If you’re looking for cost-effective ways to boost your listing and get your clients the best selling price for their property, you need to do things that go above and beyond the traditional real estate agent’s marketing strategy.
For example, you could create a website only designed for the listing. Say the listing is 123 Apple Street, City/St. Based on what's available, you’d create a website with the URL of something like www.123AppleStreet.com or something along those lines.
On the property website, you’d have some content writing that promotes the home and highlights why it’s so valuable.
You could include a section with video and 3D tours of each room, and one thing I’ve seen agents do that is popular is getting drone video of the home and surrounding neighborhood.
Consider adding content and videos about the surrounding neighborhood, fun activities, areas of interest, and more.
The point is to showcase the home and your listing in fun, memorable ways that engage potential buyers and increase interest in those potential buyers putting an offer in and getting the listing to contract.
One way to highlight your listing, whether you create a website for it or not, is to use virtual staging to help you showcase how the property and space can be best utilized and highlight particular, unique aspects of the home in a significant way.
One thing to understand is that in today's industry, more and more people are utilizing tools and websites to tour and make informed decisions regarding purchases of all sizes.
With most potential buyers starting their search online, creating a visually appealing and captivating online listing is crucial.
In fact, according to NAR–the National Association of Realtors, over 83% of home buyers search for properties online before ever setting foot in a home.
And because this trend is only accelerating, virtual home staging has become an essential tool for real estate professionals and homeowners looking to sell properties.
This makes it vital for you to master virtual home staging to showcase a property's full potential and attract more potential buyers.
If you’re ready to learn more about virtual staging and how it can help your listing, keep reading. I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to walk you through the steps to stage any property online.
What Is Virtual Home Staging?
The first thing to do to perfectly stage your home virtually is to define virtual staging.
Virtual home staging is a 3D digital rendering of furniture and decor that has been added to property photos, such as a vacant bedroom, that creates a visually appealing and enticing representation for viewers.
Think about it like Apple’s AR programs that let users look at a picture or video and have superimposed images placed into the image.
And by implementing this innovative technology into real estate it provides agents the ability to showcase a room or entire home by giving the impression of a “lived-in” space so that users can imagine what it would be like when they utilize that space themselves.
Because of the potential to make online images come to life, this tech has become increasingly popular among real estate agents to attract potential buyers and stand out from other agents in a competitive market.
In traditional staging, an agent would schedule a staging company to come, deliver, and place furniture and other items to make the home appear lived-in and then market the listing.
Too often, the agent or client is left paying a lot out of pocket to get the staging completed. Since there may be delivery delays, the listing may not be on the market in time, potentially costing a lot of money from lost potential buyers.
With virtual staging, agents can offer an affordable and efficient alternative for their clients and have more control over the scheduling of getting the listing on the market.
Virtual staging also eliminates the need for physical staging in vacant homes.
An issue is that vacant properties don’t show well since they often seem cold and uninviting. This ambiance can make it difficult for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there and less interested in placing a bid.
But by using virtual staging software for vacant spaces, you’re better able to create a warm, welcoming environment attractive to buyers, increasing the chances of a quick sale.
Benefits Of Virtual Home Staging
So, besides more control and visibility, what are some additional benefits of virtual home staging?
One of the most significant advantages is the low cost.
Virtual staging services are generally more affordable than physically staging a property, making it an ideal option for those on a tight marketing budget.
In addition to being cost-effective, virtual staging is also straightforward and convenient.
The virtual stager can transform vacant properties into appealing, fully-furnished living spaces with just a few clicks. And since more and more people are searching online, having a virtually staged home can be the game-changer in drawing people to your listing.
Because of the demand online, this can eliminate the need for physical staging, which, in addition to being costly, can also be time-consuming.
Another advantage is the speed at which you can get your listing virtually staged and marketed online.
This fast turnaround time allows you as an agent to get your properties staged and ready for online listings within a matter of days, as opposed to waiting for physical furniture to be delivered, set up, and photographed–which is another step that may slow down when you can get your listing marketed.
Another benefit that virtual staging provides is that you can customize the aesthetics of your staging, providing unlimited design options at an unbelievably more manageable cost than staging professionals charge.
Whether your listing needs a modern-contemporary, historical, or traditional design style, you can customize the digital renderings to meet potential buyers' specific needs and preferences.
Finally, a significant benefit of virtual staging is increased security. By eliminating physical staging, such as placing furniture in a vacant home, you eliminate the risk of theft or damage to physical furniture and accessories.
Before we discuss how to stage your listing perfectly, there is one thing you need to consider: the accuracy that virtual staging depicts.
Include A Disclaimer When Using Virtual Staging
If you use virtual staging, you’ll want to include a disclaimer explaining to viewers that the images are generated and may not be as accurate as in-person viewing.
Since virtual staging involves digitally enhancing or altering images of real estate properties to make them more visually appealing or to showcase potential renovations or interior designs, it’s essential to disclose that virtual staging may not accurately represent the actual condition or appearance of the property.
As people view the property online, you want those potential buyers to be aware that the images may be digitally altered and that any furniture or decor shown in the images is for illustrative purposes only.
You would also disclose that since they are digitally enhanced images, viewers shouldn’t rely on them wholly when making decisions.
1. Understanding Your Potential Buyers: The Key to Successful Virtual Staging
Ok, so you’re ready to create an online listing and have decided that virtual staging is the most cost-effective, efficient route to go; the first thing you must understand before designing your virtual staging is to understand your potential buyers, their wants, their behaviors, and their interests.
Whenever you have a listing, it’s crucial to understand who your potential buyer may be. You want to have as much insight into their preferences and needs as possible so you can create the ideal avatar.
An avatar is an imaginary representation of who the ideal buyer would be.
