Agent supplies goggles so house matches the ad
The kitchen island was imaginary. The asking price was not.
SATIRICAL FUTURE NEWS · Imagined events for 23 Oct–29 Oct
1 MIN READ
A real estate agency handed out goggles at an open home this week after buyers complained that the house looked nothing like the photographs. The agency agreed. That was what the goggles were for.
Our imaginary firm, Wishful Lettings, called it an immersive inspection. Visitors could walk through the actual property while seeing the version its AI had advertised. Taking the headset off was discouraged until negotiations were complete.
Buyer Clare arrived to find a narrow lounge with peeling wallpaper. Through the goggles, it became a sunlit retreat. The neighbouring brick wall turned into a garden. The kitchen acquired an island large enough to have its own postcode.
She tried to lean on it. The agent caught her and explained that structural support was still a physical feature.
The inspection offered three settings: First Home, Forever Home and What Your Parents Think You Can Afford. All removed the damp patch. None removed the price.
Clare asked whether the improvements came with the sale. The agent pointed out that the headset could be purchased separately and was considerably cheaper than a renovation.
She eventually made an offer based on the house she could actually see. The agent described it as unrealistic.
Her bank approved a very real mortgage. Unfortunately, the garden subscription was extra.
What actually happened
ABC reported AI-altered images and other synthetic material in Australian property advertisements. Industry figures supported clearly disclosed virtual staging but warned against misleading alterations. Queensland’s guidance was issued in June. Our agency, buyer and viewing goggles are invented.
Original reporting read and reopened; no evidence of on-site goggles matching an AI-enhanced advertisement.
What we’re calling next
A real estate agency supplies augmented-reality goggles at an on-site inspection of an existing home specifically to make the physical property resemble its AI-enhanced listing images.