Interest in virtual staging surges

Staging, the process of decorating a listing to make it more attractive for sale, is all but necessary in the world of Bay Area real estate. But traditional staging can be costly, time-consuming and a logistical challenge.

That’s why virtual staging, the process of using software to digitally enhance a space, has become more popular among sellers.

“Cost is one of the biggest benefits to virtual staging. It’s a tenth of the price,” said Michael Minson of the Level Up Group, a team of Realtors associated with Keller Williams. “The magic of Photoshop is real.”

Mike Brown, senior product manager for f8 Real Estate Media concurs.

“Traditional staging requires scheduling, finding parking for a moving van if you're selling in an urban location, moving physical furniture into the home, arranging (and rearranging) the furniture in the home,” he said. “Virtual staging photos can be delivered quickly and efficiently for a fraction of the cost.”

Rooms don’t even need to be vacant in order to virtually stage them, Minson said. Photo editors can take an image of a room, remove the artwork, furniture and fixtures and replace them with more stylish options.

But Minson said it’s important not to get carried away while virtually staging.

“You don’t want to misrepresent the property. You don’t want the buyer to feel duped,” he said. “Our general rule is to disclose that it’s virtually staged. And we make all the photos available in our marketing. So we’re presenting it as it is and what it could be.”

Staging, both traditional and virtual, play a pivotal role in marketing properties. More people than ever get their first exposure to a property online, and Realtors want to make a strong first impression.

That’s especially true during the...