520 West 28th Street via Related Companies
Mayor Bill de Blasio has speculated that New York City is not likely to reopen until June, but some prospective homeowners don’t want to wait that long before resuming their apartment hunts. Apartment videos and virtual tours have become invaluable since the city went on lockdown in March, but the latest software and technologies have allowed agents and clients to go several steps further and see apartments all over the city without leaving the safety of their homes.
While a large number of agencies and brokers have adopted virtual tours, there is not one industry-wide platform or technology provider as of this writing. The Real Deal notes that some brokerages use state-of-the-art virtual 3D tours that demonstrate their commitment to the latest technologies and happenings. Others use FaceTime or Zoom to take clients on virtual tours; these can be less polished, but also lend an air of authenticity that some buyers find refreshing in an age of slick virtually staged photos.
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Virtual tours have proven invaluable during the pandemic, but many brokers don't see themselves putting the technology aside once the city fully reopens. The CEO of Bold New York has already declared that his firm will not list a property without a virtual tour again. Other agents are less forthcoming and have doubts that clients are willing to buy without seeing a property in person, but nevertheless plan to keep them as a part of their marketing materials henceforth.
It is far too soon to claim that this will salvage the city's near-term real estate market, but we do know that according to Olshan’s report, May 4-10 reported the highest weekly dollar volume and number of contracts since the New York State shutdown. The top contract-signing, an Upper West Side brownstone, got a different sort of video tour by appearing in several episodes of Law and Order. However, the highest price condo was a listing at The Four Seasons Private Residences; the buyer had already visited the building to look at another unit, but a virtual tour and the developer’s flexibility enticed them into a larger unit on a higher floor.
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As we wait to see what this means for the future of New York real estate, join us on a tour of #PH37 at 520 West 28th Street, Dame Zaha Hadid's High Line condominium. The 5-bed, 6.5-bath condominium is listed for $24.975 million, and every inch of its 6,853 square feet can be explored in this virtual tour. Find screenshots of our walk-through below.
↓ The building was designed inside and out by Dame Zaha Hadid, and the interiors capture the flourishes, finishes, and incredible scale.
Photo credit: Hufton Crow
↓ The triplex's floor plan
↓ 'Dollhouse view'
↓ The home has direct key-in elevator access
↓ The view into the main entertainment level
↓ Tucked away to the right is a den/guest bedroom
↓ Before we go any further, let's wash our hands for at least 20 seconds in the powder room. Yes, that's me.
↓ Off the entrance foyer is a library/home office
↓ You can easily zoom in and ogle at the myriad of staged objects found throughout the space
↓ Let's have some wine over the High Line
↓ Enter the 'Great Room'
↓ The great room is more than 50 feet long. Unfortunately, for virtual tours you do lose some sense of scale.
↓ Matterport tours also have this nifty measuring tool.
↓ View south over the High Line with that cool sculpture garden above the Paul Kasmin Gallery. It was also built by Related Companies and protects these southern views.
↓ The home's details include 10-foot wide motorized shades, curved windows, and custom wall-paneling ready for your art collection.
↓ The piano does not come with the home but there is a modern fireplace
↓ Let's finish our wine upstairs on the deck
↓ You almost feel like you're climbing the stairs with these tours
↓ Slightly tired from clicking, catch your breath and take in the Manhattan views.
↓ The upper-level sunroom truly lives up to its name. The wrap-around terrace is 42' x 53'!
↓ You also have your own terraced garden
↓ Back downstairs to drop off our many empty wine bottles in the kitchen
↓ The kitchen has an eat-in area overlooking the unappetizing constructs across the street.
↓ Toto, I have a feeling we're not in New York anymore
↓ Let's grab a snack.
↓ Who doesn't love looking at artichoke? Let's get those cookies back there instead.
↓ Nowhere else in New York are there stairs designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Dame Zaha Hadid
↓ Down here are the bedrooms and a rather lackluster wet bar...
↓ and a room for these things
↓ All four bedrooms on the lower level have an en-suite bath
↓ Bunk beds in a $24 million apartment? I think not!
↓ Another bedroom
↓ The walk-in closets have beautiful views
↓ Let's check out the master suite
↓ The dual master bath!
↓ The stand-in shower. My sister tried to use one of these things and had to retire from touring.
↓ Soaking tub
↓ The master walk-in closet
↓ And finally, the master bedroom with Empire views
↓ The suite has a sliding window wall
↓ You'll need large bushes
↓ Back upstairs using the private internal elevator.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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