Home staging has become one of the most critical aspects of preparing a home for sale. The primary goals of staging any property are to depersonalize, aesthetically separate the space from the current owner, and make the home more attractive and appealing to the potential buyer pool. The idea is to create a space that people can see themselves living in, and getting as close to the ‘showroom’ look as possible.
This has, traditionally, been achieved through physical efforts. Sellers and realtors engage professional home staging companies that bring in their own materials, furniture, art and other touches and transform the space. This allows buyers to see the actual size of the rooms and how the furniture fits, as well as develop an emotional connection to the property once its’ been stripped of personal items and tastes.
During the pandemic, the concept of virtual staging gained popularity. Though physical staging has long dominated the market, and for good reason, virtual staging allows flexibility, cost savings, and endless configurations. Virtual staging is done through designing rooms in a 3D format with photos of the rooms of the home, without actually having to bring in any of the physical materials.
Now that we’ve gone over both types, we can compare and contrast the pros and cons of each home staging method so you can make an informed decision about which method will work best for you when the time comes to list your home. Both are effective methods, and have pros and cons like all other important decisions.
The Pros of Home Staging
- Increased Appeal
The first advantage is the most obvious – home staging makes your property that much more attractive. An attractive property generates more interest, draws more people through the door, and leads to a quicker sale.
- Higher Sale Price
Statistically speaking, staged homes sell for more money. This can be because they’re perceived as being in better condition and more valuable. In fact, a study by the National Association of Realtors found that staged homes sold for an average of 17% more than unstaged homes.
- Competitive Advantage
In a crowded real estate market, home staging can give the property a competitive advantage over similar listings. Even if two homes are nearly identical, a staged one tends to show better and generate a higher sold price due to perceived value.
The Cons of Home Staging
- Time-consuming
Staging your home properly is a time consuming process. From the initial consultation, to removing certain pieces and artifacts from your home, this process can take several days or even weeks depending on the size and state of your property.
- Potential Style Clash
The choices made by the stager and real estate agent involved may not align with your personal tastes and style. This could mean having to occupy a space that you don’t necessarily enjoy or feel comfortable in for an extended period of time. You’ll also have to maintain these items and ensure they aren’t damaged, and keep everything very tidy, structured, and looking its best for showings.
- Costly
Professional staging isn’t the most wallet-friendly endeavor, and does require a large investment. While the pay off is significant with a likelihood of showing better and selling faster, you do need to spend money up front in order to achieve this outcome.
The Pros of Virtual Staging
- Cost-Effective
Virtually staging is generally far more inexpensive than traditional staging, as it doesn’t require furniture, decor, and art rental, or professional in-person consultation among other fees. Virtual staging is done by creating a 2D mockup of the potential of each room of the home, with the only associated cost being paying a graphic designer for their services.
- Unlimited Options
Virtual staging allows for a wide range of styles and design options to be explored as there are no physical limitations. You can provide several options for potential design if you wish, and make easy changes as you see fit.
- Time-Saving
These images and mockups can be made quickly, often within a few days, and are immediately available for anyone in the world to view without having to physically enter the property. Physical staging typically takes a considerably longer amount of time.
The Cons of Virtual Staging
- Lack of Authenticity
Virtual staging can sometimes look unrealistic or artificial, which can be a turn-off for some potential buyers. Make sure you look over the designer’s portfolio before committing to them to ensure they do high-quality work that will enhance the home, and help the staging look as realistic as possible.
- Limited Perspective
While in-person showings allow you to truly get a feel for the property, virtual staging only offers a 2D view of the space, making it difficult for buyers to fully visualize themselves living there and making it their own. Virtual staging can somewhat eliminate the ‘wow’ factor of walking into a nicely staged home.
- Unrealistic Expectations
The images created by virtual home staging may be attractive, but may also set unrealistic expectations for buyers that are coming to view the property. If potential buyers are expecting to see full staging and arrive at a vacant home, their hopes may be slightly dashed.
Ultimately, the manner in which you want to prepare your home for selling is entirely your decision. If you need a staging consultation or market evaluation, please contact us here.