Why Are Attractive Online Listings So Important? According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors Over 95% of people searched for a home online before contacting a realtor. If you want your property to sell at faster pace, you need a listing that entices buyers to reach out and ask about it. While traditional open houses and media publication listings are still widely used, they are not nearly as useful as an online listing that buyers can browse for exactly what they want in the comfort of their own home. Buyers still want the visual experience when they are searching for homes online, which focuses on the listing photos to be one of the most vital parts of any real estate listing to make the best first impression. ​

Is Virtual Staging Cost Effective? Physical home staging is a great tool that has the potential for a high return on investment, but it is also an expensive and time-consuming tool that is not always affordable for every homeowner. A good virtual staging company can provide realistic virtually staged photos of the home for a fraction of the cost of physical home staging. Virtual staging also allows real estate agents located anywhere in the world to submit photos to be virtually staged, so even in rural areas where there are simply no options for physical home staging, virtual staging can still be achieved.

Is Virtual Staging Ethical? Yes, but to a certain degree. Article 12 in the Realtor’s Code of Ethics is “Be honest and truthful in real estate communications…” and this is an understandable concern. Using virtual staging while staying in compliance with the Realtor’s Code of Ethics is to only add what is not there through furniture and décor, the very same items that would be added by using s physical home stager. You could also state that the photos are “virtually staged” in the listing comments, or you could request a “virtually staged” stamp to be placed on the photos to display when the photos are uploaded to the listing. However, some virtual staging companies offer services to alter paint colors, add appliances, alter the construction, or add flooring, which could actually lead to a complaint under Article 12. Be sure to choose a virtual staging company that understands the boundaries of good ethics but can still create beautiful virtually staged photos without compromise.​

How Can Virtual Staging Help Me? Virtual staging can go beyond placing a couch in the living room or a bed in the bedroom. A virtual staging designer with experience and a large portfolio of samples can offer you a cost-efficient way to better market your vacant real estate listings online. The key to utilizing virtual staging is to enable the photos of your listing to drive someone searching for a home online to immediately contact a listing agent to set up a showing. Virtual staging can help you to make sure that you are marketing the vacant listing online to the best advantage.​Virtual staging can be an incredible, cost-effective tool for real estate agents, property investors, and landlords. Real estate agents can also add virtual staging to their marketing services when they meet with home sellers trying to compete for a listing. ​

What is the ideal photo size for virtual staging? 3000 x 2000 pixels is the ideal size for photos, any photos that are a "high resolution file" (typically available if a professional photographer took the photos) work the best. The Customer is responsible for providing the correct photo size during the ordering process. Photos copied from the internet do not work due to the compromised pixels. Photos should be taken at eye level. If you are unsure about which photos to use with virtual staging I would be happy to preview them and give you my recommendations, you can email or Dropbox the photos to me at the email address below. virtuallystagedrealestate@gmail.com

Can I choose items for my order using a virtual staging inventory library? Yes, please send me an email to request the furniture selections catalog.​

My MLS requires virtual staging photos to be labeled, can you help with this? Yes of course. Any requests for "virtually staged" photo labels should be done during the ordering process and there is no additional fee for this service. In this situation I would return the photos back to you as two files, one for MLS and one without a label for use with online and print advertising.

Virtual Home Staging Facts