Selling a home starts with emptying all the room and providing the photographer with spaces that are squeaky clean. This is the standard process, especially here in Alaska. Problem is, some buyers skip listings without reimagining the photos they are provided with, the images presented before them don’t fit their plans for it. Every buyer has different plans for their future homes. It helps a lot if they see a picture that’s aligned to their preferences. Look at these empty rooms:
Now look at the same rooms now filled with fixtures, re-made into theatres.
If not a theatre, perhaps a buyer in Anchorage is looking for a space for a gym.
Or, if the buyer is a professional who is looking for a place to be their future office in Wasilla, it would look like this.
Same rooms, different purposes. Technology has gifted us with endless possibilities and more opportunities to help us sell homes fast. Photographers and realtors can now recreate spaces on their listing with Virtual Staging.
And now the question stands: How does Virtual Staging compare to traditional staging? Is it worth your precious time and effort?
According to this article on Alaska Journal of Commerce, with Cheryl Campbell as a reference, who is an associate broker with Prudential Jack White Vista in Wasilla, “Online realty in general is quickly becoming the norm. Campbell has been a realtor for 24 years and has watched the technology change the way she does business. Physical photos and flyers used to be enough. She said now the Internet is the first tool a buyer turns to. Buyers look online themselves even before calling a realtor. Campbell said this means a “stellar” online presence is becoming more and more necessary in this business.”
Here at DMD Real Estate Photography, we only want what’s best for you and we want you to make the decision for yourself. Let’s determine if it’s a good alternative for you and how it compares to traditional home staging.
Virtual Staging, the definition
Simply, virtual staging is decorating space or the property itself to show its best features and the qualities that will make it attractive to buyers; just like the traditional staging we know.
The key term is “virtual”. That means it is done through a computer. The actual physical space doesn't have furniture, rugs, indoor plants, or other stuff involved to make it into the space it is supposed to be. All the decorative elements are inserted into high resolution photos by professional stagers all for the sole purpose of showing the empty room its “full potential”.
As you might already know, buyers’ first impressions are very significant to selling a home. Therefore, if it fits their plans or their preference, there is a big possibility that they will imprint on it and the listing will stay at the back of their mind in their journey while searching for a home.
So, Where is this Clever Technique Best Suited For?
Traditional Staging may still be the best choice for some homes, depending on its spaces, but virtual staging can make a significant difference, if done properly in:
Empty or vacant homes
Homes with old and outdated fixtures
Properties with tenants still in them, in which, the owner do not have a control over its appearance
The Virtual Style versus The Traditional
Truth be told, virtual staging is a lot cheaper than doing it the traditional way.
Virtual staging will cost you around $39 and $199 for every room, but it depends on the contractor you hire, your location, and the amount of space you have (Prices vary if the house is in Wasilla, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, etc.). It’s a one-time payment.
Prices also vary when it comes to traditional staging, but you will have to rent out the furniture and other décor you use, so it’s a month-to-month basis
That’s just for the price. There are several pros and cons that you have to consider, especially when you’re selling an empty home.
Virtual Staging Pros and Cons
Truth be told, virtual staging sells home faster and for bigger bucks—but only if it’s done right though. Therefore, you need to hire a professional who know what they’re doing; one with a good reputation and a good portfolio.
Pros of Virtual Staging
Helps you showcase the house’s best features
Cost-effective compared to traditional staging
More attractive to online buyers
Opportunity to stage any number of rooms
Can flex a space in several different ways
Cons of Virtual Staging
May get more expensive when you remove furniture or items from photos
May be difficult when the space is occupied, you may need a photo from a previous listing of the home
The fixture are virtual or digital, buyer will not see them in the actual visit
Traditional Staging Pros and Cons
This method is time tested already, successful agents have been using this technique for decades and won’t need a professional stager. But it will need someone with a good eye for details and the skill to create a space that’s going to appeal to a wide range of buyers.
Pros of Traditional Staging
Buyers will have a real perspective of the space when they visit the home
The house will not be empty during the buyer’s visit
It will be easier for buyers to gauge the size of the space; it also makes it look larger
It creates a lasting impression after the buyer’s leave
Cons of Traditional Staging
More expensive and will incur recurring charges until the home sells
Stages will have to bring in items physically
Impractical, depending on how fast the home sells
After looking at both sides. Let us leave you with certain mistakes you need to avoid when staging a home virtually.
Virtual Staging Mistakes
Virtually staged photographs should be exceptionally realistic. The spaces should look very real enough that buyers will not notice that the images they are looking at are computer-generated. Therefore, one should hire a company that is good enough for the job.
Aside from this, other mistakes are the following:
Forgetting to provide a photo of the empty space as well as the staged one. Buyer’s may expect the home to be furnished already when they visit, so both photos will have to be presented on the listing.
Not being so careful on overdoing it, some virtually staged photos may recreate the space into looking worse than it actually is.
And also, virtual staging when it’s not necessary anymore. There might be furniture or décor in a space that is perfect for it, replacing it might be a waste.
And now we go into the big question:
Will Virtual Staging Help You Sell Your House?
Sure, Virtual Staging will definitely help sell a vacant home, one that is still occupied, or one that’s already left out in the current style. It provides buyers with the right vision of the house, not just an empty space, but one that would be comfortable to live in.
I guess we’ve already said enough. If you’d like to explore your options, let us know in the comments, or check us out at DMD Real Estate Photography.