Virtual Staging...What a Novel Idea!
WHAT'S NEXT, A VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS TREE WITH VIRTUAL PRESENTS????
Virtual this. Virtual that. When does real estate get back to being REAL???
I reject the premise that it is to a sellers advantage to show a furnished home for sale.
I reject the premise that seeing furniture in a home for sale helps buyers visualize how their furnishings will look.
While I respect the hard and innovative work of the "virtual staging" of homes for sale, I see it as an interesting product or service for sale, not a benefit to either buy or seller.
The next thing we'll be seeing is a service that sells Virtual Christmas to children repleat with Virtual Presents and a Firtual Christmas Tree.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!
(THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)
Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310
Comments(15)