What are the pros and cons to virtual home staging?

A: There are some benefits of virtual staging, the first being the cost effectiveness to the seller. And it is great for the outofarea buyer, who shops online for homes.

However, when the buyer walks into the home, which was virtually staged, they walk into an empty environment and cannot fully embrace how it would feel to live in the home.

According to Robert Federighi Design, the physical staging gives the buyer the feeling that they would like to be a part of a certain lifestyle. Onsite staging, unlike virtual staging, also benefits the buyer, as they can imagine living in the home.

It also benefits the sellers as they make a better return on their investment with highend furniture and design.

I have used both virtual staging and physical staging in my real estate business and feel that virtual staging can draw buyers in but physical staging accomplishes both getting the buyers interested in making an appointment to see the property and once they are there, sealing the deal to receive an offer.

Jean Pral, Compass, 4156999115,

jean.pral@compass.com.

A: Today, when easily 95% of buyers first look at a property online, it is rare to see vacant rooms because photos of empty rooms show no proportions and have no emotional appeal.

An exception is true fixer, or flipper, properties that only appeal to contractors.

Virtual staging is of course much less expensive than real staging, and when shelterinplace was at its most stringent, it was the only online alternative to showing empty rooms. But it has one major drawback: The rooms are still empty.

All buyers, before committing to hundreds of thousands on a property want to actually set foot in it.

Those empty rooms are often disappointing, particularly to firsttime buyers, who then pass on the purchase. Not good marketing.

Virtual staging is here to stay, costs less, but as we all know you get what you pay for.

Astrid Lacitis, Vanguard Properties, 4158600765,

astrid@vanguardsf.com.

A: It’s no secret staged homes sell quicker and for more money than homes not staged. According to the National Association of Realtors, for every $100 invested in staging, the potential return is $400 — well worth the cost.

The landscape for home buying has been shifting towards a more virtual and technological presence. And with photos being the windows into a home’s soul, staging is a must and virtual staging is that powerful tool for overcoming the obstacles of selling an empty home at a fraction of the cost.

However, we must not cross the line into misrepresenting a home’s condition.

The purpose with virtual staging is to enhance the properties features; anything in excess can have buyers disappointed upon entry.

Zara Rowbotham, Vanguard Properties, 4154188865,

zarasrealestate@gmail.com.