Virtual Staging...What a Novel Idea!
What's in it for you? A quicker sale than listing/selling an unfurnished, vacant property!
Some sellers simply cannot afford to furnish their vacant properties and some buyers simply cannot 'mentally picture' furnishings in a vacant home. Innovative agents are now turning to virtual staging.
This process uses computer technology to add furniture and decoraor items to photos of vacant listings. The cost is approximately $250 for a few photos and the images are quite impressive. One company, Virtually Staging Properties, has nearly 1,000 photos of items which they strategically place, via computer, into YOUR photos of the vacant rooms! 
The husband and wife team who own the business (located in Atlanta) are both professional stagers so, their finished 'product' is expertly presented. They also deliver 8 x 10 photos to you for use in the home to demonstrate what that specific room will look like with furnishings in that particular room.
There are other companies who do this--including www.VirualStagingSolutions.com and OBEO tours (www.OBEO.com) which offer such luxuries as textured walls, furnishings, countertops, etc. This affordable solution to those sellers who cannot or will not hire that recommended stager is a viable alternative to the traditional staging.
*NOTE: This is certainly NOT a replacement for a local, professional stager, just an option if you or your sellers can't or won't hire someone to physically provide this service.
**Also of note, when listing these properties, don't forget your COE rules--disclose that" the photos are representative of staging; the property is currently vacant." (Use your own wording but, be sure that you don't post the photos of the furnished property as this is deceptive practice).
Check out the virtual staging websites and see what new technology lies ahead for YOUR vacant listings!
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT
Debe - This is absolutely amazing! I had a gorgeous home that was on the market for almost a year because no one could visualize how to put furniture in the rooms. It was a vacant property. I would gladly have disclosed that the rooms were virtually staged and I can tell you that home would have sold for at least $20,000 more than it did, if people could have visualized furniture in it. It certainly doesn't take the place of staging, I can see how there would be a letdown when people actually see the home, but I've yet to convince a client to spend their money on staging. I wish I could. I will definitely use one of these services. Thank you!
Oct 16, 2009 01:14 PM
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
Hi Everyone! Thanks for your comments and I do agree that it's a great idea! In response to Marcyne, I have to say that professional staging IS superior to this method. Like Gail, it's hard to convince sellers in this declining market, who are already losing tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, plunk down more money to stage a home. I think this is a viable alternative as do the two professional stagers who started this business. They recognized that this market was calling for a less expensive option for sellers of vacant properties.
There is no let down when it is disclosed in the write-up that this property has been virtually staged AND a photo album of the virtually staged rooms is supplied for them to view while they are in the home. As a matter of fact, half of my buyers actually prefer to visit a vacant home. They love the photos of homes that previously had the furniture in them and have since vacated the property but, when they arrive to view the property, they want to be able to visualize their own furnishings in the home.
Again, this is not meant to be a replacement for physically professionally staging a home, just an affordable alternative for struggling sellers in this market. If I were a stager, I would hire someone to create the software for me and begin providing this service! Deb--I wish I had thought of it FIRST! Many of our stagers here are struggling for business and I have sent this information on so that they can investigate this alternative for their own businesses! They all know I love them and respect their work, so I don't have to watch my back with my stager friends!! LOL :-)
Oct 16, 2009 01:42 PM
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC
Debe, Amazing photo they did. You can not even tell they have doctored it at all. Yes, at this point a disclosure is definitely a necessity.
Oct 17, 2009 02:31 AM
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL
Debe...
You hit that nail right on the head. Sometimes, business models have to be changed or tweeked to accommodate a changing market. I mean honestly, did any one ever think for one moment that many of us would have to learn everything there is know about short sales? As times change so do business models. Shall I go into how many times I'd reinvented myself? :)
TLW...ROAR!
Oct 17, 2009 03:55 AM
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate
Debe, I must say that this option is beyond brilliant. I just wish I had it in my budget to implement it for my empty house listing...as I am sure that it would more than pay for itself through the sale of such a staged house.
