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Virtually Staged: The Kitchen at 909 Kapiolani, Honolulu HI 96813

Is it real or is it virtual? More importantly does it really matter? Some naysayers say it's a disappointment when potential buyers arrive to find an empty space but if the potential buyer knows it's virtually staged what is important is that interested buyers make an appointment to view the property not whether it's actually staged or not.

Virtually Staged: The Kitchen in a one bedroom condo at 909 Kapiolani, Honolulu Hawaii 96813, virtually staged by JDS Consulting.

The benefits of virtual staging can easily be appreciated by sellers who wish to make their relatively new investment properties stand out from other identical properties for sale in their building or development. Virtual staging costs a fraction of what one would spend on actual staging. When there is little to differentiate one property from the next in a new development, virtually staged properties get buyers attention and define the property as unique allowing buyers to easily picture themselves living in your property for sale.

JDS Consulting- Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design. Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Diamond Head, Kahala, Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kailua, Makiki, Tantalus, Hawaii Kai, Manoa, Nu'uanu, Ala Moana, Waialua, Haleiwa, North Shore, Kapolei, Makaha, Honolulu.

www.Staged.Homestead.com tel.+1.808.344.1264

JDS Consulting: Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design

www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com

Posted by Kimo Stowell - Real Estate Merchandiser on 11/03/2009 11:15 PM

Comments (20)

Home Staging in the Home Selling Channel

virtual home staging, virtual design, 909 ala moana, honolulu real estate

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20 Comments on Virtually Staged: The Kitchen at 909 Kapiolani, Honolulu HI 96813

NOV

Kimo- That is a very interesting concept and can see the benefits for certain sellers and certain properties. Katerina

Kimo,

Great looking property, wish you best of luck!

-David

Hmmm. I've never even heard of virtual staging. I think it would be a great benefit in certain properties.

Kimo,

Interesting stuff, small change yet a big impact.

Very cool! I like it!

You know me, I love everything you do ;D Mahalo

Excellent idea Kimo. It looks great and adds more character to the space.

NOV

aloha Kimo, beautiful work as usual as it comes from your mind to paper. I always say to clients, I wish you could see in my head right now as I can see your home in its final staged appearance. So virtual staging seems to answer that wish.

Do you create these virtual staged images yourself or do you have someone do this for you? Do you provide it at the time of consultation or send along to the client later? I would think that it would take more than a few hours to learn this program. I still have difficulty with my bluetooth device for my phone!

Sending good thoughts your way, Michelle

Aloha, Kimo. I agree with you that virtual is better than none. I like your virtual kitchen. Why 4 barstools instead of just 2? In real life the kitchen is the easiest to stage. Just three things for a counter vignette and voila, you're done. I agree that bar stools need to be at a counter. Just this week, I persuaded a Realtor friend to paint 2 of her white bar stools brown and went from "country" to "contemporary" just with a coat of paint. What I love about staging is all the little surprises.

Very chic and yes, it looks better than vacant!

Another super job Kimo. I think it's a great service to offer when done right and that you do!

Wow! Love the concept. Tell us more about the process please.

Would not expect anything less from you Kimo! Beautiful as always!

NOV

I like what you've done there since you've only worked with non-permanent stuff. I have seen people take a kitchen with a crappy countertop and put in virtual granite. That I don't agree with.

NOV

Aloha Katerina, I agree, in some situations it works, especially in new builds with big inventories. Mahalo for visiting.

Aloha David, thanks for visiting.

Aloha Janna, It doesn't work in every situation but it is an alternative worth looking into. Thanks for commenting

Aloha Lynda, mahalo for stopping by!

Aloha Julie, Thank you!

Aloha Connie, hows-it? Thanks for the Hula animated gif. You da kine, sistah!

Aloha Melinda, it's all aimed to get buyers to make an appointment to view the property. Marketing magic thats a little more affordable.

Aloha Michelle, I do it all in Photoshop. I've see some other programs lately but they don't look very realistic. I contract out my services to other stagers at a discount but I don't do a lot of "Staging". I mostly use the virtual design as a visual aide for my do it yourself design clients. It really helps them see what design choices might look like.

Aloha Beverly, thanks for the excellent questions. We like to entertain in Hawaii and multiple bar stools provide for extra seating in an otherwise under utilized space. The kitchen is very easy to stage but its easier to virtually stage and much more cost effective.

Aloha Cathy, mahalo a hui hou!

Aloha Ana, thank you for the compliment

Aloha Janice, I have a number of past posts describing my virtual work, I hope you take a moment to check them out.

Aloha Donna, mahalo!

Aloha Russel, virtual design and virtual staging are two separate endeavors and I agree the shouldn't be confused.

I like the photoshop option better than vacant however, since I can make chairs in photoshop appear smaller, could some mislead clients into thinking four chairs will comfortably fit when truly there is only room for three? My only concern with virtual staging is I can photoshop all the furnishings into a space I want however, I can't guarantee if that sofa will actually take up the floor space I graphically presented. Disclaimers?

I regularly "paint" photos to show clients how big a difference something like updated exterior colors can transform their home. Great tool.

Kimo: How is the learning curve on this? Is it similar to auto cad or an entirely different set of skills? Where does one go to learn more about this?

NOV

Kimo, great work could you tell me what version of Photoshop you use, also where do you get pics of furniture

NOV

Aloha Lisa, you bring up some excellent points but if you have the measurements of the space and the furniture you can create to scale an accurate representation of what will fit in a room. thanks for commenting.

Aloha Kimberley, its very much like collage and as I have never used auto-cad I cannot comment on the similarity of the process. Mahalo for stopping by.

Aloha Kathleen, I use Photoshop 5.0 and I collect photos from many sources mainly personal photos and catalogs. I hope that helps.