For example, if you’re selling a luxury property to high-end professional athletes, you’d want an avatar that represents who the perfect athlete would be, what they may need for the house, and when they may be ideally using the property.
Another aspect of creating your avatar is diving into the property's history because each property has its own unique characteristics and design style.
When you dive into what the specific buyer may be, what their interests are, and how they may utilize the space available around the home.
You combine that with the architectural design, you’ll have a good idea of how to design the ideal virtual staging that is most attractive to your avatar, or ideal buyer.
And by understanding these preferences of your potential buyers, you’ll better tailor the virtual staging to match their tastes, creating a solid emotional connection that motivates them from potential buyers to active buyers under contract.
For example, for young professionals, a modern and minimalist design style may be more appealing than a Victorian home that falls under the Mills Act in California, which protects historical properties, making them unable to change most of the structure.
On the other hand, if the property is targeted toward families, a cozy and inviting interior and showcasing child-friendly spaces and outdoor areas might be more effective if the target audience is young families.
Finally, really diving into the behaviors and interests of your ideal buyer avatar will help inform your decisions about the types of furniture, placement, and decor you choose for your virtual staging.
2. Understand The Basics Of Virtual Staging
When you stage a home virtually, you use computer-generated images to make the space appear digitally furnished and decorated. This will enhance the appearance of the space and give your potential buyers a chance to envision what and how to utilize the space more effectively.
As an agent, you can position the listing to get a more competitive offer by increasing the “eye” appeal, and you do this by understanding the basics of virtual home staging, such as selecting the right furniture and decor, considering the target demographic, to make sure that the virtual staging is realistic looking.
Remember, identify who your ideal buyer is what their wants are, and design a virtually appealing staging based on the preferences of that avatar so that you can present the listing in the best light possible and show the potential for each room, ultimately giving a warm, lived-in aesthetic that will increase the perceived value of the home.
Using virtual staging technology and design principles, you can transform a vacant or cluttered space into an inviting and visually stunning representation.
3. Choose the Right Virtual Staging Software or Service
To master virtual home staging, you'll need to select the right software or service that meets your needs.
Virtual staging software can render a 2D image into realistic 3D pictures to depict realistic images online.
There are various platforms that offer user-friendly interfaces, a wide range of furniture and decor options, and the ability to customize virtually staged images.
For example, I like to use Adobe Photoshop AI, which will effortlessly help you with virtual staging for your properties.
Research suggests that staged properties sell more – some say up to 7-10% higher- and we will show you how virtual staging will help you sell your listings for top dollar.
And the power of Adobe Photoshop AI is that you can create realistic virtual staging with just one click to help you sell your property faster and for more money.
If you’re curious about the power of this tool, I discuss it in my Podcast titled How to Virtually Stage any Property | Ultimate Guide to Stunning Virtual Home Staging Ep. (793).
So whether you’re a seasoned agent or a property owner looking to sell, this podcast is a must-listen.
Whether you choose Adobe’s AI features or not, you need to research and compare different options to find the best one that aligns with your budget and needs.
4. Use High-Quality Photos
As with marketing for any listing, using high-quality photos for virtually staging a property is essential.
Selecting high-quality images is vital to create attractive images for effectively showcasing the property's potential to potential buyers.
To make the most of the property photos for virtual staging, keep in mind these few pointers:
Get Professional Equipment: Invest in a good camera or hire a professional real estate photographer to ensure you get sharp, well-lit, and adequately framed images. Ideally, natural lighting is best, but ensure that the property is well-lit to highlight the features, creating a more inviting and realistic feel.
Remember, the quality of the photos you choose and their quality will impact your virtual staging's appearance and overall effectiveness, so consider hiring a professional to help you.
What’s In The Background: Another often overlooked yet vital thing to consider is your photos' background. Typically, a neutral background works best for virtual staging since it allows the decor and furniture to stand out.
Also, understanding the lighting is essential because you don’t want a couch casting a shadow in one direction and a lamp having a contrasting shadow.
Finally, ensure the area is clean, avoiding cluttered spaces or busy backgrounds that distract the viewer. A clean and tidy space will make the staging process more manageable and create a blank canvas for potential buyers to visualize their belongings in the property.
5. Maintain Realism and Accuracy
Even though you’re doing virtual staging, you need to keep in mind that you want the space to appear realistic and life-like with accuracy. Remember to avoid misleading potential buyers with unrealistic representations; your goal has to be to highlight the property's potential, not misrepresent it.
6. Monitor And Adjust
Finally, you’ll need to monitor and adjust your marketing for your listing. In other words, virtual home staging is not a one-time process, and you’ll want to monitor the effectiveness of your strategy and virtual staging.
You can do this by tracking how many and what types of online views the staging is getting, any inquiries or requests for showings, and all offers you may receive on behalf of your client.
Ask for feedback from other agents and their potential buyers to gain insights into what is showing well and what problem areas may be.
For example, if you notice a lack of interest or certain rooms or areas aren't resonating with potential buyers, you’ll need to adjust the images or other elements you’ve used in your staging.
It takes time to master all the elements of virtual staging. It will take time, effort, creativity, an ideal buyer avatar, and an eye for detail.
It can become quite an overwhelming task if you don’t have systems in place to assist you. If that’s the case, getting outside help that can guide you and assist with developing systems to automate your process is a smart next-step.
If that’s the case, you’ll want to hire a professional real estate coach who will help you get systems in place and can help educate you with different strategies to boost your productivity.
Becoming the go-to agent in your space requires you to go the extra distance such as offering unique solutions and techniques and being knowledgeable of your market trend.
If you’re ready to get started mastering your virtual home staging and become the go-to local expert in your market, book a call with me, Krista Mashore, and let’s discuss the power of coaching for your real estate business.
