Virtual home staging is a digital software tool used by a graphic designer to design an interior of a home.
- It is a popular choice among realtors who want to help their clients stand out in a competitive real estate market.
- The technology used in virtual staging enhances an ordinary room by changing the color of the walls and adding modern furniture and decor.
- The use of virtual staging is legal, but realtors should be transparent if they’ve digitally enhanced their photos.
- If your clients choose virtual staging for their homes, they should shop around and ask for referrals to find a reputable company that fits their needs and budget.
The traditional way of staging a home has transformed over the years. Technology has paved the way for homeowners to list property for sale using virtual staging. It may be a cost-effective way to turn a vacant and drab space into a modern-looking home to attract potential buyers.
Here, we’ll explain how virtual staging has evolved, compare it to traditional staging, examine the technology used to create realistic photos, and discuss the legal implications of which real estate agents should be aware.
Understanding Virtual Staging in Real Estate
Nowadays, it’s easy for homebuyers to search online to find their dream home. Virtual staging may elevate a property and make it stand out in a competitive real estate market.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 31% of buyers’ agents said virtual staging was equally important to virtual tours. In addition, 40% of buyers were more willing to walk through a home they saw online.[1] This proves that virtual staging can play a big part in the success of selling a home.
Definition and Evolution of Virtual Staging
It wasn’t long ago when buyers looked through flyers and print ads to search for a new home. They’d spend hours traveling around town with a realtor to compare different properties.
Fast-forward to today, online platforms make it easy for potential buyers to narrow their search and look at virtually staged photos without stepping into a house. What’s more, they’re able to do this through a mobile device, tablet, or computer.
Virtual home staging allows a professional designer to take a photo of an empty room and digitally add furniture and decor for a more welcoming feel. Whether virtual staging is right for your client depends on the different factors detailed below.
Comparing Virtual and Traditional Home Staging
In an ideal situation, you may want the best of both worlds with a combination of virtual and traditional staging. However, most homeowners have a specific budget and limited time to perform this effort. Here, we’ll go through the cost-benefit analysis between the two options.
Benefits of Virtual Staging over Traditional Staging
There are many advantages to choosing virtual staging over traditional staging for your client’s home, including:
- Making creative designs: An empty room can be digitally transformed into multiple styles, such as an entertainment area, playspace for children, or a study room. The possibilities are endless with the editing tools available. In contrast, with traditional staging, once you stage a room a certain way, it will likely stay that way.
- Standing out from the competition: If neighbors have similar homes for sale, having appealing photos will grab the attention of would-be buyers. This is especially important when supply exceeds demand.
- Creating an emotional attachment: When aspiring homeowners scroll through images online, professionally staged images can inspire a vision of life in a dream home. Virtual staging allows people to create an emotional attachment before stepping into the house.
- Showcasing functionality: Virtual staging may be an affordable way to show what an optimized furnished home looks like. It may help buyers envision how they might live in the house. For example, a virtually staged dining area can demonstrate where they can host social gatherings. This can help would-be buyers to plan and organize how they would arrange furniture in the new home.
- Selling the home faster: If you’re looking for a speedy sale, then professionally staged photos can help boost the online views of your listing. Viewing a well-staged home may give confidence to buyers who are considering making an offer and hopefully lead to a quicker transaction.
Cost Analysis: Virtual Staging vs. Traditional Staging
The financial impact is another important consideration when deciding between the two options. Here are several factors your sellers need to consider:
- Virtual staging is more affordable: Compared to traditional staging of a home, virtual staging may cost only a fraction of the price. That’s because you don’t require renting furniture, hiring a moving company, or physically placing the items in each room. And, after all, everything must be moved out of the property once it is sold, which involves additional time and costs.
- The time you can save: They say, “time is money,” and virtual home staging can save you a great deal of time. You could stage your client’s home within one day with traditional staging. But by choosing virtual staging, you don’t have to deal with the logistics of moving physical furniture and coordinating movers. Also, the turnaround time with a virtual staging company could take as little as a few hours or several days.
