How Developers Are Pre Selling Properties Without Display Homes Using CGI
Display homes have long been the standard for selling off-plan developments. But times are changing. As construction costs rise and buyer behavior shifts online, developers are discovering a smarter, faster way to generate presales without building a single physical space. The key? High-end, photorealistic CGI.
This article explores how developers are using CGI as a complete visual sales toolkit to drive early interest, secure investors, and pre sell units before breaking ground.
Why Developers Are Moving Beyond Display Homes
Building a display home is expensive, time consuming, and location bound. Many cost €400,000 or more to construct, furnish, and maintain. And that's just for a single version of the design in a single location.
Meanwhile, CGI delivers:
Multiple layout and finish variations
Day and night moods and styled compositions
Assets that can be used across listings, ads, brochures, and investor decks
Most importantly, CGI allows you to sell before you build without waiting months for a physical suite to be complete.
According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report, digital first marketing tools are becoming essential in the presale process, especially for high end and off-plan developments. Today’s buyers expect an immersive, visually polished experience, and CGI delivers exactly that.
Real Example CGI Strategy Helps Launch Coastal Development Early
A mid-sized coastal development in Western Europe, consisting of 18 luxury villas, faced a challenge: the site was difficult to access, and building a display villa would have delayed marketing by at least six months.
Instead, the developer partnered with Arc & Sphere to create a full CGI package — including aerial views, exterior renders, interior mood shots, and a VR walkthrough.
Within six weeks of launch:
10 of 18 villas were reserved off-plan
Private investor funding was secured based on the visual pitch
The marketing team used CGI across website, social ads, and a digital brochure
This approach helped the developer enter the market faster, reduce overhead, and pre sell inventory before the first villa was complete.
"We didn’t just need visuals, we needed a presale strategy. Arc & Sphere delivered both."
Why CGI Works for Early Sales
Buyers don’t make decisions based on floor plans and elevation drawings. They commit when they can see the space, feel the design, and imagine themselves in it.
CGI provides:
Clarity: No guesswork about design intent or finish quality
Emotion: Visuals that tap into lifestyle aspiration
Speed: A launch ready toolkit while construction is still underway
When you combine technical accuracy with cinematic appeal, you move prospects from curiosity to commitment faster.
From Cost to Conversion: The ROI of Visual First Marketing
High quality CGI typically represents just 0.3 to 0.7% of your GDV, yet it can:
Replace a six figure display suite
Drive faster investor buy in
Justify premium pricing
Reduce the need for speculative build outs
It’s not just a marketing asset. It’s a sales engine.
Start Selling Before You Build
If you're planning a new development, don't wait until the building is finished to start selling. With the right visuals, you can:
Launch earlier
Sell faster
Stand out in a crowded market
Let Arc & Sphere help you bring your unbuilt spaces to life and convert vision into velocity.
👉 Book a Free Consultation or Contact us to Start Your Project
