testing its product (you can sign up to be a beta tester here), but has plans to launch this summer. It announced today that it’s raised $8 million in a Series A funding round.
To use Modsy, users must snap three photos from every corner of a room and complete an image-based questionnaire that gauges their preferences.
Modsy will then wipe the photos of any objects, like existing furniture, and populate the rooms with various furnishings and design schemes that match the user’s preferences, bringing to light a wide range of design possibilities.
Modsy will also make it easy for users to purchase furniture that appear in the photos it sends to users. Other virtual-staging and 3-D rendering providers plan to earn referral fees from furniture providers for sending them customers. It’s possible Modsy is seeking similar partnerships.
Modsy thinks it may appeal more to consumers over competing products because of its ease of use and simplicity, Tellerman said. Users don’t have to drag and drop furniture into interactive 3-D models; Modsy does the work for them and sends the results.
Modsy will send images of two virtually-staged rooms to users for free. Its DIY product costs $39.99 and lets users virtually stage rooms themselves by allowing them to pick and choose items to plop into images. Users who buy the startup’s “design advisor” product ($149.99), meanwhile, get to discuss their preferences with a consultant who will then pick items to add to rooms on their behalf.
Modsy is “very interested” in collaborating with real estate agents and brokers, Tellerman said.
