The Benefits of Virtual Staging

Staging has been a real estate buzzword for the better part of the last decade. Listing a home requires an extreme amount of preparation for those who want to maximize the potential sale price of their investment. Newer technology has propelled this facet of a sale in a whole new direction: virtual staging. This is when, after getting professional photography, software is used to plug imaginary furniture and accessories into the real space. It’s something that really took off during the pandemic in many markets because it reduced foot traffic in the home.

How long does virtual staging take?

Virtual staging can be done quickly. Rather than planning a day (or days) to haul furniture to the house and place it around the space, virtual staging can be done in just a few hours.

What are the benefits of virtual staging?

Virtual staging doesn’t require a huge effort and can show the full potential of a space in a way that could be difficult with traditional staging. Traditional stagers pull décor and furniture from a warehouse, and they’re limited to whatever they happen to have on hand. With virtual staging, there are a lot more options, and a home can feel warm and welcoming with just a few clicks.

Another huge benefit is the ability to imagine a different use of a space. Perhaps a nursery can be a spare bedroom, or a home gym can become a home office. Virtual staging helps buyers think outside the box.

Virtual staging is especially helpful when the sellers have already moved out. An empty house is often more expensive to stage, and it doesn’t show as well and may be harder to sell.

Virtual staging is also significantly less expensive than traditional staging. The costs of physically staging a home can really add up because you must remove furniture, haul in new furniture, and then place everything inside the home. Very few sellers want to put this kind of money into a home they’re about to sell.

Does virtual staging mislead people?

When choosing to virtually stage, sellers and brokers must be very cautious to not mislead the buyers. Agents should not be removing power lines in a backyard, painting rooms different colors, or removing walls.

You don’t want buyers to feel like they’re walking into a completely different house than the one they saw in photos.

Work with an agent and virtual staging company that’s ethical about how they alter the way a home looks, and you won’t have any problems.

If you’re interested in what virtual staging could do for your home, just reach out! We’ve found this to be a very effective option for our clients.