Did you know that over 97% of home searches begin online? Buyers will scroll through hundreds of online listings in search of a home that speaks to them- their dream home! And while your house might be what they’re looking for, they won’t stop to consider it if your online listing pictures don’t present it in its best light. That’s where virtual home staging comes in! Read on to learn what staging is all about and how it can help sell your home.

What is Virtual Home Staging?

Virtual home staging, like conventional staging, is decorating a home to highlight its best qualities and features to make it more appealing to potential homebuyers. But as the name suggests, virtual staging is done with a computer- no real area rugs, furniture, potted plants, or other décor involved. Virtual home staging uses software to insert decorative elements in pictures to show a room’s full potential.

How Does Virtual Staging Work?

Basically, you’ll first have to take actual pictures of your home. Ideally, it should be empty. Also, it’d be wise to enlist a professional real estate photographer for premium-quality photos. Then, using virtual staging software, you can add different furniture, décor, and finishes to the rooms. You can add anything you’d wish- from beds, sofas, office desks, rugs to paint colors!

Why Should You Virtually Stage Your Home for Sale?

Besides showcasing your home’s best qualities, you should virtually stage your home because:

• More Opportunities for Home Sale: Typically, consumers will take about 3 to 4 seconds to make a purchasing decision. You need to have the perfect pictures to ensure you appeal to homebuyers’ emotions within seconds. Virtual staging can bring out the ideal picture of your home.
• It Highlights your Home’s Full Potential: Virtual staging makes a home feel welcoming and lived-in while allowing potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house.
• It’s Cost-Effective: When selling your home, prepping cost is a significant factor, and home staging doesn’t necessarily come cheap! Fortunately, virtual home staging cuts traditional costs dramatically- as much as 90%!
• It Offers Flexibility: Virtual staging allows you to stage different rooms or multi-use rooms in different ways. For instance, you can stage a spare bedroom as a home office. It also allows you to change paint colors easily.
• It’s Convenient: With virtual staging, you don’t have to rearrange furniture or move your belongings around. That can save you time and energy.

Is Virtual Staging Legal?

Virtual staging is legally acceptable, but some homebuyers deem it misleading. So, to avoid misleading prospective buyers, you should:

• Include Before and After Pictures: By including two pictures of each staged home, you can illustrate how the altered photo differs from reality.
• Disclose the Virtual Staging: You should label pictures and indicate that they’re digitally simulated to illustrate your home’s design possibilities.

How to Prepare Your Home for Virtual Staging

If you’ve decided to stage your home virtually, here are a few items to check off the list:

• Clean the House: Whether you’re doing furniture replacement or staging an empty room, it’s vital to clean your home. The more empty and sparkling your home is, the easier it’ll be to transform.
• Remove Personal Items: Declutter your home so your designer doesn’t have to. You may also choose to cover up valuables, such as safes or jewelry boxes. That’ll cut down on design time and cost.
• Complete Minor Home Improvements: carry out small home upgrades, such as polishing hardwood floors or retouching chipped paint to remove photographic evidence of wear and tear. That’ll represent your home more accurately in pictures and prevent surprises during a potential buyer’s in-person visit to your home.
• Don’t Forget the Home Exterior: Like conventional home staging, curb appeal can boost your home’s value. So, clean up the yard while getting the home to be virtually staged to boost your curb appeal.

Virtual Staging Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes in virtual staging can make it more challenging to sell a house. It’d be wise if you worked with a real estate professional who has years of experience to guide you in the staging process. Nonetheless, here are mistakes to avoid when staging your home virtually:

•  Not Tailored to Your Potential Buyer: Your real estate agent can help you determine your ideal buyer’s preferences and demographics. That way, you can ensure that your virtual staging strategy matches the buyer’s design style.
• Too Many Loud Colors: Some of the worst examples of virtually staged homes are those where the design is too loud or overly bold. Basically, it’s wise to go with neutral colors when staging your home virtually. However, you don’t want to be too boring- so, have a splash of color per photo. For instance, you can perfectly position a rug in the middle of your floor to add color to a room.
•  Ignoring Unique Elements: If your home has an excellent feature, such as a beamed ceiling or an alcove, you should highlight it when staging your home virtually. They can add a wow-factor to your home.
• Trying to Hide the Reality: Keep in mind that virtual staging aims to promote your home in the best possible way. Virtual home staging isn’t about using the software to turn your property into something it’s not.

Need Help Selling Your Home?

Virtual staging elevates listing photos to appeal to buyers, and prompt them to make quick and competitive offers. If you’re considering selling your home, call us. Our real estate pros will guide you through home staging and the overall home-selling process to ensure you get the most out of your home sale!