Pitfalls in Virtual Staging for Listing Photos

I got them all:
Request from “can you photoshop my grass greener and clean my driveway” over “can you take out the adjacent home” to “could you fix the torn leather sofa”.

There are somethings I have no problem with like replacing family photos/portraits or taking the dog kennel in the living room away, as the mover comes later and it was too heavy for the owner. I even fixed the holes in a wall from the just removed gym equipment, as the owner assured us the drywall guys were coming before the listing goes active. The main problem is not the technical part. But I try to remind the customer that even if I do what he wants, potential buyers on the next showing of the property could feel could very disappointed, if not cheated.

The same is true for virtual staging. It’s not rocket sciences. There’s software you can buy and do it yourself. There a websites where you can do it online and there are companies doing it for you, paid per plan or per “room”. And I understand the wish to stage a home.

The National Association of Realtors, NAR in a 2015 report stated that “for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400” and “A staged home will sell for 17% more on average than a non-staged home, and 95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less. That is statistically 87% faster than non-staged homes”

Now, this was for “real-staged” homes. There are pro and cons for virtual staging,
and they differ between home types (Single family / apartment) and price range, days on the market, new or old, totally empty or partially furnished, local market condition.

Anyway, what ever you decide, be sure you stay away from “trickery” or “cheating”, making your potential buyers places stay away from you.

Read more in this article from realtor magazine:
Full Article in FL Realtor Magazine