- Hiring a professional may be worth the cost: With virtual staging, the only heavy lifting you’ll need is a professional virtual stager to make the photos look realistic. Trying to do it yourself to save money will likely cause the photos to appear “off” or unnatural. Even with traditional staging, you may be able to add some light staging as a DIY project. Still, if your home is outdated or the existing furniture isn’t appealing to buyers, a home staging company may be a suitable option.
- Perception of higher value: Seeing polished listing photos enhances the buyer’s perception of the property’s value and could lead to a higher sale price. The same goes for traditional staging, where the buyers can see everything in person as they walk through the home. As a result, both options may lead to a higher return on investment and be well worth the cost.
The Technology Behind Virtual Staging
Powerful tools can turn a dark and dreary room into a warm and inviting place. But it takes special skill and talent from a professional to make your photos look realistic.
Importance of Photorealistic Visuals in Virtual Staging
When considering the home's overall design, choose a theme tailored to your buyers. For instance, if your potential buyers are single young adults, you may choose something more stylish and modern. In contrast, a home catering to a family may have photos incorporating a children’s bedroom, a video gaming area, or an office for the parents.
There are nuances in making photos look realistic, such as the placement of items, the lighting, and the right type of furniture that make the room look larger. Otherwise, if the photos look unreal, buyers could be put off and not book a showing.
How Virtual Renovations and Item Removal Enhance Listings
If you have a home that is under construction or not fully furnished, virtual staging can help buyers see the potential of a transformed home. With digital tools, you can paint walls, add furniture, and even remove items you don’t want to appear in the image.
Since the technology used in virtual staging has become advanced, images can appear so convincing that it may be hard to distinguish whether they are real. You may consider showing “before” and “after” photos. This way, the buyers can compare how the home actually looks to how it’s been digitally staged. Doing this will help set realistic expectations for when they arrive for a physical walkthrough of the home.
Ethical Considerations and Best Practices in Virtual Staging
As a realtor, you must follow the ethical and legal procedures when using virtual home staging. Although using virtual staging tools is legal, there are some considerations of which you should be aware.
Maintaining Trust with Potential Buyers through Realistic Staging
Building relationships in the real estate market is key to being successful at home sales. With that, being truthful about virtually staged photos creates a sense of trust that you’re not trying to hide anything from potential buyers.
So, when you publish your listing on realtor websites, it’s important to state that the photos have been digitally enhanced. This can be done with visible watermarks on photos or mentioning it in the property description. Remember that people don’t want to be deceived, so being upfront and honest will earn you respect.
Disclosure and Legal Aspects of Virtual Staging
Virtual staging allows you to use furniture and decorations to stage the home. However, from an ethical standpoint, do not use it to cover up or alter imperfections. Doing so could be deemed misrepresentation, leading to legal action. Being transparent will help avoid confusion when buyers look at the photos.
Making the Decision to Use Virtual Staging
If your client has an outdated, cluttered, or vacant property, virtual staging may be a suitable choice to boost your chances of viewings and turn it into a quicker sale.
Be sure to shop around, get several quotes, and understand the timelines. Also, it’s a good idea to ask your network for recommendations of companies they trust and search through online reviews to ensure the company has positive customer feedback.
Assessing Whether Virtual Staging is Right for Your Listings
There are pros and cons to both traditional staging and virtual staging. Traditional staging may require coordination to stage your physical home, but it allows guests to touch and feel everything in person.
On the other hand, virtual home staging can be a game-changing tool that helps save your clients time and money. It may also attract more buyers when they see the impressive photos in the listing. As long as you follow ethical practices, virtually staging your client’s home may help you to stand out from the competition and generate a faster sale. Are you looking for trusted mortgage professionals who can help your clients secure their dream homes? Connect with us today.
