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You may have heard about virtual staging for real estate as a powerful tool to help sell homes, but did you know that it can dramatically improve the appearance of a property and attract a larger pool of potential buyers? 

With the rise of remote real estate services, virtual staging has become an increasingly popular and effective way for real estate agents to showcase homes virtually without the need for physical staging. 

In this blog post, we’ll share 10 virtual staging for real estate tips that will help you create beautiful, realistic, and inviting spaces and win the hearts of your potential buyers.

Let’s dive in!

Top 10 Virtual Staging Tips to Wow Potential Buyers

With the right virtual staging techniques, you can impress potential buyers and sell properties faster. Here are our top 10 virtual staging tips to make your images look captivating enough to wow real estate buyers.

1. Use High-Quality Photos

Virtual staging is only as good as the photos you use. Make sure to use high-quality photos that depict the property accurately. 

High-quality images help showcase the property in its best light while minimizing any blemishes it may have. In other words, a good photo sets the stage for the virtual staging process and requires less editing.

We highly recommend hiring a professional real estate photographer to ensure high-quality property photos.

2. Keep the Home’s Style in Mind

American Virtual Staging by PhotoUp
American Virtual Staging by PhotoUp

When virtually staging an interior, it’s essential to match the style of the furnishing to the home’s style. This will help create a cohesive look that feels natural and comfortable. 

For instance, if the home is a classic Georgian or Victorian-style property, go for traditional furnishings and decor.

PhotoUp offers an extensive library of 11 design styles, 18 room types, and 21 accessory types to allow you to easily match the home’s look, including:

3. Use a Neutral and Timeless Color Scheme

Real Estate Virtual Staging by PhotoUp
Real Estate Virtual Staging by PhotoUp

Neutral colors are soothing and can create a serene environment that will allow potential buyers to focus on the features of the house rather than any bright or flashy decor. 

Even though you love bold colors, they can be off-putting to prospective buyers that don’t share your taste.

Certain colors can also make the space appear smaller so make sure to pick timeless colors that won’t date the photos over time or make the rooms appear less spacious.

4. Make the Photos Look Realistic 

When it comes to digital staging, less is often more. Keep the staging realistic and aligned with the property’s style. Going overboard can make the property look artificial and uninviting.

Additionally, paying attention to scale helps in creating realistic virtual staging. If you use furniture that’s too big or too small for the room, the virtual staging will look fake. 

Take accurate measurements of the room to ensure the staging’s scale aligns with the physical space and don’t make it too “perfect” as it can raise red flags for buyers.

5. Prioritize the Most Important Rooms

Real Estate Virtual Staging by PhotoUp
Real Estate Virtual Staging by PhotoUp

Consider virtually staging the most important rooms such as the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen, and focus on making those rooms stand out. 

These spaces play a critical role in selling a home, and they should look inviting enough for buyers to visualize themselves living in the space.

Fast & Affordable

Virtual Staging Service

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

6. Incorporate Outdoor Living Spaces

Utilizing the outdoor area of a home can help create a seamless flow between home and yard, adding space and light to a home. It can also boost the overall digital curb appeal of the property, which can attract more buyers.

It can therefore be a good idea to stage a back deck or patio area, depending on the location and style of the property.

Why not make it extra inviting with a beautiful pool in the backyard, where potential buyers can imagine themselves taking a cooling plunge?

7. Stage Based on Your Target Demographic 

Industrial Virtual Staging by PhotoUp
Industrial Virtual Staging by PhotoUp

Consider your target audience and stage the home accordingly. Some suburban properties might target families, so the home should be staged with family-oriented furniture. 

Urban lofts, on the other hand, should be staged to appeal to young urbanites looking for modern, stylish spaces. In this case, the industrial interior design style may be favorable. 

8. Create a Defined Focal Point

Virtual Staging Real Estate by PhotoUp
Virtual Staging Real Estate by PhotoUp

A focal point is the area in a room where the eye is immediately drawn, and the primary place of focus for the space. 

Creating a center of attention in a room can help bring all the elements together, giving the room a seamless and sophisticated vibe. For example, you can use mirrors or artwork to create a beautiful focal point.

Also, don’t forget the property’s unique features that add to its appeal. You should highlight these features in your virtual staging to catch the buyer’s attention. For example, a built-in bookshelf, coffered ceiling, or wainscoting.

9. Make Small Spaces Feel Bigger 

Make the most of small spaces by decluttering, keeping the furniture simple, and using a neutral color palette. Hanging small mirrors or adding artwork can help create the illusion of more space.

In addition, along with set angles, consider varying the angles. This can give potential buyers a better idea of what the property looks like from different viewpoints and can make the space appear larger.

10. Keep it Consistent With the Help of a Professional Provider 

Consistency is key when virtually staging multiple rooms. Keeping a coherent look and feel through all the staged rooms allows buyers to visualize a cohesive living space.

Last but not least, if you’re unsure about virtual staging and need professional help, don’t hesitate to work with a service provider like PhotoUp. An established service will have the experience needed to create an excellent design that will meet your client’s needs.

That said, let’s summarize this chapter by taking a look at why you should consider virtual staging instead of traditional home staging.

Why Use Virtual Staging?

If you’re looking to sell your home, you may be comparing home staging vs real staging to see what’s the better and more cost-effective option. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median cost of home staging is $675, which can quickly turn into $10,000 with the rent of furniture if the home stays on the market.

In contrast to traditional home staging, virtual staging generally costs around $20 to $30 per image. Home sellers typically save around 97% by using the digital version of home staging.

Why not do the staging yourself?

Even if you would stage your home yourself, you need to calculate for expenses such as:

  • New furniture and décor
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Storage units and organizers for decluttering
  • Floral arrangements
  • Landscaping and other exterior repairs
  • Plus, your time!

In the end, this will add up and cost you a lot more than virtually staging your home, even though you’d decide to stage several rooms.

Fast & Affordable

Virtual Staging Service

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

Ensure Top Notch Virtual Staging With PhotoUp!

By using the tips mentioned in this article, you can create virtually staged listing photos that will help you attract potential buyers to a property and showcase its unique features. 

Remember…. staged homes sell 75% faster and at a higher price than empty homes. In fact, 83% of staged homes sell at the asking price or above, so it’s worth investing in this service to maximize the potential of your real estate listings.

Ensure top-notch virtual staging quality with the help of the experts at PhotoUp!

PhotoUp’s virtual staging service is easy to use and affordable, and includes the following:

  • Photo-realistic staging of any room or space
  • Remodeling and repairs
  • Decluttering and depersonalizing of rooms
  • Sky replacements and twilight effects
  • Virtual landscaping
  • And more!

PhotoUp makes it super easy to get started:

1. Sign up for a free PhotoUp account and upload your photos
2. Select from our library of design styles and furnishings
3. We send you proofs to approve and download within 24 to 48 hours

PhotoUp Virtual Staging Uploader Tutorial

Check out this short demo to learn about the quick and easy ordering and uploading process:

As simple as that!

On top of that, PhotoUp also offers other real estate marketing services, including:

We have everything you need to market real estate under one roof!  

So, sign up for a free PhotoUp account, and let us help you virtually stage your images and wow potential buyers!

We hope this blog post provided you with useful virtual staging for real estate tips that you can take advantage of to impress your clients. Before you go, you may also want to check out the following related resources:

Stina Pettersson

Professional Blogger

Stina is an entrepreneur, digital marketer, and professional blogger who's passionate about real estate photo editing, being outdoors with her pup, and sweaty gym sessions. She loves the written word and has been writing for publications like Forbes and Thrive Global. Originally from Sweden, she's called South Florida her home since 2013.

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