Pros, Cons of Virtual Staging

Virtual staging, "digitally [inserting]" décor and other elements into the photos of a for-sale home's listing, is becoming more popular. A new article compares this method with traditional staging.

One positive feature of virtual staging is that it is typically more cost-effective than traditional staging. As Redfin reports, virtual staging costs roughly between $39 and $199 per room, varying by contractor, location, and the size of the space, whereas traditional staging can run upwards of several hundred dollars per month. Author Angie Bersin gives one essential piece of advice for a successful virtual staging, "The biggest mistake a seller can make is hiring a virtual staging company that’s not good enough. Virtually staged photos should be exceptionally realistic – so real, in fact, that buyers won’t know they’re computer-generated unless someone tells them."

According to the National Association of Realtors, 77 percent of buyers’ agents say that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize themselves living in a home. As many as 38 percent of sellers’ agents say that they stage all their clients’ homes before listing. Since the benefits of staging have a direct impact on listing performance, virtual staging was developed to give the same benefits that are looking for an alternative to traditional staging.

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