1stdibs claims to bring together on its site the most beautiful things on earth. They have been doing this for a decade now and do come up with rare collectibles that the shoppers look for. A $60,000 diamond brooch or a Louis XVI chair from the collections of Versailles has been prime examples. Now that they have a large client base they are diversifying into the lucrative field of luxury real estate. Michael Bruno, the founder of 1stdibs believes that Palm Beach villas and Malibu mansions are a perfect fit with the kind of products they deal in.
The site’s popularity has been increasing over the years and now it draws a million unique visitors each month. They have been selling art, vintage jewelry, antiques and home décor by connecting users with dealers and sellers worldwide. Now they will be adding luxury villas and mansions in the price range of $2 million to $200 million. Michael Bruno was a high-end real estate agent before launching 1stdibs in 2001 and understands the market very well. He believes that great houses get sold to people who are not in the market to buy a house.
The wealthy buyers depend on decorators and interior designers to decide on the property they want to buy. They always want to have their opinion about the potential of the property. The process has been made fun at 1stdibs. The home listings can be filtered according to the preferences of top designers. For example the top pick by Lawrence-Bullard at the moment is an East Hampton property listed for $35 million. The designer has opted for the mansion as it reminds him of an English country house. 1stdibs has started by showcasing high-end homes in the U.S. from Corcoran and Coldwell Banker Previews International but Bruno has plans of expanding the offerings from other agencies as well.
Via: online.wsj
