Virtual vs. Physical Home Staging: Why Virtual Staging is Economical

Staging a home prior to listing it for sale makes it feel more lived in and welcoming. Potential buyers are more likely to visualize themselves enjoying the cozy, inviting atmosphere of a home that’s fully furnished, as opposed to it being sterile and vacant.

Staging a home has plenty of benefits. Homes are likely to sell for more than the asking price. Additionally, staged homes sell 73 percent faster. According to the National Association of Realtors, 40 percent of prospective buyers are more likely to walk through a staged home they’ve seen online than one that is empty.

But traditional staging isn’t cheap. In fact, it costs an average of $2000 to $2400 per month to physically stage a 2000-square foot home.

Virtual staging is a compelling and effective solution to combat the high costs of physical home staging. Here’s why virtual staging is cheaper and why you should consider it for your next home listing.

Virtual Staging Takes Less Time

Physically staging a home requires a great deal of time and energy. First, you must identify your client’s preferred style of interior decor and furniture. Next, you need to find furniture and fixings that match the look you’re aiming for.

Then you must retrieve the furnishings and physically move them to the home you’re listing for sale. Once this is all done, the next step is to arrange and stage everything according to your plans — which may very well require you to move heavy objects, like couches and tables, numerous times until everything looks perfect and “fits.”

All this time adds up. It’s time where you could already have a home listed and prospective buyers scheduling showings.

A vacant room (top) and a room staged virtually (bottom)

Virtual Staging Is A One-Time Cost

With traditional staging, furniture stores or professional stagers rent out furnishings. Rental fees can quickly add up, especially if a home doesn’t sell quickly. Realtor.com claims the median length of time from listing to sale is 65 days — little more than two months.

At an average monthly cost of $2000 to $2400, sellers should expect to pay upwards of $4800 for staging fees. That’s a sizable chunk of change.

In comparison, virtual staging is a one-time fee. It also has a much quicker turnaround time than traditional staging — oftentimes 48 hours, if that.

In general, photographers charge for virtual staging on a per-photo basis. Once their fees are paid, there are no further costs — no matter how long a home takes to sell.

The total price of virtual staging amounts to roughly 10 percent of the cost of traditional staging — hundreds of dollars compared to thousands.

One of these two rooms is virtually staged. Can you guess which? (Answer: it’s the bottom.)

Choosing the Type of Staging That’s Right For You

Virtually staging an empty home is effective for drawing attention to its listing, but what if the home isn’t entirely vacant? Most photographers who use virtual staging techniques can remove or alter existing furnishings, or even enhance an already-furnished environment.

The relative ease through which virtual staging is accomplished means homeowners spend less money and have less reason to forego any sort of staging. Virtual staging costs less than traditional staging and helps sell homes faster and for more money.

Virtual staging is more affordable and more versatile than traditional physical staging. The next time you’re listing a home for sale, explore a virtual staging package to save your clients some hard-earned cash.