Staging is vital when selling. When should virtual staging be used versus physical staging?
Buyers search the internet to find a house they are looking for. In order to attract a buyer, the “product” or property, in this case, has to be attractive. So the smart seller thinks “hmm, maybe I really should stage…” What are the pros and cons of virtual versus physical staging?
Virtual staging
Virtual staging creates a likeness of the rooms in your home. Furniture, accessories and wall color are put into a room virtually to enhance the appearance. The first place buyers look for a new house is online. Staging enhances a property when it is on the market.
- The upside of virtual staging is that it runs about $100/room.
- If there are identical properties in a building. Staging one will give buyers a good idea as to what the rooms can accommodate. The other various properties that are vacant they can be virtually staged. This would enable buyers to see different setups.
- The downside is virtual staging may not reflect the style that the market prefers. I have seen country homes done in modern contemporary décor which did not convey.
- Another downside of virtual staging is when the buyer previews the property it is empty and void. Studies have shown that only 10% of the population can envision something other than what is presented to them. The other 90% of the population sees what they see. If they do not like it they will walk away.
Physical staging
Physical staging enhances the rooms of a property with furniture and accessories that physically exist and stay in the rooms. When physical staging is done it will draw the buyer’s attention while looking online. The marketing continues into and during the showings. Buyers do not have to try and remember how the property may look.
- The upside of physical staging is that it will be staged to appeal to the market. Therefore when a buyer is looking for a country home when staged properly the décor will relate to the location and property itself.
- Another upside of physical staging is when a buyer visits a property they are able to see the fullest potential of the property. They do not have to guess or try to envision if their possessions might or might not work in the rooms.
- Statistics have proven that physically staged homes give the buyer the return on investment
- The downside of physical staging is that it runs about $150- $450 per room, but the room is actually merchandised when the buyer visits the house.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. For long-lasting marketing, physical staging is more impressionable for the duration of the selling period. What is your opinion?
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Thanks so much for your blog article about home staging and virtual staging and agree with your last statement as well. Thanks for mentioning virtual staging as a great marketing tool to sell a vacant home! Keep in mind that virtual staging is not a way to replace traditional home staging services but a more economical marketing tool for agents and sellers to be able to show buyers the potential of a home, digitally. Although I do not believe in altering the photos of the home as far as changing wall colors, moving walls and adding fixtures. As an agent, professional home stager and Pioneer of virtual staging, my company believes in virtual staging that abides by the Realtor code of ethics of a true representation of the property. This service is merely used to give buyers a better understanding of how to layout a room and make vacant photos of a home online more attractive and recognizable. And yes making sure each photo displays that the home has been virtually staged so buyers are aware is very important and my company has a strict policy on that! I am just glad to see that our #virtual #staging service has made a name for itself in the real estate world and is here to stay! Before you take a stab at or buy a CAD decorating software program contact http://www.virtuallystagingproperties.com as we are professional home stagers and pioneers of our patent-pending virtual staging service that sells vacant homes faster anywhere in the world! KRISZTINA BELL, Professional Home Stager, Pioneer of Virtual Staging & Real Estate Marketing Consultant
Krisztina
Thank you for your input. I believe that depending on the way the property is to be marketed a seller has to decide the best method.
Agreed!
I’m quietly agree with the cons of virtual staging. Plus this service is cheaper and more available in money. The idea of virtual staging is not to deceive buyers but rather to help them to imaging what the house could look like and how each space could be used. On my experience I used Spotless agency to staged my photos. To be short – project were done better i could expected!
Your work is quite well done, and in a market like NYC doing apartment buildings with multiple apartments available, this is a great way to show buyers how they could do their places. Keep up the good work!