As homebuyers and real estate professionals have navigated the housing market over the past several months, virtual staging has become increasingly more popular. This emerging technology takes an empty home, which can often feel unwelcoming, and transforms it into a beautiful space that homebuyers are excited to visit. However, virtual staging isn’t ideal for every home listing. Here are some pros and cons to help you determine if virtual staging is right for your home sale:

Pros

Noninvasive  – Unlike traditional home staging, virtual staging doesn’t require moving furniture in and out of a home, storing furniture or physical labor. Virtual staging is 100 percent digital and can include painting, decorating, furnishing and more.

Fast  – Physical staging can take days to complete, but with virtual staging, the entire home can be completed in a matter of hours. This is great for sellers who want to make the most out of their listing without investing a great amount of effort.

Flexible  – Virtual staging can transform. For example, a nursery can become a spare bedroom or a closet can become a craft nook. Such changes allow buyers to see things they may not otherwise envision.

Cons

Potentially Misleading  – It’s a good idea to use watermarks showing that the images used in a virtual staging are, in fact, virtual. This way, you don’t risk buyers being disappointed when they visit a vacant property that they may have thought was physically staged.

Empty Rooms  – As buyers are starting to feel more comfortable with attending traditional showings during this lingering pandemic, they often find an empty home because the home has been only virtually staged. You may find it beneficial to bring virtually staged images to a showing so buyers are able to envision how the room could be set up.

Professional Staging  – While programs are available for you to virtually stage homes on your own, the staging can appear fake and unrealistic if you’re not experienced in virtual staging. It’s a good idea to solicit the services of a professional to ensure that your virtual staging is appealing to buyers.

For more information about the pros and cons of virtual staging,  click here.