Learn the ins and outs of the virtual staging process and how it compares to traditional home staging.
Traditional home staging involves the installation of actual furniture, says broker Rachel Lustbader of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Virtual staging involves the digital imposition of furniture on photographs of an empty room.
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Traditional vs.
Meanwhile, staging strives to showcase the architectural features of a home.
These are two very different approaches.
Learn the pros and cons of virtual staging from experts and how it could help yousell your home.
Staging a home is all about helping potential buyers envision the home as their own.
This includes furnishings, rugs, drapery, knickknacks and dust collectors, personal photos and artwork.
If the furnishings are dated, then the seller should stage it, Kenin says.
If the home is empty, the seller should stage.
The key is for each room to immediately read a certain way to buyers, Kenin explains.
It’s not an office, so put those files and your setup elsewhere.
Virtual Staging
In many cases, traditional staging is not an option for sellers.
In other cases, it could be more affordable to have a home virtually staged.
Whatever the reason, virtual staging is done with technology.
Virtual staging is when furniture is added via a computer program to enhance a rooms space, Kenin says.
Virtual Staging Pros and Cons
Virtual staging tends to be more cost-effective and quicker to implement.
Virtual staging works best to draw potential buyers to the home and to schedule showings.
Virtual staging is much cheaper than traditional staging, Kenin says.
Virtual staging is performed by an agents brokerage firm and costs the agent little to nothing.
Traditional Staging Pros and Cons
I prefer traditional staging over virtual staging, Kenin says.
Its very difficult for home buyers to imagine a space in general.
Virtual staging that appears online is experienced before a potential buyer sees a home.
In my experience, buyers are often disappointed by the home when visiting it later.
Broker Ellen Sykes of Coldwell Banker Warburg agrees.
Where possible, Kenin advises her clients to opt for traditional staging.
Thats where virtual staging offers a great solution.
If traditional staging is an option, many agents will suggest that option.
Furniture distracts the eye from any warts on the walls or floors, Lustbader points out.
Empty rooms make rooms look smaller and less inviting.
Any imperfections on the walls or floors stand out and emphasize any repairs that need to be made.
The advantage lies in creating an emotional connection with potential buyers through a physical experience of the staged space.
