Maybe 15 years ago, I attended a workshop by "Staging Guru" Barb Swartz, who coined the term "staging" and has been teaching Realtors how to enhance their listings since 1972. I wonder what Barb thinks about the new trend of "virtual staging"? Literally "photoshopping" furnishings into a vacant room is certainly less costly than actually hiring a staging professional. With more and more (estimated 85%) folks beginning their home search online, it is one option.
I wonder, however, how a buyer feels when walking into a vacant house after seeing those enticing "picture perfect" views online? Even with full online disclosure ("This is how the home could look"), I can't help but feel it would be a bit of a letdown. Many of my clients have had professional staging done over the years, and I feel the investment (usually less than $2,000 here in Chico) usually helps to sell (especially a vacant home) more quickly and at a higher price.
You can click here to read a Realtor Magazine article about Virtual Staging, and click here to see some interesting "before and after" photos by a company called Virtual Staging Solutions.com.
What do you think about this new marketing technique?
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