Oct 17, 2009 04:07 PM
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
Real Estate Salesperson in New York & Connecticut
Debe - I recently heard about this - but hadn't viewed the before and after look. Thanks so much for sharing. ~ Diana ~
Oct 18, 2009 10:51 AM
MyMidtownMojo.com |770.713.1505 | Intown Atlanta GA Condo Living - Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta GA Condos For Sale
Ok people....I don't get what the issue is about having a home virtually staged, and then when you show the buyers the home, they are "disappointed" when it's empty? What? And what do you do when you take pictures of a listing, and 2 months later, the Seller's move and the house is now vacant? Do we go take new listing pictures showing all those empty rooms? No! We leave the pictures with all the furniture because it looks better.
I also agree that there is a time and place for everything, and not all homes can, or should be virtually staged. But it's amazing technology. Also, as I under stand it, the place the enhanced photos in the actual rooms of the home so the Buyer can make reference to the pictures on the listing and the actual room in the house!
Thanks for beating me to the punch Debe.....on an Atlanta company on a post!
Oct 18, 2009 11:00 AM
Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL
Huntsville AL MLS
Debe, I LOVE this idea. This is the first time I've heard about it. I don't think this is misleading at ALL. As Thom mentioned, we all have sellers that move out before the home is sold and the same photos remain, because it looks nicer furnished.
I liked your idea of printing out photos to put around the home to show the ideas. So many buyers have no imagination.
When sellers are upside down/behind on their mortgage, etc., staging is the last thing they can afford, in their minds. Maybe stagers could start getting paid when we do...that's a thought! Why not?
Oct 18, 2009 11:33 AM
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
Jane: Thankyou dahling!
Larry: This was MY photos that I had taken before and after staging! I did not have time to get the permissions from the company that does this!
TLW: So, let's hear it! ;-) You know, these days, it changes monthly and I concur--who would have EVER thought we'd all be learning the ins and outs of short sales on a daily basis?!
William: Agreed! And, me too! I think it's a splendid idea that can benefit many vacant property owners by giving them the online advantage that they need to get their properties SOLD!
Diana: I hadn't heard of it either and thought it GENIUS!
Thom: Well said, my friend! I can't tell you how many are online now that have been listed for many months and the owners have moved on--no indication that the property is vacant--hell, we forget to note that if the listing has been up since the owners lived in the property! I've never heard one complaint about that--as a matter of fat, I've heard that the buyers are glad that they can measure easier for their furniture! I'm closing on one in two weeks that had that very thing happen and my buyers were thrilled that the furniture had been moved out so that they could better visualize THEIR furniture in the home.
And, I can't believe I beat YOU to the punch for once!!
Sis: You're SO right--with more and more short sales, this is a more cost-effective method of getting better online presence than physical staging. MOST can't afford to have their homes staged so, this is a wonderful alternative that is affordable and gets the same results. On another note, I've seen homes staged for 3 months and didn't sell. The photos online are of the staging but, the staging has since been removed. I don't hear anyone crying FOUL when this happens either! The stager is still getting the credit for the beautiful work that is still displayed online. I have actually presented that idea to a stager before and she said that her monthly expenses, if she's renting the furniture, is too cost-prohibitive. I tell her that is what we live with on a day-to-day basis. She had an AH-HA moment but, didn't go with my idea. I think it's a shame because if it works (their staging), then they'll have MORE business than they know what to do with!
Oct 18, 2009 12:04 PM
Own Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Midtown Tulsa Real Estate Top Producer
Wow - I think this is an awesome alternative. For $250, I might consider absorbing that cost myself in certain circumstances. Am bookmarking this - thank you!
Oct 18, 2009 12:32 PM
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento
Thank you for posting this Debe. As times change... WE need to change. Of course there are listings out there with furniture in the pics before the owners moved out... it happens all the time. This service should be called Conceptual Staging or Conceptual Design. This truly does not replace traditional staging by any means, but it does offer another service to provide. So the REA would have another choice to add to their listing package (A home consult for an occupied or virtually staged pics, both about the same price) I am all for full disclosure and watermarked pics alerting the buyer. I have not added this to my services yet, because I truly want to research the best service to go with... even if I have to train and learn it myself.
