Home Staging vs. Virtual Staging

You may have noticed a rise in virtual staging, and wondered if this option would be a good fit for your listings.

Virtual staging is the use of photo editing software to digitally add furnishings to online listing photos. While virtual staging can be less expensive than hiring professional stager, there are several problems with choosing that route. You may think you are saving money with digital home staging, but you will actually lose money in the long run.

You need real home staging in order to gain the highest return on investment for your sellers. Here are several reasons why virtual home staging is not the right choice for your real estate listings.

Downsides to Virtual Staging:

The majority of today’s buyers shop online before previewing a home in person. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, “99% of millennials search for homes online.” That is why it is so important for your listing photos to be as memorable as possible.

Buyers may be impressed by the online photos of a virtually staged home, but they will be disappointed and confused when they see how drastically different the home looks in person. The letdown of seeing the vacant home at the showing will sour their feelings and ruin their crucial first impression.

Another big negative of virtual staging is that the furniture is often out of scale. The digital renderings may show a king-sized bed, seating area, and multiple dressers in the primary bedroom. Buyers will feel deceived when they arrive and learn the room can only fit a queen bed and one dresser.

Showing a Vacant Home:

Virtual staging can artificially enlarge and edit rooms, but that illusion is destroyed when buyers visit the vacant home for a showing. Empty rooms actually look smaller in person than rooms staged with real furniture.

Home Staging Minimizes Negatives:

Some homes will have awkward layouts, weird niches, and not-so-great views. We will highlight your listing’s unique features while distracting from, or eliminating, any negatives. Buyers are more willing to overlook property faults when a home is staged, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

Photoshopping can also remove property faults, but this is unethical because it creates a false impression of the home. Some may even change paint colors, digitally switch out light fixtures, etc.

When the home is not as beautiful as the edited online photos, buyers will notice the negatives. They start to second guess whether the home is right for them. This may lead to lower offers, contracts that fall through easily, or dismissing the home altogether.

Staging Should Match the Listing:

Have you ever noticed photos of virtually staged homes that are very modern, but when actually viewing the home, it is a traditional style. Often, virtual staging doesn’t correctly portray the style of home, nor appeal to the home’s target buyer. We will bring in the appropriate furnishings and accessories to compliment the home. Buyers will also linger much longer in a staged home, giving them more time to fall in love!

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