What is virtual staging, and how can it benefit you as a real estate agent or homeowner? This is a great question if you're new to real estate marketing! Virtual home staging uses computer-generated images to showcase a property's potential without needing renovations or furniture.
This innovative method has taken the industry by storm, providing a cost-effective solution to traditional staging. It appeals to the modern buyer's preference for online browsing, allowing sellers and agents to showcase a property's best features and spark the buyer's imagination.
With over 90% of home buyers starting their search online, virtual staging is quickly becoming a popular and attractive option for homeowners and real estate alike. Here's what to know and how to make the most of the technology.
What is Virtual Staging?
Virtual staging is a revolutionary technology that uses computer-generated images to create visually appealing homes. Unlike traditional staging, which involves physically moving furniture into a property, virtual staging relies on software to place furnishings and decor in an empty space.
When done correctly, virtual staging can make an empty property feel warm and inviting. This gives potential buyers a better idea of the home's appearance if they lived there.
The process involves:
- Taking photographs of the space
- Uploading those images to the software
- Selecting items to be placed in the room
The result is a realistic, digitally staged home that can entice buyers to come and see the property in person.
How Virtual Home Staging Works
Understanding staging as part of real estate marketing starts by asking, "What is virtual staging?" Well, that's typically one of most people's initial questions in today's digital age. Once you understand what it is, you must understand how it works.
Virtual staging might look different from one company to the next, and it could look entirely different if you're using an independent consultant or photographer versus an expert platform like Hommati. However, the process typically involves some version of the following.
1. Photographing the Room
The first step in virtual staging is photographing the room you want to virtually stage. While you can do this yourself, a professional photographer will usually come in and take high-quality photographs of all the rooms you want to stage. This helps ensure you have good angles and lighting for the virtual stager to work with.
It's important to note that you can also have "staging" photos taken of your home's exterior spaces. For example, we've created virtual photos for clients that enhance the blue sky or make the grass look greener. We've also added exterior furniture, such as pool chairs and umbrellas.
This is a great way to inspire a buyer's imagination and showcase your home in the best light, which can be especially helpful if you're selling your home in the winter and want to ensure the buyer has a good idea of what your property looks like when everything is in full bloom.
2. Removing Existing Furniture
With high-quality photos, a virtual stager will remove all the furniture and other items from the room you want to stage. This gives them a blank canvas when placing the virtual furniture.
To do this, they'll typically use high-quality software designed specifically for virtual staging (although if you work with a beginner photographer, some might use tools like Photoshop, which is perfectly fine).
3. Selecting Virtual Furniture
With a clean slate to work with, the virtual stager can start to add furniture. They will select virtual furniture that complements your home's style and color scheme. You can customize this furniture to fit the scale of the room and its proportions.
During this step of the process, it's important to consider the type of buyer you want to attract. If you're hoping to attract young, professional families in the area with small children, stage the home accordingly. For example, you could stage a playroom or virtually decorate one of the bedrooms with children's furniture and toys.
Regardless of how you accomplish it, the primary goal is to create an aesthetically appealing and practical space that will capture the attention and imagination of potential buyers.
4. Applying Details and Finishing Touches
After all the essential furniture has been added, the virtual stager will apply finishing touches to make the room look like an appealing living space. This includes adding decor items, rugs, curtains, and other necessary details. This shows how a prospective buyer could use the space as a future home.
Importance of Virtual Staging
With the ability to help buyers envision their future home without the added cost of physical staging, you can see why virtual staging has become an essential tool for real estate agents and homeowners.
Aside from simply making a property "look good," virtual staging has various benefits when used wisely as part of real estate marketing. Understanding these benefits is key to getting the most out of virtual staging.
First Impressions Matter
When selling your home, first impressions are everything. A buyer can make up their mind about a property within a matter of seconds. That's why ensuring a home looks its best from the beginning is crucial.
And that's what virtual staging is for.
By creating realistic images of a home's interior, buyers can visualize themselves in the space and get excited about the possibilities. Ultimately, virtual staging can make or break the home selling process, making a property stand out among competitors and increasing the likelihood of inquiries and showings.
Cost-Effective Solution
With traditional staging, you have to hire a team of interior designers to come in and stage the home. This can take weeks to complete. In contrast, virtual staging can be done in just a few days at a fraction of the cost.
It's not just about the upfront costs, though. The return on investment of virtual staging is also high. Studies have shown that staged homes sell faster and for a higher home value.
While this might be true of staging a home the traditional way, traditional staging can have physical limitations that virtual staging can overcome. For example, a small room may not be able to accommodate large furniture pieces. Or, you might not have the budget to rent the furniture you'd like to highlight your home's design or existing decor.
With virtual staging, there are no physical limitations. Speaking of no physical limitations, that brings us to the next benefit...
Fits Any Property
Have a small studio apartment? Are you trying to fill a seven-bedroom mansion with the right furniture? It doesn't matter; virtual staging isn't limited by the size or style of the property.
From small condos to expansive estates, virtual staging can showcase any property in the best possible light. This makes this technology especially beneficial for properties that are already vacant or poorly furnished.
Non-Invasive
Traditional staging requires homeowners to move out their belongings and replace them with rental furniture. This means they have to pack everything up, pay for movers, and find a place to store everything. Talk about expensive and exhausting.
Virtual staging, on the other hand, is non-invasive and can be done without any physical presence in the home. This is especially beneficial for busy homeowners who may be uncomfortable allowing strangers into their homes.
If you're a real estate agent, it's helpful as you don't need to physically be in the home to show it in a great light. Virtual staging services and 3D tours can help you sell homes remotely, improving efficiency and reducing operating costs.
Versatility and Customization
Customization is key when marketing a property, and virtual staging offers access to various design styles. With the option to choose from modern, traditional, or even a hybrid style, virtual staging allows a property to appeal to a broader range of potential buyers.
Additionally, virtual staging allows real estate agents and home sellers to address specific buyer needs and preferences. For example, if you know a potential buyer needs a nursery, virtual staging can create a space that fulfills that requirement. This showcases the home's potential and increases the chances of a buyer falling in love with the home and making an offer.
And, sure, you might not be able to create a virtual staging setup for every interested buyer. However, it can be a great tool if you're close to closing a sale and want to ensure the buyer is convinced of the property's value.
Access to a Wider Audience
Finally, if you're struggling to sell a home, you might need to open up your search for potential buyers. Virtual home staging can help you do just that.
With the internet being the primary source for home shopping, buyers tend to rely on photos and video tours to make their initial decisions. Virtual staging brings the property to life and appeals to visually oriented buyers (most people these days), making it more likely for them to take the next step and schedule a showing.
Get Staging Services
So, what is virtual staging? It's becoming an essential part of successful real estate marketing. It's a cutting-edge tool that can help you transform a bland property into a standout star among a sea of competing homes for sale in the area.
Ready to see virtual home staging in action? Request virtual staging services and pricing now!