Virtual staging is the best way to grab buyers’ attention and make sales. With such a competitive housing market, creating a standout listing highlighting all of your property’s features is key. However, if done incorrectly, the home can look awkward and out of place. We’ve made a virtual staging guide with top tips to ensure your listings look beautiful and sell quickly. For those interested in more comprehensive changes, we also offer insights on virtual renovation.

1. Use High-Quality Photos

Since virtual staging is completely digital, you must start with high-quality photos and consider looking into image enhancement services for the best possible results. Many realtors choose to hire a professional photographer since they have the expertise to create visually stunning pictures. There are many factors to consider when photographing a space, including:

• Lighting
• Angles
• Camera quality
• Time of day
• Framing
• Filters
• And more

The goal is to create crisp, clear images that work as the perfect backdrop for your finished product.

2. Consider the Properties Architecture

One of the most important aspects to consider when virtually staging a home is the style. You want to create a cohesive-looking space that highlights its unique architectural elements. In some cases, using 3D architectural rendering can help you visualize and refine these elements before applying them to the staging process. For example, if you have a Mediterranean-style home, you wouldn’t put ultra-modern furniture inside. It would feel out of place and put off potential buyers. You want every room to feel inviting, with designs that flow and make sense of the house’s overall theme. Consider your target audience and how they would design and style each space. You’re staging for real life, not simply a model home. The more mindful you are of each staged element, the more you will connect with buyers.

3. Start with a Blank Space

When you’re working with 360 virtual staging software, It may be tempting to add design elements to your photographs, but doing so is counter-productive. Starting with a neutral background allows your staging company to select furnishings that highlight your listing’s features without clashing with current colors and styles. Virtual staging with great furniture is essential to catching a buyer’s eye and making your listing desirable. Of course, virtual stagers can do this for you, changing a room’s color, removing existing furniture, and even adding or removing walls, but it does incur an additional charge. Save yourself and your clients time and money by creating a blank space to let your property shine.

4. Don’t Overdue It

It can be tempting to go crazy with your furniture and accessories, but keeping them to a minimum is best. Furniture staging is about bringing the home to life and highlighting its most attractive features. Many people don’t know how to make virtual staging furniture look real, but there are a few rules you can follow. Placing too many items can make it feel cluttered and distract buyers. Another aspect to consider is the size of the furniture. Having furnishings that don’t match the scale of the home can make it look fake. Avoid items that are too large or too small to ensure your listing looks realistic and inviting. The goal is to create a timeless home that appeals to a wide range of buyers. You want them to picture themselves in the space, playing with their children, hosting holidays, and creating memories. Virtual staging should be a backdrop for these events, allowing them to envision their future in the home.

5. Prioritize Key Rooms

Depending on your budget, you should look into the specific costs of virtual staging and plan accordingly. Focus on the most important rooms first if you are lacking the budget to stage the entire house. The kitchen, bedrooms, and living room are what buyers look at first. Focusing on creating eye-catching designs they can picture themselves living in. If the house is already furnished, virtual staging furniture replacement can create a modern, updated, and stylish design without the cost and effort of hiring a traditional stager. A few tips for virtual furniture staging include:

• Ensure all furnishings fit the scale of the room
• Avoid low-quality virtual stagers
• Minimalism is best
• Stick with neutral designs
• If the style doesn’t work, revise it until it does

An experienced virtual staging company can guide you on the best furniture choices to make for each room. One of the key benefits of virtual staging vs real staging is that you can revise your choices until you find the ones that fit perfectly in your listing.

6. Have Fun!

Virtual staging is a fun way to design and showcase your listings. You can experiment with different styles to see which works best. When you are passionate about creating a meaningful space, you will create a beautiful home that will draw buyers in.

How to Prepare Your Home for Virtual Staging

Now that you have the virtual staging best practices to sell homes, it’s time to discuss how to prepare for the service. You could have the best virtual staging company in the world, but if you aren’t making the right preparations, your property might not sell.

7. Consider the Buyer Demographic

Not all properties appeal to all buyers. Each has specific demographics, and appealing to the correct one is crucial. For example, a large suburban home will most likely appeal to a family with children, while a studio apartment is more attractive to single buyers. Marketing to your buyer’s needs and wants will allow you to create a space that appeals to them. Virtual staging companies have a large library of furniture in varying styles and themes, so you can select the items that best fit your property and target buyer.

8. Make Needed Repairs

While there are many key benefits of virtual staging, it’s still important to address necessary repairs before staging your home to avoid any potential issues during the sales process. Take time to walk through the property, identifying any areas that the seller must fix. Imperfections to keep an eye out for include:

• Drywall damage
• Water stains
• Cracks in the flooring
• Peeling paint

As you survey the property, look through your buyer’s perspective, pinpointing anything they may view negatively. While virtual staging can hide flaws, keeping these issues from buyers can backfire and cause sales to fall through.

9. Remember the Exterior

Many real estate agents put their time and effort into a home’s interior but fail to address its exterior. Virtual staging offers the unique opportunity to create a stunning outdoor space that buyers will love. You can alter the time of day, creating a cozy facade with welcoming lights. Why not add a relaxing seating area, complete with barbeque, porch swing, and fire pit? If the property lacks curb appeal, showcasing how buyers can create a stunning landscape is an excellent way to highlight its potential. Additionally, adding lighting, greenery, and exterior furnishings is an easy way to make an empty property look homey and inviting.

10. Provide Accurate Dimensions

When photographing your property, avoid manipulating, distorting, or stretching your images. While it may be tempting to make rooms seem larger, it can create unrealistic expectations, which will lead to disappointed buyers. One of the best tips for virtual furniture staging is to ensure all photos are as realistic as possible. When buyers know what to expect, it makes your job easier. Showcasing the truth of your property ensures it attracts the right people, keeps it from sitting on the market, and makes your clients happy.

This virtual staging guide will help you get the most out of every listing. At Virtual HomeZen, we take pride in providing the highest quality virtual staging solutions for every client. Our services start at just $15 and include unlimited revisions. We know what buyers want and have the skills and expertise to create breathtaking images that resonate with their needs. Discover why we are the most trusted name in virtual staging and see how our digital creations can transform your business, one listing at a time.