But it is a possibility that I am willing to look at.. and I am a stager ;)
Oct 18, 2009 06:02 PM
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL
Debe, I can't wait to check out these websites. I had not heard about it before now.
Oct 20, 2009 07:39 AM
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
Lori C: Thank you! Best of luck and do let us know how it works for you!
Lori P: I think you're so right to take that attitude--heck, I focused exclusively on luxury listings before last year! Now, I'm taking out first time homebuyers AND doing short sales! In my humble opinion, I think it's good business practice to adjust your business model based upon the economic climate--if you don't, you could be out of business quickly! Let me know how it goes if you do decide to add this to your business plan!
Ann: I hadn't either and I'm very excited about seeing how it works for my long-time vacant properties.
Oct 24, 2009 04:37 AM
Anonymous
Debe, Thanks so much for posting our information about our new patent pending virtual staging marketing tool for vacant homes. My husband and I have a traditional staging company in Atlanta and have staged over a hundred homes a year.
The agents asked us if there was any other way to stage a vacant unit without the big expense that traditional staging sometimes brings and we felt our pricing was very competitive at the time. Hence we came up with the virtual staging option and wanted to offer it not only to agents and sellers in Atlanta but nationwide. Our Patent-Pending virtual staging service will help drive traffic to your vacant property ...Because without traffic, it may never sell!
Thanks for all the realtors support. I hope everyone here on the comments page has viewed all our articles from Realtor magazine to the San Francisco Chronicle thanks to my PR peeps - they keep us out there and are helping us spread the word! I look forward to working with the realtors in TX. We have already virtually staged several homes in TX and you all are part of our 26 out of 50 states and couting where virtual staging of homes has occured with www.virtuallystagingproperties.com!
Not convinced or skeptical? Here are 7 Great Reasons Virtually Staging Properties
will Help Sell Your Vacant Property:
- We are experienced home staging professionals - we have 'traditionally' staged hundreds of vacant homes in the Atlanta area.
- 87% of home buyers will search the Internet for their next home - National Association of Realtors
- Vacant properties do not generate buyer traffic.
- Vacant photos are uninspiring and indistinguishable from the next.
- Why compete for buyer traffic on price when you can ensure your property stands out among the crowd.
- Virtual staging is an excellent alternative for home owners that just can't afford traditional home staging.
- No other virtual staging solution offers the realism generated by our Patent-Pending process.
Nov 09, 2009 10:07 AM
#80
Coldwell Banker Advantage - Clayton, NC
Broker/Realtor, e-PRO, CNS
I just did this with one of my vacant homes and I was amazed how the photos turned out. I am anxious to see what kind of feedback I get. I used VirtuallyStagingProperties. They did an awesome job!!!
Feb 01, 2010 06:52 AM
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Apollo Beach, FL
wonderfull idea....i wonder where to find a a realtor verison of this software
Feb 02, 2010 10:16 AM
Keller Williams Realty Plano, Texas - Dallas, TX
Realtor - Dallas & Plano Real Estate - (214)738-5555
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN
Thanks for the link Debe- I'll reblog this so you can get a little more traffic. This is a great idea for vacant homes.
Jul 01, 2012 09:36 PM
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
We have had folks in our area use this process and if someone is good with photoshop they likely could do this. Just need to make sure buyers understand the photos aren't what they will see when they step inside the front door.
Jul 01, 2012 09:54 PM
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
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Author Bio: Debe Maxwell is a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) in the Charlotte Metro region with a focus on the Charlotte luxury home market. My team of agents each have their own specialty areas, a benefit to anyone buying a home in Charlotte NC.
If you're thinking of listing your home, I would love to meet with you and share our marketing success package with you. My homes sell faster and for more money and after all, isn't that what every seller wants?! We'd love to help you buy or sell in the Charlotte Metro region.
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