Deceptive or Compelling? Virtual Staging

I like the idea, personally. I like seeing both vacant and staged pictures.

It can be a futuristic trend if stager kept raising prices. Right now they will hang up on your for $2k budget.  I can envision lawyers will go after realtors if someone was unhappy with purchase. That is even with disclosure unless the buyer signed that page. Now I stay out of it to be in harmony with 1000 of lawyers.

                                     Thank you, Kevin. 

Good morning, Kevin Vitali virtual staging is a Blessing for real estate agents who are faced with marketing a vacant home.... we use it... not only do we use it, we enlarge the photos and place them on stands in each respective room on the first floor.... great marketing presentation and we always sell the house....

I like it and I like this post. You've used a disclaimer, you've been upfront and the house looks great with virtual staging. I see no difference between this and move-in day to a home that's been just recently vacated. It doesn't matter if it previously had furniture. This is what the property looks like empty when the purchaser closes and is ready to move in and it's always a bit disappointing until you have the time to fix it up again.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!!!   Somewhere in the annals of staging knowledge you will find a statistic that says something like....Buyers have NO imagination ...or spacial conception....as long as you identify the staging as being VIRTUAL ...it is INVALUABLE !

An agent in Sacramento I know paid $150 for 4 virtual staged photos. That seems expensive compared to what you paid, Kevin. But there is nothing wrong with virtual staging as long as it's disclosed.

I also find the loudest, grumpiest complaining agents are typically wrong because, like you said, they don't read. So many of the problems with other agents would be resolved if they would just read the darn MLS information!

Staging is supposed to help a potential buyer to visualize themselves in a home that they are thinking of buying. Virtual staging can do that on a computer. When the potential buyer arrives to view the actual home, there is no furniture, causing the buyer to have to use their imagination. I don’t want to assume that all buyers have the ability to see a furnished house in their heads as they walk through a house that is empty.

We will stick with real staging. We know it works.

I am of the mindset that most Buyers do not have the imagination to visualize their furnishings in another home. Therefore any attempt to allow some extra vision into that cause will benefit all in the long run. RE: the one agent. I have not come across any app that can make them read let alone understand what was written in the MLS. Go virtual staging!

Thanks for sharing this discussion, Kevin Vitali. I've not used virtual staging but have thought it could be an advantage. Buyers commonly struggle with "what will fit" when there's nothing there.

I've learned a lot thanks to you and all the commenters.
Bruce

Your photos appeared quite reasonable, and if you clearly state that it is virtual staging, you are properly representing your client well.

I have seen other virtual staging that obviously did not fit the space, and detracted from the rooms.

@Kevin Vitali - I am a fan of virtual staging....when needed.  It does make a difference and as stated....should be fully disclosed.

I think it's a great tool. As stated by Judith Sinnard though I would be cautious not to misrepresent what could actually fit in the room. I've seen some really bad virtual staging. As long as the depicted furnishing would work in real life I'm all for it.

Good afternoon Kevin Vitali,

Glad to see your post was featured as I think its an important discussion. If done well and disclosed I think its a real help to buyers who generally have a tough time imagining their things in a house.

Hi Kevin,
Great post and discussion on virtual staging.  Love all the input in comments as well.

Hi Kevin! There's not a thing in the world wrong with it - unless you don't tell the perspective buyer (ON THE PHOTO) that it's virtually staged. 

It helps them visualize the space and you're doing everything you can to sell your clients' vacant homes AND get them more money while doing so!

In MHO (for what it's worth) the agents who rally against it, just don't want to spend the money. They are the very ones who won't pay for professional photos or a professional to measure their homes for listings! Perhaps we're both wrong but, honestly, there's no difference in taking the photos and the seller moving out before the home sells. Right?!

Happy Monday!

From a professional stager's perspective: In my book, the purpose of staging is to add perceived value to the subject property and help create an emotional connection for the buyer. While pretty renderings on the MLS will get potential buyers to come see the house, once they walk in the door, any excitement is dissapated by walking into vacant rooms. Flaws and awkward floorplans are in your face, even with virtual staging photos displayed on easels in each room. In my market, I've heard of buyers and buyers agents getting angry that the house isn't actually, physically staged, when the listing agent had virtual renderings on the MLS. I've been called in numerous times by agents and homeowners that tried virtual "staging" and the house didn't sell after 2 or 3 months. Once we physically stage, these houses usually go under contract in 2-3 weeks, sometimes faster.