I know, I know—virtual home staging is cheaper and faster but let’s really discuss if it’s worth it. As a vacant home staging company in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth Texas metroplex, one question I often receive is about my true feelings regarding virtual staging. I always discourage home sellers from using virtual staging and encourage them to physically stage their upcoming vacant listings.
The Oxford Languages’ definition of staging is “the activity or practice of styling and furnishing a property for sale in such a way as to enhance its attractiveness to potential buyers. There are many types of home staging including: consultations, occupied home staging, vacant home staging, and the newest form is virtual home staging.
Virtual staging can be false advertisement
In virtual home staging, professional images are taken of the home’s empty space and then home furnishings are digitally added. Virtual staging is marketed to be easy, low cost, and an alternative for vacant home staging services. The digitized images showcase furniture, wall décor, and accessories ideally arranged with the intent of showcasing a home for sale.
However, the virtual staging will create digital renderings and place furniture in a space, which in reality, may not fit within a room’s dimensions or incorrect scale of furniture. The effectiveness of virtual staging is questioned because it sometimes can be misleading. Virtual home staging shows a home as what it could be, but not what the space can actually contain. You don’t want to deceive potential buyers with virtual staging, they may arrive to tour the home and experience disappointment.
Previously listed for 71 days with architectural renderings and staged and sold in 5 days
This builder realizes the importance of vacant home staging. This is a beautiful, new construction home that we staged in the Trinity Groves neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. Bayonne had architectural renderings to conceptualize the space while building but chose to use vacant home staging to present this home to buyers. Just days after our vacant home staging services, this home was under contract.
Say no to virtual staging
An alternative to vacant home staging is often considered to be virtual staging. Instead of requiring buyers to imagine themselves in a room with furnishings, give them the real deal! Statistics show that buyers linger in staged homes an average of 40 minutes compared to just 6 minutes in a vacant home according to the National Association of Realtors. Buyers want to move around furniture and analyze the space planning or layout of the space. Physical vacant staging showcases the property with furniture, warmth, and livability. Vacant staging shows a space with furniture of the proper scale and proportions, a buyer can experience the space as they would live and use it. Vacant home staging presents an empty space with furnishings and works by connecting emotionally with the potential buyer to show the space.
An empty room raises red flags, so a home seller considers virtual or vacant home staging. If you decide to contact a virtual staging company, ask for virtual staging statistics and results from their recently staged projects in your area. Virtual staging does not convert in the physical space. Buyers want to move around furniture and see the relationships in the space that is staged with actual furniture. Home staging should be a true representation of the property, not a digital life-like image.