Sketchup is a wonderful 3D modelling tool and incredibly powerful whether for home users or design professionals. Here's some great tips on how to speed up conversion and get the most from AR.
1. Delete "external" items that aren't needed e.g. trees, bushes, even fences (keep internal stuff like furniture).
2. Reduce polygon count on objects where possible, in particular internal items like furniture.
3. (In Sketchup) go to Window/Model Info/Statistics/Purge Unused (then Fix Problems) and Save As new .skp file.